Back to the 2014 AD100 List

Founded by Rafael de Cárdenas in 2006, this New York City–and London-based studio melds a distinctive downtown sensibility with an uptown understanding of elegance, embracing bold geometries, deft punches of color, and unexpected combinations of artworks and furnishings. “We sample from music, art, fashion, and contemporary culture,” Cárdenas says. His approach, however, balances nostalgia and edginess. “We take diligent note of the past while daydreaming about the future,” he explains. In addition to crafting urbane residences for the likes of model Jessica Stam and actress Parker Posey, Cárdenas is best known for his imaginative retail spaces, among the latest being Baccarat’s new Manhattan flagship and a forthcoming department store in St. Petersburg, Russia. architectureatlargeom

Meet the other architects and designers on the 2014 AD100 list.