‘Spirit Worlds’ Illuminates Our Timeless Quest to Comprehend the Supernatural

Since time immemorial, humans have been both awed and guided by the power of the unknown. A basis of spiritual beliefs the world over is the abiding question, why?—a probing wonderment often followed closely by, what happens when we die?

Human belief systems provide structure that help us to make sense of the world, and yet the nature of our existence—and how we fit into the context of the cosmos—comprises some of the most beguiling mysteries of all. It’s no surprise that across cultures and throughout millennia, our search for meaning and connection with other worlds has inspired incredible creativity.

Spirit Worlds, forthcoming from TASCHEN on September 15, celebrates art’s relationship to other realms. More than 400 works spanning thousands of years, paired with essays and interviews with scholars and practitioners, illustrate our fascination with the supernatural, from angels and celestial beings to darker forces like ghosts and demons.

The title marks the sixth installment in The Library of Esoterica series, which also includes titles like Plant Magick and Sacred Sites. Spirit Worlds clocks in at more than 500 pages, surveying death rites, altars, sacred temples, the messages of prophets, links mediums make with the other side, symbolic statuary, and more.

“In this expansive volume, we board the ferry across the storied river and enter the gloomy passages between lands, stepping across the threshold—to part the most sacred of veils,” the publisher says.

Pre-order your copy in the Colossal Shop.

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An Inflatable Building Recreates the Iconic Mecca Flats at the Heart of Chicago’s Black Renaissance

As the World’s Fair loomed on Chicago’s horizon, architects Willoughby J. Edbrooke and Franklin Pierce Burnham built a 98-unit hotel to house visitors. After the exposition was finished, the Romanesque Revival building with a large central courtyard was converted into apartments and became known as Mecca Flats.

Chicago adhered to strict segregation codes in the 19th century, and Mecca Flats, located in the Bronzeville neighborhood at 3360 S. State Street, wasn’t immune. The complex originally only allowed white residents, before allowing Black residents in 1911. Quickly, the building became a site for creatives well-known in the Black Renaissance. Gwendolyn Brooks famously titled a book after the tenement, and luminaries Muddy Waters and Katherine Dunham called Mecca Flats home.

Although a historical beacon of Black creativity, the Illinois Institute of Technology razed the building in 1952. It was replaced by the Mies van der Rohe-designed S.R. Crown Hall.

While Mecca Flats are long gone, its memory lives on throughout Chicago, and thanks to the collective known as Floating Museum, a new artwork revives the cultural hub. “for Mecca” is a large-scale inflatable structure recreating the once-thriving complex in grayscale polyester. Scaled down, this iteration stretches 41 feet long, with a U-shaped passageway for viewers to walk through.

Floating Museum is co-directed by avery r. young, Andrew Schachman, Faheem Majeed, and Jeremiah Hulsebos-Spofford, who share that the project offers a “tangible artifact” of Chicago’s lost history. They say:

“for Mecca” represents our collective interest in Bronzeville’s complex history. We can no longer view nostalgic images of Mies van der Rohe—enjoying a cigar in the emptiness of S.R. Crown Hall—without also imagining Mecca Flats, collapsed under his feet, and recalling the slow strategic displacement of the African American community signified by the presence of its absence.

The project also includes several nods to former South Side institutions, including the jazz dancehall Savoy Ballroom and the Regal Theatre, a popular night club and performance venue.

Debuting this past weekend at the original site, the project will travel around the city’s parks through the summer of 2026. “for Mecca” is the latest project in the collective’s Floating Monuments series, which seeks to uncover critical cultural and historical legacies within Chicago through public installations.

Find more from Floating Museum on its website.

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contemporary art meets balearic hospitality at gathering ibiza and MIRA’s 2025 reopening

GATHERING ibiza and mira reopen for 2025 season

For the 2025 season, London-based gallery GATHERING returns to its Ibiza outpost, continuing to explore how contemporary art, hospitality, and nightlife can coexist in a setting shaped by Mediterranean rhythms and countercultural histories. Located in the village of Sant Miquel de Balansat, the site brings together the gallery itself and MIRA, a courtyard restaurant that extends GATHERING’s ethos into food, conversation, and sound. The project aims to position itself as a long-term site for cultural exchange, shaped by the social texture of the island and international networks of the gallery. The venue enters its second full season with new programming, installations, and an expanded nighttime offering.

