Philia
Magazine
Javier Sánchez
Javier Sánchez is the founding partner and principal of JSa, the Mexico City-based architecture studio he established while studying at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP). Raised in a family of architects, he has developed a practice that spans housing, cultural, commercial, and mixed-use projects, while playing a significant role in the regeneration of Mexico City’s historic neighbourhoods through architecture and urban development.
Over the past three decades, Sánchez has become widely recognised for his work in heritage rehabilitation and for creating resilient, mixed-use environments that respond to the evolving needs of contemporary cities. Increasingly focused on architecture’s environmental responsibilities, his recent work explores self-sustaining design strategies that integrate social, cultural, and ecological considerations. Rooted in the rich urban fabric of Mexico City, his practice continues to demonstrate how architecture can shape more connected, inclusive, and enduring communities.
Espacio 18 Arquitectura
Espacio 18 Arquitectura is a Mexico-based architecture studio founded by Carla and Mario Avila. Working across residential, hospitality, and mixed-use projects, the studio develops a sculptural approach to architecture rooted in geometry, light, and landscape.
Their practice is guided by a process of reduction, seeking clarity of concept, precision in proportion, and a sensitive response to context. Through a restrained and materially honest language, Espacio 18 Arquitectura creates spaces that feel both timeless and grounded.
Balancing structure and atmosphere, their work reflects a careful orchestration of form and material, where each element contributes to a cohesive and enduring whole.
Tom Robertson
Tom Robertson is an Australian architect and the founder of Tom Robertson Architects, a Melbourne-based practice dedicated to residential design. His work is defined by a quiet clarity and a sensitivity to material, light, and context, with a focus on creating spaces that feel both timeless and deeply personal.
Established in 2013, his studio has developed a collaborative and client-focused approach, where each project evolves through careful dialogue and a considered design process. Robertson’s architecture reflects a balance between function and atmosphere, often expressed through a restrained material palette and a strong connection to place.
Through his practice, he continues to explore how architecture can shape everyday life, creating environments that are thoughtful, enduring, and attuned to the people who inhabit them.
Andre Kikoski
Andre Kikoski, AIA, LEED AP, is the Founding Principal of Andre Kikoski Architecture. A commitment to creating transformative architecture runs through all of the firm’s work, shaping projects that balance innovation, materiality, and experience.
Andre received his Master’s degree in Architecture from Harvard University, where he earned distinctions for innovation in design and technology. Prior to founding his practice, he trained with leading figures and firms including I.M. Pei, Peter Eisenman, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and William McDonough.
He currently serves on the board of the Barnsdall Art Park Foundation in Los Angeles, which oversees the Hollyhock House and supports a mission to foster a vibrant and inclusive space for creativity, cultural expression, civic dialogue, and social empowerment. Andre is also a former Trustee of the Van Alen Institute and a member of the Alumni Council Emeritus at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.
Andre speaks internationally across the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. His engagements include ArtHamptons, Harvard University, the Architectural Digest Home Design Show, New York University, Savannah College of Art and Design, Parsons School of Design, and Pratt Institute, among others.
Huw Wellard
Huw Wellard is the architect behind Wellard Architects, a Melbourne-based architecture and design studio. Known for creating lasting impressions through built form, the studio delivers thoughtful outcomes with a sensitive, measured approach that responds to both people and place.
Working across urban, coastal, and rural environments throughout Australia, the practice engages in a process of refinement and shared dialogue to design highly resolved spaces that evolve with life and context.
Tosin Oshinowo
Tosin Oshinowo is a Lagos-based Nigerian architect, designer, and curator, and the founder of Oshinowo Studio, established in 2013. Her practice is recognized for its socially responsive approach to architecture, design, and urbanism, with projects spanning civic, commercial, and residential sectors across Nigeria. Notable works include collaborations with the United Nations Development Programme to create a new community for a village displaced by Boko Haram, Maryland Mall in Lagos, and Adidas’ flagship store in West Africa.
Oshinowo’s work explores the intersection of culture, identity, and contemporary African design. Alongside her architectural practice, she is an active curator and researcher, having co-curated the 2019 Lagos Biennial and curated the 2023 Sharjah Architecture Triennial. A registered architect and member of the Royal Institute of British Architects, she has worked internationally with firms including Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and the Office for Metropolitan Architecture before establishing her independent studio.
