Philia
Magazine

Xu Tiantian is a Chinese architect, educator, and founding principal of DnA_Design and Architecture, a Beijing-based practice known for its context-driven and socially engaged work. She earned her Bachelor of Architecture from Tsinghua University and a Master of Architecture in Urban Design from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.

Her work explores the relationship between architecture, culture, and rural development through a strategy she describes as “architectural acupuncture”—small-scale interventions that support local communities while preserving cultural identity. Alongside her practice, she serves as a professor at Tsinghua University.

Xu’s work has received numerous international distinctions, including the Swiss Architectural Award, the Holcim Gold Award for Asia-Pacific, and the Wolf Prize in Architecture.

Ginger Curtis is an American interior designer, author, and the founder and CEO of Urbanology Designs, an award-winning interior design studio based in Dallas–Fort Worth. Renowned for her signature approach to warm modernism, she creates refined yet inviting interiors that prioritize authenticity, comfort, and emotional connection.

Through Urbanology Designs, Curtis develops highly personalized residential projects shaped by each client’s lifestyle, values, and story. Her work has earned numerous industry distinctions and has been featured in leading publications including Architectural Digest, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Veranda, House Beautiful, and Luxe Interiors + Design.

Beyond her design practice, Curtis is a bestselling author, speaker, and advocate for neuroaesthetics, exploring how thoughtfully designed environments can influence well-being and enrich everyday life. Her work reflects a belief that great design should not only be beautiful, but also meaningful, timeless, and deeply human.

Studiopepe is a Milan-based architecture and design practice founded in 2006 by Arianna Lelli Mami and Chiara Di Pinto. Working across hospitality, retail, residential interiors, product design, and creative direction, the studio is known for its multidisciplinary approach and distinctive visual language that balances formal rigor with poetic expression.

Drawing on a rich interplay of materials, colors, textures, and references, Studiopepe creates immersive environments and objects defined by their emotional depth and narrative quality. Their work explores the dialogue between contemporary design, craftsmanship, and artistic experimentation, resulting in projects that are both sophisticated and deeply evocative.

Elisa Uberti is a French artist and designer based in Roubaix, where she founded her ceramic studio in 2018. After spending many years in the fashion industry, she turned toward craftsmanship in search of greater creative freedom and a more direct relationship with material and making. Working primarily with stoneware, Uberti creates sculptural objects, lighting, and furniture that exist at the intersection of art and design.

Defined by curved and tactile forms, her work draws inspiration from nature, architecture, nomadic cultures, and the poetry of space. Through ancestral hand-building techniques and an intuitive approach to volume, she develops pieces that balance technical rigor with spontaneity, creating a refined universe shaped by materiality, emotion, and timelessness.

Héctor Esrawe is a Mexico City–based designer and the founder of Esrawe Studio, a multidisciplinary practice established in 2003. Working across architecture, interior design, furniture, and product design, the studio has developed a diverse portfolio of residential, hospitality, cultural, and commercial projects both in Mexico and internationally.

Guided by a deep understanding of the physical and emotional dimensions of space, Esrawe’s work is characterized by a thoughtful approach to materiality, craftsmanship, and context. Through a collaborative and interdisciplinary process, his practice brings together architects, designers, artists, and craftspeople to create environments that balance innovation, functionality, and human experience.

A leading figure in contemporary Mexican design, Esrawe has played a significant role in shaping the country’s creative landscape through both his studio practice and various collaborative initiatives. His work has received numerous international distinctions and has been exhibited globally, while his projects and designs form part of both private and institutional collections.