all images courtesy of GATHERING, unless stated otherwise

Sunset Strip exhibition Unpacks Island Myths and Tourist Dreams

GATHERING Ibiza gallery occupies a light-filled structure with mezzanine levels and generous ceiling height, designed to encourage slow movement and informal viewing. Its summer exhibition, Sunset Strip, on view until September 1st, is produced in collaboration with Berlin gallery SOCIÉTÉ and brings together works by 17 artists including Petra Cortright, Tai Shani, Wynnie Mynerva, Bunny Rogers, and Marianna Simnett. The show draws on motifs tied to island life – pool tiles, palm leaves, pastel tones, and sun-soaked surfaces – while also exploring the themes of tourism, solitude, and the construction of place. Referencing David Hockney’s West Coast imagery and the aesthetics of leisure, the exhibition asks how Ibiza might serve as a mutable context for contemporary practices, rather than a fixed idea of escape.

Next door, MIRA is conceived as part of GATHERING’s expansion, functioning as a social space where food, music, and art intersect without hierarchy. Artist Tai Shani, who participates in the Sunset Strip exhibition, collaborated on the design, shaping the interiors into a theatrical setting. Blown-glass lanterns shaped like abstracted breasts hang above a pink-hued bar, while outside, mirrored spray paintings by Stefan Brüggemann reflect the surrounding garden and visitors back at themselves.

London-based gallery GATHERING returns to its Ibiza outpost

Aperitivos, Vinyl Sets, and Late-Night Lounges

On Sundays, the summer program at MIRA features Aperitivo Analogico, vinyl-only DJ sets, while Mondays shift toward a more introspective listening bar format. Throughout the week, artist talks, pop-up dinners, and chef residencies bring together contributors from Ibiza, Spain, Latin America, and elsewhere. Occasional fashion pop-ups also appear throughout the season, treating the venue as a place to test ideas through presence and participation.

New this year is a late-night concept that transforms MIRA after hours into a dimly lit lounge space shaped by 1970s aesthetics. This shift speaks to the aspiration of the venue to extend its hours and open up to different temporal modes for cultural activity.

GATHERING’s Ibiza chapter continues this trajectory but adjusts the format, suggesting a model for cultural production that embraces hybridity and treats hospitality as part of the infrastructure for contemporary art.

the site brings together the gallery itself and MIRA

the courtyard restaurant extends GATHERING’s ethos into food, conversation, and sound

artist Tai Shani collaborated on the design

GATHERING Ibiza gallery occupies a light-filled structure | installation images by Maria Santos, courtesy of GATHERING and SOCIÉTÉ, Berlin

Sunset Strip is produced in collaboration with Berlin gallery SOCIÉTÉ

bringing together works by 17 artists

the show draws on motifs tied to island life

exploring the themes of tourism, solitude, and the construction of place

the exhibition asks how Ibiza might serve as a mutable context for contemporary practices

project info:

name: GATHERING Ibiza and MIRA | @mira.gathering.ibiza

restaurant designer: Tai Shani | @taishani

location: Sant Miquel de Balansat, Ibiza, Spain

exhibition: Sunset Strip (June 24th – September 1st, 2025)

featured artists: Petra Cortright, Tamara K.E., Wynnie Mynerva, Bunny Rogers, Tai Shani, Marianna Simnett, among others

curation: Gathering gallery | @gathering.london in collaboration with Berlin gallery | @societeberlin

site-specific works: Tai Shani, Stefan Brüggemann | @stefanbruggemann1975

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inside this milan wine bar, studiomille creates a cozy gathering space rooted in filipino culture

wine bar in milan blends filipino heritage with a lived-in ambiance

Earthy-toned curtains drape over the storefront of Balay, a wine bar on lively Via Maiocchi in Milan, designed by architectural practice Studiomille. This bar, whose name means ‘home’ in several Filipino languages, acts as a cozy spot for the neighborhood, offering natural wines and small plates influenced by Mediterranean and Filipino cuisine that come together under owner Ray Ibarra’s vision.

