Italian build part one

It started with tapware — solid brass, handmade by a British metalworker in Italy’s tap-making heartland around Lake Orta. That find opened a door onto a network of artisans working metal by hand. Together, custom design and craft pared the finishes down into a modern take on the Tuscan farmhouse, set in the city.

Nature AND attention to detail

When I first specialised in urban trees and living systems, I carried a quiet concern that this niche might be mistaken for a lack of design rigour. In reality, designing with living systems is a problem-solving exercise that demands material intelligence, systems thinking, and technical understanding. In short, designing with nature needs attention to detail too.