IF Architecture Studio

Departing from a conventional layout, the formal meeting area is positioned at the centre of the studio and anchored by a bordeaux-coloured rug, establishing a clear spatial focus within the open plan. This central space is defined by a double-sided curtain composed of multicoloured, rainbow-striped velvet in rose pink, orange, green, grey, and blue, with a gold satin lining forming its reverse.

Drawing reference from the iconic Tonight Show with Johnny Carson opening—when Johnny Carson would emerge from behind the curtain for his monologue—the gesture is both theatrical and purposeful. Functionally, the curtain provides visual and acoustic privacy for meetings, while offering an equally considered experience to the working area beyond, balancing performance, utility, and atmosphere.

The informal meeting and kitchen area is realised as a composition of freestanding joinery. A pantry and fridge volume in American oak veneer is detached from the perimeter, forming a clear object within the plan. From this volume, a cantilevered galvanised steel island extends into the room, complemented by a matching steel bench along the rear wall. Together, these elements test an alternative arrangement that supports flexibility, material contrast, and use beyond a single function.

Both the conference table and the cantilevered island employ a teardrop geometry—a strategy originally developed through earlier hospitality work and further tested within the studio. Refined here, the form subtly directs orientation and use, ensuring clear sightlines to presentations in the meeting space while encouraging intuitive movement and occupation around the bench.

Open-plan workspaces are articulated by a galvanised steel partition and subtle changes in floor level. Circular perforations within the partition balance privacy with visual connection across the studio. On one side, a low-angled shelf presents a curated library of published projects; opposite, a desk-height shelf displays objects integral to the design process, including prototypes, material samples, and reference texts.

A cork-clad joinery volume introduces a strong vertical element, providing a dedicated space for traditional pin-ups and collaborative review. Concealed flexible shelving supports material testing, sample storage, and ongoing design development, allowing the studio to remain visually clear while accommodating an active, iterative process.

Collectively, the studio operates as a live testing ground for IF Architecture’s ongoing design research. Ideas developed here are continually refined through use, conversation, and iteration, informing projects beyond the studio itself. In this way, the space remains deliberately unfinished—evolving alongside the practice and reinforcing design as an active, exploratory process.