The designers preserve many of the original elements of the space, including patterned tiled floors and distressed plaster walls that provide a textured base for their additions. Dark woods and warm textiles alongside raw metals and rough finishes reflect the richness of traditional Filipino interiors, evoking the heterogeneous urban environment of Manila.

all images by Delfino Sisto Legnani / DLS Studio

balay feels like stepping inside a neighbor’s home

Led by Daniele Demattè and Luca Cozzani, the team at Studiomille organizes the interior around a conceptual horizontal split that divides the height into two distinct visual zones, guiding movement and sight lines throughout Balay.

A shelving system that displays Ray’s personal collection of objects lines one of the walls, while at the center, a large multifunctional counter serves as a communal table, bar surface, and platform for events such as DJ sets. The curtain next to the bar’s entrance filters the city noise, inviting passersby to feel welcome as if stepping into a neighbor’s home. The pendant light hanging above the bar references the geometric patterns found in traditional capiz shell windows, using reclaimed lighting optics salvaged from old office fixtures framed in dark wood. Opposite the bar, slender walnut shelves are mounted on a metal track system, so they can be moved and adjusted, while the street-facing shelves expose their plasterboard structure, lit to show off the raw material that is usually hidden.

Outside, the long curtains appear as sculptural forms during the day, and at night they glow from the light inside. Preserved surfaces, varied materials, and flexible furnishings make Balay feel personal and shared, like a welcoming home that brings memories of the Philippines.

Balay means ‘home’ in several Filipino languages

a cozy spot for the neighborhood, offering natural wines and small plates

a shelving system displays the owner’s personal collection of objects

evoking the heterogeneous urban environment of Manila

a large counter serves as a communal table, bar surface, and platform for events such as DJ sets

the pendant light hanging above the bar references the geometric patterns found in capiz shell windows

the long curtains appear as sculptural forms during the day

plastic crates repurposed as outdoor seating

at night the curtains glow from the light inside

project info:

name: Balay | @__balay

architect: Studiomille | @millestudiomille

location: Via Maiocchi 26, Milan, Italy

owner: Ray Ibarra

creative direction: Oneplus + Emanuele Abbondanza

visual identity: Oneplus

uniform design: Ascend Beyond

technical support: Pareschi Studio

sound system: Marco Livietti

photographer: Delfino Sisto Legnani / DLS Studio

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alterstudio’s net-positive ‘city park residence’ bridges sloping site in austin, texas

city park Residence is Shaped by Site and View

Alterstudio perches this City Park Residence along a slope overlooking downtown Austin, interweaving the architecture into its verdant surroundings. The rolling hills outside the Texan city frame the urban skyline, with the Pennybacker Bridge appearing in the mid-ground. The design mediates between expansive panoramas and the intimacy of a sheltered courtyard, balancing openness with moments of enclosure.

Approaching the home, visitors move along a bridge that skirts mature oak trees and spans a carefully reshaped section of terrain, repairing the scar left by the demolition of the site’s previous structure. At the threshold, glimpses of the view give way to a U-shaped upper level. A service wing leads to public living and dining areas, where floor-to-ceiling glazing frames the landscape and opens onto a balcony that reveals the full expanse of the vista. Below, a sloping garden connects to a covered terrace, pool, and lawn. Exterior materials such as profiled wood, native stone, and mahogany window walls anchor the house in its context.

images © Casey Dunn

alterstudio’s Environmental Design and Energy Strategy

The architects at Alterstudio incorporate hybrid energy systems into the 7,600-square-foot City Park Residence, taking advantage of the site’s natural elements. Breezeways and roof apertures channel prevailing winds through the home, while deep eaves and solar shades temper solar gain. Extensive glazing provides daylight without sacrificing energy performance, supported by a high-performance building envelope with continuous exterior insulation.

Active systems complement the passive design moves, including a VRF HVAC system with MERV 13 filtration, hybrid electric hot water, high-efficiency lighting, and a photovoltaic array that enables net-positive energy performance. These measures, integrated into the architectural form, address both environmental responsibility and the health of occupants.

the house is set on a hillside overlooking downtown Austin

Adaptability and Long-Term Use

Alterstudio designs the City Park Residence as an heirloom for the client family, adaptable to shifting needs over generations. The primary living spaces and garage are located on the main level, supporting aging in place. Offices are planned to convert into bedrooms, and bathrooms can be reconfigured to accommodate future family members.

