Carpentry & Joinery WORKSHOP & STUDIO for Architecture & Design
COLLECTIVE E.X.Y.Z.T.
Multidisciplinary Practice — Europe & International
E.X.Y.Z.T. is a French multidisciplinary collective bringing together architects, photographers, graphic designers, DJs, VJs, cooks, and gardeners, working across architecture, art, and public space. As a member of the collective, we contributed to a wide range of projects developed throughout Europe and internationally, including São Paulo and New York.
The collective is known for creating temporary architectures and self-sustaining environments, often constructed and inhabited collectively for the duration of each project. These works operate as micro-economies, combining spatial design with programming, food, music, and social interaction.
Frequently invited to biennales, cultural festivals, European Capitals of Culture, and architecture festivals, E.X.Y.Z.T. developed projects such as makeshift hotels, windmills, cinemas, lidos, workshops, and communal living structures. Each intervention responds to its context while maintaining a strong emphasis on collaboration, reuse, adaptability, and direct engagement with the public.
The work of the collective blurs the boundaries between architecture, installation, and event, producing environments that are as much about experience and participation as they are about construction.
NETWORK & COLLABORATIONS
Over the years, E.X.Y.Z.T. has realised projects across a wide geographical range, including Paris, London (multiple projects), Rotterdam, Madrid, Guimarães, Birmingham, Strasbourg, Warsaw, Saint-Étienne, Liepāja, and Montpellier, as well as further international work in cities such as São Paulo and New York. Each location informed the project’s approach, responding to local contexts while maintaining the collective’s ethos of temporary, adaptive construction.
The collective brought together a broad network of collaborators and contributors from different disciplines, including Nicolas Henninger (OfCA), Franz Wunschel & Pier Schneider (1024 Architecture), Philippe Rizzotti (PRA), Gil Burbán, Julien Beller, Alex Römer (Constructlab), Brice Pelleschi, Stéphanie Grimard, Christophe Gouttes (DJ Toffee), Gonzague Lacombe (DG), Dagmar Dudinsky (DG), and Pablo Georgieff (Coloco), among many others.
This extended network allowed E.X.Y.Z.T. to operate as a fluid and collaborative platform, combining skills across architecture, construction, media, performance, and landscape to realise complex, collective projects.
Carpentry & Joinery WORKSHOP & STUDIO for Architecture & Design
COLLECTIVE E.X.Y.Z.T.
SOUTHWARK LIDO
2008 — London, UK (SE1)
Temporary Architectural Installation — EXYZT / London Festival of Architecture
Temporary public installation by Collective E.X.Y.Z.T. for the London Festival of Architecture, transforming a vacant urban site at 100 Union Street into a fully operational urban lido.
The project introduced a public swimming pool, bar, sauna and event space, creating a vibrant social environment within the city.
Conceived as an open and inclusive platform, it encouraged participation through swimming, performances and daily use, embodying EXYZT’s approach to live, build and activate space simultaneously.
As one of the collective’s early large-scale interventions in London, the project established a model for temporary public architecture as social infrastructure.
Project No.1 at 100 Union Street
Design & Production: EXYZT
SPECIFICATIONS
Structure & Materials
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Scaffolding system forming primary structure
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Pine timber for framing, decking and ancillary structures
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Thermoplastic lining for water containment
Programmatic Elements
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Swimming pool (lido)
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Bar and social spaces
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Sauna
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Event and performance areas
Systems & Equipment
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Plumbing system for pool operation
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Lighting installation for day and night use
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Sound equipment for events and performances
Construction
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Modular, rapid assembly system using reusable components
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Designed for temporary occupation and full disassembly
Technical Considerations
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Safe integration of water systems in an urban temporary structure
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Load-bearing coordination within scaffold framework
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Environmental control for sauna and water features
Application
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Architectural installation for the London Festival of Architecture, redefining unused urban space as a collective leisure and cultural environment.
Carpentry & Joinery WORKSHOP & STUDIO for Architecture & Design
COLLECTIVE E.X.Y.Z.T.
CITY ISLAND
2010 — Madrid, ES
Architectural Installation — EXYZT / La Noche en Blanco
Temporary architectural installation by Collective E.X.Y.Z.T., transforming the former site of a public swimming pool into a lively, immersive urban landscape for La Noche en Blanco in Madrid.
The project reactivated the space as a collective environment, combining elements of leisure and culture: an artificial lagoon, shaded “rainforest”, open-air cinema, stage and bar. Designed as a temporary micro-urbanism, the installation invited continuous occupation, interaction and participation, day and night.
Operating at the intersection of architecture, scenography and event, the project demonstrates EXYZT’s approach of building and inhabiting spaces simultaneously, creating ephemeral communities through construction.
