Architectural Cases

Since its establishment in 2003, the DFA Awards have been a crucial platform for acknowledging outstanding design across Asia. The 2025 honorees represent a strong fusion of established traditions and forward-thinking ideas, ranging from Don Norman's foundational theories on user-centered design to Ma Yansong's organic, nature-inspired architectural creations. Other notable recipients include global luxury icon Christina Ong, modern hospitality innovator André Fu, and the inaugural DFA Asian Design Vanguard recipient, Rahul Mishra, whose work exemplifies how high fashion can empower local artisans and promote cultural heritage.

The DFA Awards' 2025 laureates showcase a diverse range of design excellence, bridging traditional craftsmanship, human-centered technology, and global lifestyle ecosystems. Don Norman, celebrated for his principle that design must serve people, is the recipient of the DFA Lifetime Achievement Award. His pioneering career, including significant roles at Apple and Hewlett Packard, has profoundly influenced our interaction with technology by integrating social sciences and engineering. Christina Ong, founder of the COMO Group, is honored with the DFA Design Leadership Award for building a global empire spanning fashion, hospitality, and wellness. Beijing-born Ma Yansong, founder of MAD Architects, receives the 2025 DFA World's Outstanding Chinese Designer award for his futuristic, organic designs. André Fu, recognized as DFA Designer of the Year, has transformed modern luxury by blending cultural sensitivities with art and craftsmanship. Rahul Mishra is honored with the inaugural DFA Asian Design Vanguard award for his innovative approach to fashion, using it as a vehicle for social change and ecological responsibility.

Furthermore, the DFA Design for Asia Awards 2025, another key program, spotlights design achievements with significant impact across the region and beyond. Out of 254 accolades, 10 Grand Awards were presented, alongside 20 Gold, 46 Silver, 72 Bronze, and 106 Merit Awards. These winning projects span six diverse categories—Communication, Digital & Motion, Fashion & Accessory, Product & Industrial, Service & Experience, and Spatial Design—showcasing the broad vision and cultural richness that define contemporary Asian design.

These awards not only recognize individual brilliance but also underscore the profound impact of design in shaping our world, fostering innovation, and promoting sustainable practices. By celebrating creativity that addresses global challenges and empowers communities, the DFA Awards inspire a future where design continues to serve humanity with integrity and vision.

Architectural studio oblq has successfully reinvented a residential property in Argostoli, Greece, converting it into a pair of distinct vacation residences. This project, known as 'Platforms & Roofs,' meticulously reconfigured the existing building's interior and exterior while preserving its foundational structure. The architects introduced new pitched roofs to harmonize previously disparate forms, creating clearly defined sections for each dwelling. Furthermore, they crafted an ingenious artificial landscape featuring elevated surfaces and stairs that seamlessly integrate with the site's natural slope, blurring the lines between the constructed and organic surroundings. This innovative design approach transforms the original property into contemporary, inviting holiday accommodations that respect their historical context while embracing modern functionality.

The core of the design revolves around a harmonious integration of new and old elements. The primary structural bar now boasts a roof system comprising timber trusses and traditional Roman clay tiles, offering comprehensive coverage, complemented by a metal canopy and fabric extensions that provide essential shade. A central void was strategically created to visually separate the two flats, ensuring their individual privacy and autonomy. The surrounding landscape, characterized by its varied surfaces and stairways, expertly navigates the terrain's natural incline. This architectural intervention defines living areas without resorting to enclosed spaces, allowing for a fluid transition between the structured interiors and the untamed natural environment, thereby enhancing the overall experience of the site.

Transforming an Existing Structure into Modern Retreats

The "Platforms & Roofs" project by oblq in Argostoli, Greece, showcases a brilliant transformation of a residential building into two separate vacation apartments. This renovation focused on adapting the original structure and its outdoor areas to form coherent, individual living units while meticulously preserving the building's initial layout and structural integrity. The architects skillfully introduced new, uniformly pitched roofs that effectively unified the previously inconsistent architectural elements, creating clear, distinct sections for each flat. This redesign not only addressed functional needs but also thoughtfully redefined the spatial experience, providing modern amenities within a respectfully repurposed shell.

The architectural strategy behind this conversion was deeply rooted in balancing existing conditions with contemporary demands. The main structural volume features a new roof system that cleverly combines classic timber trusses and Roman clay tiles with modern metal canopies and fabric awnings, providing both shelter and shade. A key design move was the creation of an interstitial space that physically and visually delineates the two independent flats, enhancing their sense of separation and privacy. The surrounding landscape was also carefully considered, with artificial platforms and steps introduced to mediate the site's natural contours. This approach fosters a smooth transition between the refined indoor spaces and the wilder, uncontrolled outdoor environment, thereby extending the living experience outwards while simultaneously maintaining a subtle boundary against nature's encroachment, all without the need for obtrusive fences or balustrades.

Integrating Landscape and Architecture for Enhanced Living

Central to oblq's design philosophy for "Platforms & Roofs" is the innovative integration of the built environment with its natural surroundings. The architects meticulously crafted an artificial landscape around the renovated building, utilizing various surfaces and steps to effortlessly manage the site's inherent slope. This deliberate design choice creates spaces that are defined yet open, facilitating a seamless dialogue between the interior realms of the vacation flats and the expansive Greek outdoors. The platform acts as a crucial intermediary, bridging the gap between the structured, clean, and dry indoor living areas and the more organic, dynamic, and unconstrained exterior, effectively extending the domestic experience into nature.

The deliberate use of platforms and terracing serves a dual purpose: it both frames and accentuates the surrounding natural beauty while also providing a subtle yet effective barrier that prevents nature from overwhelming the domesticated spaces. This architectural solution eliminates the need for conventional fences or balustrades, allowing for unobstructed views and a feeling of openness. By carefully modulating the terrain, oblq has created an environment where guests can enjoy both the comforts of modern living and the raw, unadulterated beauty of the Greek landscape. The thoughtful interplay of these elements ensures that each vacation flat offers a unique and immersive experience, where the boundaries between architecture and nature are elegantly dissolved, enhancing both the aesthetic appeal and functional utility of the property.