The home also integrates a safe room for protection during severe weather events. This emphasis on flexibility extends the residence’s longevity while enhancing resilience against the increasingly variable climate of central Texas, from extreme heat to winter freezes and power grid disruptions.

a bridge entry weaves through mature oak trees

a U-shaped plan frames both views and a private court

floor-to-ceiling glazing opens living areas to the landscape

passive cooling uses breezeways, roof openings, and deep eaves

flexible layouts allow for aging in place and multigenerational use

project info:

name: City Park Residence

architect, interior designer: Alterstudio | @alterstudio

location: Austin, Texas

completion: 2025

photography: © Casey Dunn | @caseycdunn

design team: Kevin Alter, Ernesto Cragnolino, Tim Whitehill, Haifa Hammami, Daniel Shumaker, Matt Slusarek, Elizabeth Sydnor, Shelley McDavid

contractor: Rauser Construction

structural engineer: M. Scott Williamson

mechanical engineer: Positive Energy

geotechnical engineer: Holt Engineering

civil engineer: Aeparmia Engineering, PLLC

landscape: Hocker

pool: Design Ecology

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zimmer studio explores contrasting material aesthetics in es_more’s palma dual retail space

ES_MORE: a dual-store concept by Milan-based ZIMMER Studio

Designed by Milan-based ZIMMER Studio, a dual-store concept in Palma de Mallorca explores new approaches to multibrand retail through a precise use of materials and spatial contrast. ES_MORE combines tactile finishes, sculptural forms, and an interplay between art and fashion. The project is composed of two distinct yet conceptually connected spaces: one dedicated to womenswear and the other to menswear. Each store was conceived to reflect the brand’s refined identity, offering a unique and immersive retail experience rooted in material expression and spatial storytelling.

all images courtesy of ZIMMER

Two connected spaces dedicated to womenswear and menswear

The womenswear store is defined by a serene and intimate atmosphere. Neutral-toned textured walls create a soft visual backdrop, while a warm ceiling made of woven rattan and wood envelops the space, adding a domestic, almost tactile quality. A modular bookshelf runs along one side, hosting both fashion items and curated artworks in collaboration with L21 Gallery, establishing a thoughtful dialogue between fashion and contemporary art. The clothing racks, lightweight structures suspended from a system of rods and local stone counterweights, emphasize suspension and airiness, key themes throughout the space. Even the structural columns have been reinterpreted with sculptural interventions that balance aesthetics and function. In contrast, for the menswear store, designers at ZIMMER Studio compose a bolder, more tactile identity. Brick becomes the protagonist of the space, particularly in a large feature wall placed opposite a mirror, which visually expands the store and intensifies the interplay of texture and light.

ES_MORE, a dual-store concept by Milan-based ZIMMER Studio

Heritage meets contemporary in furniture and materials

Materials were selected for their raw and authentic feel, reinforcing the space’s sense of solidity and character. The coffered ceiling serves as a diffused lighting source, providing an even glow across the room. Wood is used in two contrasting finishes: smooth planes that highlight the architectural lines, and hand-carved wooden elements that introduce artisanal details and a sense of craftsmanship. Both environments are unified through the inclusion of iconic furniture pieces, such as the Spanish Chair by Børge Mogensen, which reinforce the project’s balance between heritage and contemporary design. The entire concept is grounded in a meticulous material selection process and a sensitivity to spatial rhythm, with every element, custom or curated, playing a role in shaping an elevated and emotionally resonant shopping experience.

two connected spaces dedicated to womenswear and menswear

neutral-toned textured walls create a soft visual backdrop

structural columns reinterpreted as sculptural interventions

raw, authentic materials reinforce a sense of solidity

warm rattan and wood ceiling adds a tactile quality

coffered ceiling provides diffused, even illumination

smooth and hand-carved wood finishes introduce contrast

artisanal details add craftsmanship to the interior

material selection shapes the spatial rhythm

each detail contributes to the overall retail narrative

project info:

name: ES_MORE Palma De Mallorca

architect: ZIMMER | @zimmer_std

client: ES_MORE

location: Palma de Mallorca, Spain

area: 70 sqm

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straight out of a fairytale, blossomed silhouettes wrap ‘papa don’t preach’ delhi store

DesignHex conceives whimsical Papa Don’t Preach store in Delhi

Located in Delhi’s Dhan Mill compound, India, the new flagship store for fashion label Papa Don’t Preach has been designed by Shimona Bhansali of DesignHex. The project presents a spatial interpretation of the brand’s visual identity through a blend of materiality, sculptural form, and narrative-driven detailing.

