3 minute read
Fernanda Marques
ARQUITETOS ASSOCIADOS
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Fernanda Marques is the founder of the eponymous São Paulo architecture and design firm that has been established for close to three decades and now has offices on three continents. Her projects are prolific and range from product design to residential to commercial. They reflect her “contemporary mindset, combined with the sophistication of a permeable, integrative and artistic outlook.” The conceptualising process is based on extensive research and cumulative life experience.
Her very distinctive product range has international appeal and a certain “Fernanda Marques” look that clients can not only identify but also identify with in terms of aesthetic sensibilities.
“When clients look for me to carry out a project, whether residential or interior design, they look for lightness, comfort, contemporaneity and sophistication – aspects that I always emphasize in my projects, through the sectorisation of rooms, configuration of layouts, choice of colors and textures of furniture and finishing materials.”
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Today, clients’ expectations in terms of contemporary aesthetics incorporate a strong international look, yet combined with more nuanced cultural elements that are unique to each particular location.
“My clients expect me to be attuned to the trends in design and art of Brazil and throughout the world. Our objective is to produce customised projects for each client, without compromising our brand’s identity. We love to work with pieces from Brazil and other countries as well. We work with cultural elements from wherever the project is located; these elements can be either furniture pieces, a work of art or covering material, but they are not the only starting point for the development of the project; everything is taken into consideration, i.e. the implementation, natural light that enters in the space, etc. Whether residential or retail, there is not much difference between clients in terms of what they expect; the main difference is the budget, however even with a lower budget, we strive to foster the project’s inherent sophistication.” Increasingly, buildings in general, private residences and high-end spaces are expected to be “smart”, automated and optimized for incorporating high spec technologies; similarly, retail customers expect their shopping expedition to be an experience, as opposed to a simple errand.
Says Fernanda Marques:
“Much is made of the advent of technology and its benefits. Certainly, it has added a great deal of value to the architectural sector, both in terms of project execution and user experience through automation. Most of our clients love, for example, the automation of turning equipment on and off and saving energy. This option is gaining traction in both residential and retail projects. The good thing about this technology is that it is completely customized and can adapt to any type of user routine. In our projects, we implement it in lighting, air conditioning, sound and other equipment.”
