Philia
Magazine

Nickolas Gurtler is an Australian interior designer and the founder and principal of Nickolas Gurtler Office, a boutique practice established in 2015. Over more than a decade in interior design and decoration, he has developed a distinctive approach spanning residential, multi-residential and commercial projects across Australia and the United States. His work is defined by a discerning and thoughtfully edited sensibility, with each project conceived around the experience of inhabiting a space rather than its visual impact alone.

Drawing from a wide field of references encompassing history, film, fashion and product design, Gurtler brings together different cultural and creative influences to form interiors with a strong sense of identity and atmosphere. His practice is also closely connected to contemporary Australian design, with an ongoing commitment to supporting emerging makers, local artisans and locally produced work. Through Nickolas Gurtler Office, he continues to develop a body of work that reflects both an international outlook and a strong connection to Australia’s creative community. In 2025, Gurtler was shortlisted for Designer of the Year at the IDEA Awards.

Kazuhiro Yamanaka is a Japanese designer whose multidisciplinary practice spans collectible furniture, product and lighting design, and installation. Born in Tokyo, he studied at Musashino Art University before completing his MA at the Royal College of Art in London. Throughout his career, Yamanaka has collaborated with international design houses including Ligne Roset, Boffi, Ingo Maurer, Alessi, Pallucco, and SAAZS, developing a body of work characterized by experimentation, precision, and a particular sensitivity to light and space.

Central to Yamanaka’s practice is an exploration of the relationship between objects, their surroundings, and the invisible void they define. His work has entered the collections of institutions including MoMA in New York and the Power Station of Art in Shanghai, where his first major solo exhibition was held in 2017. Alongside his design practice, he has taught at Musashino Art University since 2014 and has served as a visiting professor at the China Academy of Art since 2020. In 2025, his work was recognized with the Dezeen Award for Best Lighting Design of the Year.

Increments Studio is a Melbourne-based architecture practice founded by Naomi Ng and Liang Hu, whose work explores the intersection of architecture, interiors, and spatial experience. Guided by a philosophy that architecture should resonate rather than demand attention, the studio creates spaces defined by quiet restraint, material sensitivity, and a profound connection to their surroundings.

Approaching each project as a unique response to its context and users, Increments Studio places particular emphasis on light, materiality, proportion, and atmosphere, crafting environments that are both grounded and poetic. Their practice spans residential, hospitality, cultural, and installation projects, united by a commitment to resource-conscious design and meaningful human experience. Recognised internationally, the studio’s work has received accolades including the Dezeen Awards and Architizer A+Awards, reflecting an approach where architecture becomes a vehicle for reflection, belonging, and enduring emotional resonance.

Hanne Gathe is a Norwegian interior designer and creative director whose work is defined by a refined balance of Scandinavian restraint, material richness, and understated elegance. As co-founder and creative lead of Gathe + Gram, she has developed a multidisciplinary practice spanning luxury residential, boutique hospitality, and lifestyle projects, creating interiors that are deeply personal, atmospheric, and timeless.

Guided by a strong sense of narrative, Gathe approaches each project as an opportunity to shape emotional experiences through space. Combining bespoke elements, carefully curated vintage pieces, natural materials, and a restrained palette, she creates environments that celebrate craftsmanship while fostering a lasting connection between people and place. Her work has been featured in international publications including Vogue Living, Homes & Gardens, Livingetc, and Travel + Leisure, reflecting an approach where architecture, interiors, and storytelling converge to create spaces of enduring character.

Dan Schneiger is an American architect, artist, and designer whose multidisciplinary practice explores the intersection of architecture, sculpture, and collectible design. Trained as an architect at the University of Minnesota, Schneiger spent nearly two decades working on public, commercial, and residential projects before establishing his independent practice dedicated to sculptural furniture, lighting, and artworks. His work reflects an ongoing dialogue between architectural thinking and handcraft, creating pieces that balance structural precision with artistic expression.

Rooted in a deep appreciation for making by hand, Schneiger’s practice investigates the relationship between technology, materiality, and form. Rejecting the increasingly digital nature of contemporary design, he embraces traditional processes to create works that reveal the tactile qualities of wood, metal, and stone while maintaining a distinctly architectural language. Blurring the boundaries between art and design, his sculptural furniture and lighting embody a timeless sensibility shaped by craftsmanship, material honesty, and a refined understanding of space.

Sandra Lipovetsky is a French state-certified architect and the founder of ODA LIK Studio. After fifteen years designing interiors for leading luxury houses across Paris and New York, she established a practice spanning architecture, collectible design, and sculpture.

Guided by an interest in perception, femininity, and material transformation, Lipovetsky creates sculptural works that shift with changing light and perspective. Combining dichroic glass with mirror-polished stainless steel, her pieces invite an evolving dialogue between object, space, and viewer.