The store’s facade draws inspiration from folkloric underwater landscapes, with sculpted sea creatures and organic plant forms embedded into two tonnes of hand-carved natural wood. CNC-cut elements and high-relief panels combine to create a textured, layered surface. Sage green and lavender pigments reflect daylight to produce a subtle iridescence. Completed within 60 days, the exterior sets the tone for the interior spatial sequence.

all images by Janvi Thakkar – Wabi Sabi Studios

Organic textured details define Papa Don’t Preach Flagship store

Inside, the space maintains visual continuity with the brand’s Mumbai outlet, applying a palette of soft pinks and blush tones across structural and surface elements. Studio DesignHex reinterprets existing columns as tree-like forms, their branches extending toward the ceiling in a gesture of organic support and creative growth. These sculptural components are coated in textured pink paint, contributing to both visual cohesion and material richness.

The flooring introduces variation through a patchwork of pink and white marble, punctuated by areas of micro-concrete. This combination establishes a tactile contrast while preserving the chromatic consistency of the interior. Large windows introduce natural light into the store, producing changing patterns of illumination throughout the day and enhancing the reflective and textured surfaces.

facade carved from two tonnes of natural wood evokes an underwater landscape

blurring the lines between fantasy, fashion, and architecture

Functional zoning within the store supports a smooth retail experience, integrating product display with spatial storytelling. The layout is intended to accommodate both circulation and moments of pause, aligning with the brand’s performative and narrative approach to fashion.

The store’s placement within the Dhan Mill compound aligns with the area’s evolution from industrial zone to cultural and commercial hub. DesignHex’s intervention positions the flagship as both a retail destination and a material extension of Papa Don’t Preach’s design ethos, situating fashion within an immersive, sculptural environment that balances ornamental detailing with spatial clarity.

sculpted sea creatures and organic forms reference folkloric marine imagery

CNC-cut panels create depth and layering on the textured storefront

interior palette features soft pinks and blush tones

pink and white marble floors contrast with areas of micro-concrete

tree-like columns extend to the ceiling, symbolizing organic support

textured pink paint adds material richness to structural elements

natural light filters through large windows, animating the space

ceiling design draws from botanical metaphors of growth and expansion

display areas are integrated with narrative spatial design

the layout balances movement and moments of pause

DesignHex transforms the retail space into an immersive experience

material choices reinforce a cohesive chromatic environment

project info:

name: Papa Don’t Preach Delhi
architect: DesignHex | @design_hex

lead architect: Shimona Bhansali

location: Dhan Mill, Delhi, India

area: 2,100 sqft

photographer: Janvi Thakkar, Wabi Sabi Studios | @wabi_sabi.studios

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faulkner architects designs red rock house to withstand extreme desert climate

red rock: contemporary home lands in mojave desert

Red Rock is a newly built residence by Faulkner Architects, located in Summerlin, Nevada, on the edge of the Mojave Desert. Set between the Las Vegas city skyline and the sandstone formations of Red Rock Canyon, the house is shaped by the region’s demanding climate — dry winters, intense summer heat, high winds, and seasonal monsoons. The architecture is informed by these conditions, along with the client’s need for privacy and durability.

images © Joe Fletcher

passive design by faulkner architects

Located on a three-quarter-acre site, Faulkner Architects’ Red Rock residence contends with the Mojave Desert’s extreme climate, which sees high summer temperatures, monsoon rains, and constant winds. The design team shows a deliberate and controlled response to this context. The structure is oriented to minimize solar exposure and create privacy while maintaining visual access to the city and canyon beyond. A subtractive process in the plan carves out a sheltered courtyard to the east and introduces a raised reflecting basin that mirrors the living space in scale.

