I am an architect who decided to venture into real estate finance at some stage, so I went to business school, only to remember in the following years that my passion has always been design.
Now, I like using my knowledge of entrepreneurship to strike a balance between design and business. I love working on ideas that can create a better world for us to live in.
For my current CV and to know more of my professional endeavours click HERE
Our Life is Our Most Powerful Story
Journey to become a designer
After graduating from the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Applied Sciences in Peru in 2000, I pursued a master’s degree in architecture at the Architectural Association in London.
Storytelling in architecture
My first job ever was at Inskip and Jenkins architects in London, where I specialised in historic buildings and learning the importance of historic research for design. Later, in 2005 I joined Gensler, where I focused on concept design and presentation for commercial projects in Europe and the Middle East.
Side effects of a business degree
In 2009, I decided to move into real estate and enrolled in an MBA program at Cambridge University, specializing in entrepreneurship. After graduating in 2010, I launched Guestaurant, a startup aimed at promoting home dining events to the public. This project, along with my personal interest in dining experiences, led to my involvement in the underground food scene in London and sparked my passion for combining powerful experiences with storytelling and design.
What design does to emotions
In mid-2012, I returned to Peru to take on a commercial and administrative role in my family’s healthcare business. This experience emphasized the impact of interior design on patients’ mood and well-being, which led me to immerse myself more in the design process and promote our company’s brand values of happiness, hope, and compassion in the physical space.
Storytelling in interior design
In 2016, I founded Arquiteka, a space branding company that created compelling space experiences by integrating interior and graphic design components. Our clients ranged from healthcare companies to hotels, restaurants, and residential projects. I also started an Airbnb business, renovating abandoned properties in prime tourist spots with storytelling components and a focus on the guest experience.
Exploring nature, community, and self
During my travels to the Peruvian jungle and south east Asia, I fell in love with the power of vernacular architecture and tropical design. In 2022, I pursued my passion for traditional and tropical architecture in Indonesia, studying tropical interior design, green architecture, and traditional Southeast Asian design at the Institute of Design and Business in Bali.
The path to conscious design
Currently, I am conducting research at the University of Udayana in Bali, exploring Bali’s traditional architecture for lessons on connecting to nature, ourselves and the community through design. Through my work, I aim to help people to connect to their surroundings.
To be continued …
