PHILIA MAGAZINE

Esra Kazmirci is a Turkish interior architect and designer based in Istanbul, where she founded Esra Kazmirci Mimarlık in 2012. Working across residential, hospitality, commercial, and yacht interiors, her multidisciplinary practice is guided by a refined balance between functionality and aesthetics, creating timeless environments that respond thoughtfully to the lifestyles and aspirations of their inhabitants.

Before establishing her own studio, Kazmirci gained experience in leading architecture and design practices while also working as a decoration and fashion editor, an experience that shaped her sensitivity to materials, composition, and visual storytelling. Approaching each project as a collaborative dialogue with the client, she develops spaces that reflect both individual identity and contemporary living. Rooted in a belief that thoughtful design can positively influence well-being, her work is distinguished by its elegant simplicity, artistic perspective, and enduring sense of place.

Ayşe Yasaman Demir is an Istanbul-based interior architect and designer whose practice spans interiors and collectible design. Through Studio Ayşe Demir, she creates sculptural mirrors and objects that investigate the interplay between material, light, and perception. Guided by an intuitive, hands-on approach to making, her designs transform everyday elements into expressive forms that blur the boundary between art and function.

Rooted in craftsmanship and material experimentation, Demir’s creative process unfolds through modelling, mould-making, casting, and meticulous hand-finishing. Defined by fluid silhouettes, textured surfaces, and an evolving dialogue between form and fabrication, her pieces invite new ways of experiencing reflection, materiality, and the spaces they inhabit.

Ryan Street is an American architect and the founder of Ryan Street Architects, an Austin-based practice recognized for its thoughtful residential and commercial architecture. Since establishing the studio in 2001, he has developed a design approach rooted in a deep understanding of place, creating buildings that respond to their landscape, climate, and the people who inhabit them. His work is guided by a belief that architecture should foster a lasting connection between nature, craftsmanship, and everyday life.

Through Ryan Street Architects, Street explores the relationship between tradition and contemporary living, creating spaces distinguished by natural materials, refined detailing, and a timeless sense of permanence. Each project is shaped through a close dialogue with its site and clients, resulting in architecture that balances contextual sensitivity with enduring simplicity and warmth.

Luca Rizzi Brignoli is an Italian architect and designer, and co-founder of V10 | 惟拾设计, a cross-cultural design studio established with Chinese architect Fang Zhou. Working across architecture, interiors, and collectible design, the duo develops projects that merge Italian design heritage with contemporary Oriental perspectives, creating spaces and objects shaped by material exploration, craftsmanship, and cultural dialogue.

Coming from a family of furniture makers, Brignoli brings a deep appreciation for making and production to his practice. Through architecture, furniture, and collectible objects, he explores repetition, rhythm, and the expressive potential of materials, creating works that balance architectural clarity with refined craftsmanship while transcending fixed stylistic boundaries.

Amarist Studio is an art and collectible design practice led by Spanish artist Aran Lozano from the Pyrenees. Working at the intersection of art and design, the studio explores the relationship between landscape, material transformation, and the passage of time through sculptural works and collectible objects.

Drawing on materials such as alabaster, concrete, wood, and light, Amarist creates pieces inspired by geological processes, erosion, and the evolution of natural environments. Through craftsmanship, digital technologies, and material experimentation, the studio develops works that reflect on the fragility of ecosystems, the memory embedded in materials, and nature’s enduring capacity for transformation.

Equipo de Arquitectura is an architecture practice based in Asunción, Paraguay, founded in 2017 by Horacio Cherniavsky and Viviana Pozzoli. Working across a wide range of scales and programs, the studio approaches architecture through the fundamental elements of matter, space, light, and time, creating projects that respond sensitively to both their physical and cultural contexts.

Guided by a philosophy rooted in material sincerity and spatial clarity, Equipo de Arquitectura seeks to establish a dialogue between the built environment and the natural world. Their work is characterized by a careful consideration of construction, light, and landscape, resulting in architecture that is both rigorous and deeply connected to place. Alongside their professional practice, Cherniavsky and Pozzoli are actively engaged in teaching and research, viewing architecture as a continuous process of learning, experimentation, and exchange. The studio has received international recognition through numerous awards, exhibitions, and publications, and has been named among the leading emerging architecture practices in Latin America.

Stephanie Betesh is an American interior designer and the founder of Ember Studio, a New York–based practice working across hospitality, residential, and product design. Trained at the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture, she approaches each project through an architecturally informed lens, creating spaces that balance functionality, personality, and human connection.

Guided by a holistic design philosophy, Betesh explores the relationship between objects and their environment, from interior architecture to custom furnishings. In addition to her design practice, she has developed furniture and lighting collections through Ember Studio, available at Colony in New York, and recently launched Riffmade, a renter-friendly furniture brand focused on adaptable and accessible design.