Leading toward interiors designed by Concept Lighting Lab, the entry is calibrated and sequential. Visitors pass through a tight vertical opening in the board-formed concrete perimeter wall, arriving at a shaded ramp that leads to a private court. At eye level with the basin’s surface, this moment compresses and frames the transition from the desert exterior to the interior architecture.

the entry to the home is a narrow passage leading to a shaded ramp and private courtyard

context-driven materials

The Red Rock structure is composed of locally-sourced sand, gravel, and fly ash concrete, which is mixed on-site and cast in place by the team led by Faulkner Architects. The result is a pale buff surface that visually connects to the surrounding geology. Exposed in both floor and wall surfaces, the concrete absorbs and modulates the desert’s thermal fluctuations. Over half of the 8,500-square-foot residence is built into the earth, where passive cooling and daylighting strategies allow the home to remain breezy and energy efficient.

Above ground, living areas and bedrooms occupy structures articulated in weathering steel. A perforated screen system shields the interiors from direct sun and wind while allowing filtered light and airflow. This layered strategy is expressed as a heavy mass below, and a lightweight envelope above.

The house maintains a low profile across the landscape. Its elongated geometry aligns with the east-west axis, situating the pool and shaded deck to receive directional breezes and controlling solar gain. The cantilevered steel framework shelters the upper level and cars beneath, extending outward to echo the silhouette of Red Rock Canyon.

weathering steel screens shield the upper level bedrooms from wind and sun

a raised reflecting basin mirrors the proportions of the living space and captures city views

locally-sourced sand, gravel, and fly ash concrete forms the structure

the house is located in Summerlin, Nevada between the Las Vegas Strip and Red Rock Canyon

project info:

name: Red Rock

architect: Faulkner Architects | @faulknerarchitects

location: Summerlin, Nevada

interior design: Concept Lighting Lab | @studio_cll

photography: © Joe Fletcher | @joefletcherphoto

design team: Greg Faulkner, Owen Wright, Jenna Shropshire, Breanne Penrod

general contractor: RW Bugbee & Associates
landscape architects: Hugo Sanchez Paisaje and Vangson Consulting
structural: CFBR Structural Group
civil: Shaw Engineering
MEP: Energy-1
surveyor: Diamondback Land Surveying
geotechnical: Geo Tek Residential
lighting designer: Concept Lighting Lab
pool designer: Ozzie Kraft Pools

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mallorca’s hotel nobis palma preserves historic stone with steel interventions

hotel nobis palma revives a centuries-old structure

Hotel Nobis Palma occupies a centuries-old building in the heart of Mallorca’s capital. Known historically as Can Oliver, the property’s transformation into a 5-star boutique hotel was led by Jordi Herrero Arquitectos and Eduardo García Acuña, with interiors by Swedish design studio Wingårdhs.

Located on Calle Caputxines, the 2,253-square-meter stone building includes a 12th-century Arabic coffered ceiling, Gothic paintings, and a grand Majorcan staircase. Previous attempts to convert the structure into a hotel had failed to gain approval from Palma’s city council. This iteration, however, reversed the typical approach. Rather than inserting a hotel into an historic shell, the architects aim to let the identity of Can Oliver shape the design of Hotel Nobis Palma.

images © José Hevia

uncovering the building’s layered heritage

The Hotel Nobis Palma renovation began with a detailed architectural survey, cataloging traces of the Mallorca building’s long evolution — arched doorways, bricked-in windows, and layered facades. Instead of covering these findings, the design teams at Jordi Herrero Arquitectos and Eduardo García Acuña made them visible. In the restaurant area, both a 1950s intervention and the original wall behind it were preserved, allowing the two to coexist.

Guest rooms retain their spatial integrity. Protected volumes were left untouched by partition walls. Bathrooms, where necessary, are inserted as freestanding steel and glass enclosures. These minimal volumes appear detached from the historic envelope and also integrate ventilation systems. Where circulation required modification, such as when a corridor intersected an original chamber, the architects tunnel through the space, maintaining the perception of the room as a whole.

Hotel Nobis Palma occupies the historic Can Oliver in Mallorca

a sensitive, reversible intervention in mallorca

The Hotel Nobis Palma’s unique attic spaces, which typically rely on skylights, are re-lit using open courtyards carved into the roofline. These garden voids allow for natural light and vegetation while avoiding Mallorca’s excessive solar heat. Throughout the building, any new interventions are built to be reversible and distinguishable from the original fabric.