SPECIFICATIONS
Structure & Materials
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Scaffolding system as primary structural framework
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Pine timber framing
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OSB panels for platforms, walls and surfaces
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Thermoplastic elements for water containment and finishes
Programmatic Elements
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Artificial lagoon with water system
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Shaded structures forming a dense canopy environment
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Open-air cinema, stage and bar facilities
Systems & Equipment
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Integrated pump, filtration and irrigation systems
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Sound and lighting equipment for performances and screenings
Construction
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Rapid assembly using modular and reusable components
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Designed for temporary occupation and disassembly
Technical Considerations
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Water management within a temporary structure
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Load distribution across scaffold-based platforms
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Integration of infrastructure (water, light, sound) within an open public installation
Application
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Public installation for La Noche en Blanco, enabling large-scale civic engagement through temporary architecture.
Carpentry & Joinery WORKSHOP & STUDIO for Architecture & Design
COLLECTIVE E.X.Y.Z.T.
DALSTON MILL
2009 — London, UK (E8)
Architectural Installation — EXYZT / Radical Nature, Barbican
Temporary architectural installation by Collective E.X.Y.Z.T. for the Barbican exhibition Radical Nature, set on a disused plot in Dalston.
The project consisted of a fully functioning urban mill and bakery, producing flour and bread on site while acting as a public gathering space. Combining agriculture, production and social interaction, the installation reintroduced a productive landscape into the city, inviting visitors to engage directly with processes of making and consumption.
Operating as both infrastructure and event, Dalston Mill became a landmark temporary intervention, blending architecture, performance and everyday activity.
Project as member of EXYZT
SPECIFICATIONS
Structure & Materials
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Scaffolding system as primary structural framework
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Timber construction for platforms, enclosures and mill structure
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Thermic tarpaulin for enclosure and weather protection
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Glass fibre reinforced resin for sculpted and functional elements
Programmatic Elements
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Working mill
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Bakery with ovens
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Public gathering and event space
Systems & Equipment
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Lighting installation for extended use
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Plumbing systems supporting bakery operations
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Sound equipment for events and activation
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Operational ovens for bread production
Construction
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Modular and rapid assembly using reusable materials
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Designed for temporary use and full disassembly
Technical Considerations
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Integration of food production within a temporary structure
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Safe operation of heat-generating equipment (ovens)
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Weatherproofing and durability in an outdoor urban environment
Application
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Installation for the Barbican’s Radical Nature exhibition, merging architecture, ecology and production into a participatory urban experience.
Carpentry & Joinery WORKSHOP & STUDIO for Architecture & Design
COLLECTIVE E.X.Y.Z.T.
DALSTON BARN
2010 — London, UK (E8)
Canopy — East Curve Garden, Dalston
Design and construction of a timber canopy structure for the East Curve Garden, located on the same site as the former Dalston Mill, and notably built above a railway tunnel.
The project provides a covered communal space within the garden, offering shelter and enabling year-round use for gatherings, workshops and events. The design responds to the constraints of the site, balancing lightness and structural clarity with durability, while carefully addressing the conditions of building over sensitive underground infrastructure.
A simple and robust architectural gesture, the canopy integrates into the evolving landscape of the garden, supporting its role as a community-led urban space.
Project as Office for Crafted Architecture
with Nicolas Henninger and Alex Römer
SPECIFICATIONS
Structure & Materials
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Timber frame structure
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Corrugated steel roofing sheets
Construction
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Lightweight construction adapted to building فوق a railway tunnel
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Designed for efficient assembly and minimal ground impact
Technical Considerations
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Load distribution mindful of subsurface railway constraints
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Weather protection through durable and low-maintenance materials
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Integration within an active community garden environment
Application
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Semi-permanent canopy providing shelter and usability for public and community activities at East Curve Garden.
Carpentry & Joinery WORKSHOP & STUDIO for Architecture & Design
COLLECTIVE E.X.Y.Z.T.
LABICHAMPI
2007 — Karosta, Liepaja, Latvia
Architectural Installation — EXYZT
Design and production of a hybrid installation within a disused Soviet army staff villa, combining exhibition space, performance venue and experimental mushroom-growing laboratory.
Developed by Collective E.X.Y.Z.T., the project transformed the abandoned building into a living, evolving environment, culminating in a public festival. Natural growth processes and cultural programming were brought together, creating a dialogue between decay, regeneration and occupation.
Blurring the boundaries between architecture, ecology and performance, LabiChampi exemplifies an approach where space is activated through both biological and social processes.
Project as member of EXYZT
Client: Art-Gallery KD
SPECIFICATIONS
Structure & Materials
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Timber and found wood elements, including trees integrated into the structure
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Carbon tubes for lightweight structural components
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Thermic plastic for enclosure and environmental control
Programmatic Elements
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Exhibition spaces
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Performance and event areas
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Mushroom cultivation laboratory
Systems & Equipment
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Lighting installation
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Sound and video projection systems
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Pyrotechnic elements integrated into performances
Construction
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Adaptive reuse of an existing derelict villa
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Combination of temporary structures and site-responsive interventions
Technical Considerations
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Integration of organic growth systems within an architectural framework
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Balancing environmental conditions for fungal cultivation and public use
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Safe incorporation of performance technologies, including pyrotechnics
Application
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Cultural installation and festival space merging ecology, art and architecture within a post-military context.