Miminat Shodeinde is a British-Nigerian artist and designer whose multidisciplinary practice explores the intersection of art, architecture, and collectible design. Born and raised in London, she approaches creation as a dialogue between the poetic and the practical, developing sculptural works and immersive environments that challenge conventional distinctions between form and function. Her work is distinguished by a refined balance of contrast and harmony, where contemporary sensibilities coexist with timeless influences to create pieces that are both expressive and deeply considered.

Drawing on her diverse cultural background and architectural perspective, Shodeinde creates objects and spaces that emphasize atmosphere, materiality, and spatial experience. Defying easy categorization, her practice moves fluidly between art and design, resulting in works that are sophisticated, functional, and rich in personality. Through a thoughtful integration of sculpture, design, and architecture, she continues to shape a distinctive creative language that is both elegant and emotionally resonant.

Six Dots Design is a London-based furniture and object studio founded by designer Joe Ellwood. Working primarily with aluminium, the studio creates sculptural pieces distinguished by fluid silhouettes, expressive forms, and a playful yet highly crafted aesthetic. Drawing inspiration from architecture, nature, and everyday life, Six Dots Design embraces experimentation and visible imperfection, challenging conventional notions of refinement while celebrating individuality and self-expression. Through a balance of craftsmanship, material exploration, and emotional resonance, the studio creates furniture that encourages a more personal and authentic relationship between people and the spaces they inhabit.

ONOAA STUDIO is a Shanghai-based architecture and interior design practice founded in 2020 by Gao Ya and Chen Peng. Working across residential, hospitality, commercial, and cultural projects, the studio approaches design as an ongoing dialogue between conceptual exploration and practical reality, seeking to create spaces that are both thoughtful and deeply connected to everyday experience.

Guided by a sensitivity to space, material, and human interaction, ONOAA explores how familiar conditions can be reinterpreted through new perspectives. Their work balances spatial experimentation with clarity and restraint, embracing the unexpected questions that emerge throughout the design process. Through architecture and interiors, the studio develops environments that foster curiosity, emotional resonance, and a nuanced relationship between people and place.

Zanini de Zanine is a Brazilian designer and artist based in Rio de Janeiro whose multidisciplinary practice spans furniture, interiors, and visual arts. Drawing from Brazil’s rich cultural heritage, his work explores the relationship between materiality, craftsmanship, and contemporary design through both artisanal and industrial production methods.

Known for his sculptural approach and deep respect for natural materials, Zanini creates pieces that balance organic forms with refined construction. Whether working with reclaimed wood, handcrafted techniques, or industrial processes, his work reflects an ongoing dialogue between tradition and innovation. Widely exhibited internationally and held in major museum collections, his practice continues to shape a distinctive vision of contemporary Brazilian design.

Martina Guandalini is an Italian architect and designer based in New York. Working across interiors, furniture, and spatial design, her practice explores the intersection of architecture, materiality, and sensory experience.

After earning her Master’s degree in Architecture from the Politecnico di Milano, she built her career in New York, leading projects in the retail and hospitality sectors before founding Martina Guandalini Studio in 2024. Alongside her interior work, she develops collectible furniture and objects distinguished by sculptural forms, emotional resonance, and a refined attention to detail.

Drawing inspiration from art, music, fashion, and contemporary culture, Guandalini creates immersive environments and pieces that balance functionality with narrative, exploring new ways of experiencing space and everyday rituals.

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.

Tina Bobbe is a German designer whose practice explores the transformation of everyday objects into expressive sculptural forms. Working at the intersection of industrial design and collectible design, she is particularly known for reimagining coffee-making objects through a playful yet striking visual language that elevates functional rituals into bold artistic statements.

Her recent work, Stone Drip, continues this exploration through stacked layers of natural stone and resin, combining vivid contrasts, geometric precision, and tactile materiality. Through these pieces, Bobbe examines the emotional relationship between people and the objects that shape daily life.

Born in East Germany in 1989, Bobbe studied mechanical engineering and industrial design in Berlin and Dresden. Before establishing her independent practice, she worked as a scientific design researcher and pursued a PhD focused on the design of objects for communicating technology.

Dan Schneiger is an American artist, designer, and architect whose practice explores the intersection of sculpture, architecture, and craftsmanship. Influenced by modernist figures such as Constantin Brâncuși, Isamu Noguchi, and Richard Neutra, his work is defined by geometric forms, material experimentation, and a strong sculptural sensibility.

Originally trained as an architect, Schneiger worked across residential, retail, and public projects before fully dedicating himself to his artistic practice. Since relocating to Miami in 2014, he has developed a body of work that blurs the boundaries between art, furniture, and architecture, creating pieces that feel both tactile and timeless.

Working across collectible design, sculpture, and functional objects, his practice reflects an ongoing dialogue between structure and emotion, combining architectural precision with a deeply handcrafted approach.