New architectural elements introduced in the renovation — including interior partitions are stairs — are constructed from blackened steel, offering a clear visual contrast to the recovered stone and plaster surfaces. These new elements further exaggerate the weight of the stone structure and, with their flexibility, allow for future adaptations without compromising historical integrity.

the renovation preserves traces of Gothic and Arabic architectural heritage

The interior design by Wingårdhs softens the heavy atmosphere of the surrounding stone building. Custom wood furniture, generous textiles, and tailored lighting schemes bring warmth to the hotel’s austere shell. Subtle luxuries, such as flowing curtains and slender-legged chairs, are chosen to complement the architecture.

Lush plantings appears throughout the lofty rooms, courtyards, and garden niches, infusing the material palette with a natural rhythm. The lighting program is designed to accentuate surface textures, which allows the space to gradually shift with ever-changing shadows throughout the day.

The structure’s imperfections are left raw where possible, and modern interventions are legible and precise. This way, the hotel is expressed as an occupiable archive of layered history.

the architects prioritize revealing original textures over applying new finishes

lightweight, blackened steel elements lend a sensitive, reversible intervention

attic rooms are lit by open-air courtyards instead of traditional skylights

project info:

name: Hotel Nobis Palma | @nobishotelpalma

architect: Jordi Herrero Arquitectos | @jordiherreroarquitectos, Eduardo García Acuña | @egarquitectura

location: Calle Caputxines 9, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

area: 2,253 square meters
photography: © José Hevia

client: Genova Group
interior design: Wingårdhs
quantity surveyor: Jorge Gómez
archaeologist: Rafael Turatti
structures: Fernando Purroy
installations engineering: Reolid Consulting
lighting: Elektroshields
landscaping: Eugenia Corcoy
construction: Akko Building

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agustín lozada designs casa clausura as an introspective courtyard house in argentina

Agustín Lozada Rethinks Suburban Domesticity

Casa Clausura, designed by architect Agustín Lozada, is a single-family residence located in Mendiolaza, a fast-developing suburb on the outskirts of Córdoba, Argentina. Sited within the newly built neighborhood, the project engages its context through a series of decisions that resist the typical logic of suburban development.

The concrete house humbly settles into its surroundings. It occupies the site’s flattest area and allows a modest, pre-existing mound to define its elevation from the street. From the sidewalk, only a low roofline is visible. It is deliberately subdued, maintaining uninterrupted views toward the trees and mountains beyond. This gesture reflects an approach driven by restraint and spatial responsibility.

images © Federico Cairoli

casa clausura designed with a logic of withdrawal

With the project’s name, Casa Clausura, architect Agustín Lozada speak to a retreat from the visual noise of suburban repetition. Though the site offers open western views, the plan turns away from them, avoiding Córdoba’s intense afternoon sun. Instead, the house orients toward the northeast, prioritizing soft light, environmental comfort, and privacy. These pragmatic choices guide the layout and rhythm of the home.

The organizing principle is a central courtyard, around which the entire domestic program unfolds. Shaded and enclosed, the courtyard becomes a gathering space, centered by a pool and bordered by full-height glazed openings that blur the line between interior and exterior. The architect notes that such courtyards are common among rural homes throughout Argentina.

Casa Clausura is located in Mendiolaza, a growing suburb of Córdoba, Argentina

a pared-back concrete courtyard house

One of the more unexpected features of Casa Clausura is its treatment of the garage. Where most suburban homes place it upfront, dominating the facade, here it has been relocated to the rear of the site. This reversal sets in motion a series of formal adaptations — the driveway wraps around the house’s perimeter, requiring the concrete volume to fold and bend, allowing access without rigidity. The result is a massing that is at once grounded and responsive, with a form shaped by movement and constraint.

Materially, the house is resolute. Cast-in-place concrete provides weight and thermal mass, while its earthy tone harmonizes with the muted palette of the terrain. Openings are carefully calibrated, giving priority to privacy and an inward-facing orientation. Interior spaces are curated with a pared back material palette to celebrate the garden onto which they open.

the house is positioned on the flattest part of the site and withdraws from street view

a central courtyard with a pool forms the spatial core of the house

the plan avoids western exposure and opens toward the northeast for light

concrete forms are softened to accommodate circulation and site contours

project info:

name: Casa Clausura

architect: Agustín Lozada | @agustinlozada_arq

location: Mendiolaza, Argentina

completion: 2023

photography: © Federico Cairoli | @federicocairoli

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