The Ernst & Young / SGV is the first of our completed projects with this prestigious and global firm. In the next week, we'll be taking care of the final touches. At the moment we have an 80sqm space which has been refitted with the comfort of the Former Partners' in mind. A space where they can kick off their shoes and unwind. A formidable group of our studio's partners came into the project and performed their greatest numbers yet. 

Zombie Puppets are going places

This was the first TV my Dad's family had. Must have been the 1950s. Back in the day when TV sets were considered furniture and were meant to last 20 years. We hadn't reached the moon yet. No Vietnam war yet. I always had my eye on this piece, and while my grandmother was still alive, God bless her soul, she gave it to me. I was over the moon. 


Since then it's been in storage and ideas of what to do with it have been varied and diverse. I am glad to annouce that now this beautiful TV cabinet is in the hands of a very able woodworker. Major adjustments are being done to it to bring it from a state of near-junkyard obsolescence to one of retro reuse. In a few days it will be in our studio, being a part of our every days.


Its innards, mind you ---knobs, bulbs, resistors, transistors and all sort of devices which have names that many modern-day super heroes could carry--- are stored somewhere in a box. Those will, someday, be part of another adventure. 

The Chapel was inaugurated without much fanfare but with an avalanche of medical students who were probably worried about their finals. The generous rooftop accomodated for the spill-over.

A clear view of the Chapel at maximum capacity. Please notice that there is no air-conditioning, but temperature is kept very fresh and comfortable thanks to the amazing rooftop breeze which is brought right into the space through the severed crosses on the left and the open windows on the right. 


After much discussion and arguments, the clients were extremely happy to have a new space of worship. It was interesting to see how they interpreted design details in their own way. For example, they were marvelled at the 13 sets of severed crosses on the upper wall which to them, represented the Stations of the Cross. Wonderful how these little miracles just happen. 

We made it a point to remove the barriers between the priest and the worshippers. Why should there be any?, we thought. By placing them all on the same level, we saved construction costs and created a safer space, where invalids and elderly could gingerly walk around without a concern. To accomodate for short priests, we factored in a step-up to his little atrium. 


The old chapel was under the driveway. Reason why the roof seems to slope down to a neck-cranking degree. Prayers then had to rise to heaven by first passing through concrete, asphalt and a last layer of smoke-belching cars.

The Chapel is under the care of the hospital's General Manager, whose concern it was that the space be easy to keep clean and refreshed. White epoxy floors were deemed the best partner for a wet mop, and 100% white paint, being available in any hardware store would cover any marks, knicks or stains on the walls. The tough-as-nails wooden benches can be walked on for a good 50 years more.