Carpentry & Joinery WORKSHOP & STUDIO for Architecture & Design
COLLECTIVE E.X.Y.Z.T.
OVNI
2011 — Warsaw, PL
Architectural Installation — EXYZT
Commissioned as part of Warsaw Cultural Capital of Europe 2011, OVNI was a large-scale temporary installation conceived as a UFO landing on a disused urban fountain.
Transforming the site into a vibrant and immersive environment, the project introduced a self-contained micro-village, including spaces for food, accommodation, leisure and market activities, as well as a swimming pool. The installation acted as both spectacle and infrastructure, inviting the public to inhabit and activate the space.
Combining scenography with architecture, OVNI exemplifies EXYZT’s approach to creating temporary autonomous environments, where living, working and celebrating merge into a collective urban experience.
Project as member of EXYZT
Client: Warsaw Cultural Capital of EU
SPECIFICATIONS
Structure & Materials
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Scaffolding system as primary structure
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Carbon tubes for lightweight spanning elements
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Pine timber for platforms, enclosures and interior structures
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Thermic plastic for roofing and enclosure
Programmatic Elements
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Food preparation and serving areas
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Temporary accommodation units
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Public swimming pool
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Market and gathering spaces
Systems & Equipment
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Swimming pool filtration and pumping systems
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Lighting installation
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Sound systems for events and performances
Construction
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Modular and rapid assembly using reusable components
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Designed for temporary occupation and full disassembly
Technical Considerations
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Integration of water-based leisure infrastructure within a temporary build
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Structural adaptation to an existing fountain base
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Coordination of multiple programs within a single cohesive installation
Application
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Temporary public installation combining architecture, performance and community use, activating an underused urban site.
Carpentry & Joinery WORKSHOP & STUDIO for Architecture & Design
COLLECTIVE E.X.Y.Z.T.
CONSTRUIR JUNTOS
2012 — Guimarães, PT
Architectural Installation — EXYZT
Realised as part of Guimarães European Capital of Culture 2012, Construir Juntos involved the transformation of a disused textile factory warehouse into a multifunctional cultural environment.
The project combined a workshop, artist residence and auditorium, forming a space for production, exchange and public engagement. Built collectively, it embodied EXYZT’s ethos of “building together”, where construction becomes both a social and creative act.
Through simple materials and adaptable systems, the installation created a temporary yet fully operational cultural infrastructure, activating an industrial site through occupation and collaboration.
Design and production: EXYZT
Client: Culture Portugal
SPECIFICATIONS
Structure & Materials
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Pine timber structural and spatial framework
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Plastic sheeting for enclosure and partitioning
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Cork elements for insulation, surfaces and acoustic treatment
Programmatic Elements
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Workshop spaces for making and production
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Artist-in-residence accommodation
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Auditorium / event space for performances and gatherings
Construction
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Built within an existing warehouse structure
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Emphasis on collective construction and adaptability
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Modular and reconfigurable spatial layout
Technical Considerations
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Lightweight and economical material palette
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Integration of live/work and public functions within a single volume
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Acoustic and environmental control using natural and low-tech materials
Application
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Temporary cultural infrastructure fostering collaboration, production and public interaction within a reclaimed industrial context.
Carpentry & Joinery WORKSHOP & STUDIO for Architecture & Design
COLLECTIVE E.X.Y.Z.T.
CITY ECO LAB
2008 — Saint-Étienne, FR
Scenography — EXYZT
Developed for the Biennale du Design de Saint-Étienne, City Eco Lab was conceived as an experimental scenographic environment exploring relationships between urbanism, ecology and resource cycles.
The installation functioned as both exhibition support and spatial manifesto, presenting ecological thinking through a material-driven and spatially immersive approach. Using raw and elemental materials, the project emphasised low-impact construction and direct engagement with natural processes.
As with many EXYZT projects, the scenography extended beyond display, becoming an inhabitable and performative space, encouraging interaction and reflection on sustainable urban futures.
Project as member of EXYZT
Client: Biennale du Design Saint-Étienne
SPECIFICATIONS
Structure & Materials
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Pine timber for structural framework and exhibition elements
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Compacted earth for surfaces, mass and spatial definition
Programmatic Elements
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Exhibition display structures
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Interactive and spatial installations
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Didactic environments communicating ecological concepts
Construction
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Low-tech assembly methods
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Use of raw, minimally processed materials
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Designed for temporary installation and reuse
Technical Considerations
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Integration of natural materials within an indoor exhibition context
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Exploration of thermal mass and tactility through earth construction
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Balance between scenography and architectural space-making
Application
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Exhibition scenography combining environmental awareness, material experimentation and spatial design.
