Philia
Magazine

Maria Loram is a ceramic artist based in California whose practice spans collectible vessels, sculptural lighting, and functional objects. Born in Russia, she brings together a multidisciplinary background in science, linguistics, yoga, and visual art, approaching ceramics as both a material investigation and a philosophical inquiry.

Inspired by wabi-sabi aesthetics, Eastern philosophies, and the natural world, Loram creates tactile forms that explore the relationship between the organic and the cosmic. Through an intuitive process of wheel throwing, hand-building, and extensive glaze experimentation, her works balance sculptural presence with functionality, inviting moments of stillness, contemplation, and connection. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at Paris Design Week, and she has participated in artist residencies across the United States and Europe.

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.

Atelier HA is a Paris-based architecture and interior design studio founded by Hugo Vince and Adèle Nourry. After meeting at the École Camondo in 2015, the duo established their practice, combining Adèle’s expertise in spatial planning with Hugo’s focus on three-dimensional design and materiality. Their collaborative approach has led to a portfolio of refined residential and hospitality projects, including private residences in Paris and the celebrated Mistinguett restaurant at the Casino de Paris.

Guided by a deep sensitivity to detail and the identity of each space, Atelier HA creates interiors shaped by intuition, materiality, and atmosphere. Through a thoughtful dialogue between architecture and its constraints, the studio develops expressive environments where colour, texture, and light contribute to a distinct sense of place.

Martina Guandalini is an Italian architect, interior designer, and product designer based in New York. Her practice spans architecture, interiors, and collectible design, united by an interest in creating spaces and objects that evoke emotion through materiality, form, and atmosphere. Working across disciplines, she develops designs that challenge convention while establishing a distinct visual language rooted in experimentation and refinement.

Guandalini gained international recognition in 2020 when she was named NYCxDESIGN Honoree for Best Emerging Designer following the debut of her Soulmate furniture collection, which was presented by Dezeen, Sight Unseen, and at the Salone del Mobile in Milan. Since then, she has continued to expand her body of collectible furniture while collaborating with leading brands and galleries, establishing a practice that seamlessly bridges architecture, interiors, and contemporary design.

Elisa Uberti is a French artist and designer based in Roubaix. After more than fifteen years in the fashion industry, she turned to ceramics, embracing craftsmanship as a way to reconnect with material, gesture, and time. Since founding her studio in 2018, she has developed a body of work that exists at the intersection of art and design, creating sculptural objects in stoneware distinguished by their soft, organic forms and quiet presence.

Guided by a pursuit of refined, timeless beauty, Uberti explores the delicate balance between technical precision and the spontaneity of hand-making. Rooted in an ancestral manual practice, her work celebrates the expressive qualities of clay, where each gesture leaves a visible trace of the making process. Through vessels, lighting, and sculptural pieces, she creates contemplative forms that evoke warmth, simplicity, and a profound connection between material, craftsmanship, and everyday life.

OFFHAND PRACTICE is a Shanghai-based design studio founded in 2019 by Yuan Yuan and Nie Xuan. Working across interior design, exhibition, and spatial design, the studio develops projects defined by a thoughtful balance of experimentation, material sensitivity, and contextual awareness. Their practice embraces curiosity and hands-on exploration, approaching each commission as an opportunity to uncover the essence of a place through careful observation and refinement.

Guided by the belief that meaningful spaces emerge from an ongoing dialogue between people and their surroundings, OFFHAND PRACTICE creates interiors that are understated yet deeply expressive. Their portfolio includes projects such as Aesop Suzhou Cangjie Store, Déjà Vu Recycle Store in Shanghai, and Brownie / Project M50 Gallery, each reflecting the studio’s commitment to authenticity, clarity, and enduring spatial experiences.