.Wonder Book by IFDM is a quarterly print and digital publication dedicated to interior design and architecture projects from around the world. The December issue has 196 pages: the focus is on spaces dedicated to hospitality (hotels, resorts, restaurants), retail and work. But there are also an off-the-wall museum and a kindergarten where creativity and learning go hand in hand. And projects with a strong visual impact, told through a single, powerful image.
The pleasure principle
by Ruben Modigliani – Editor-in-Chief
In the Brazilian Amazon rainforest stands a monument to irrationality: the Las Pozas sculpture park, commissioned by the eccentric English tycoon Edward James. James, a great supporter of the Surrealists, was twice portrayed by René Magritte. One of these canvases is entitled The pleasure principle, a title that could be a catchphrase for much of the architecture we present in the pages of this new issue. Designed to perform certain functions, certainly. But also to be enjoyed by those who use them – whether that be posts on Instagram or much deeper feelings.
In this key, the user experience, which in other eras has been somewhat left aside, becomes one of the cornerstones of the project. And along with sustainability – which has become inescapable – its winning element. This applies to all aspects of hospitality, but also to those of work and productivity: the presence of stimuli does not distract, but rather motivates. It is no coincidence that more and more companies, when negotiating a new position, put on the table the beauty of the place or the office where the candidate will work. It is a challenge to which all designers are called: to create spaces – environments, buildings, cities – capable of deeply engaging those who will experience them. “Life is more important than architecture,” said Oscar Niemeyer. Let us learn to enjoy both and our existence will be better.
Speaking of Las Pozas, that delirious sequence of columns, arches, terraces and staircases reminds me of a masterpiece of architectural rehabilitation, the former cement factory that Ricardo Bofill transformed with visionary genius into a home/studio. One of the most beautiful workplaces in the history of architecture. It would be nice if there were more: if it is true that work ennobles people, the opposite is often true as well, because the human element is inimitable. But for this added value to be real, the man (or woman) behind it must be a happy person.
Silver linings
by Alessandra Bergamini – Deputy Editor of .Wonder Book
In a “neutral” or even uncertain present, marked by many unknowns and negative events such as wars or environmental emergencies, the research from the Colorworks Design and Technology Center, along with the vision proposed by ColorForward 2025, suggests a dual potential reaction: either preparing for inevitable catastrophe or nurturing a desire for longevity and escapism, accompanied by a widespread need for well-being and protection. These experiences manifest in every aspect of life, whether at home, in hospitality venues, or even more so in workspaces. The positive theme that emerges is the pursuit and creation of spaces that are welcoming and generous, fostering curiosity, productivity, creativity, and self-realization, all while keeping an eye on the future and change, with a focus on human life.
According to Massimo Roj – one of the three interviews featured in the .Wonder Book alongside Christophe Pillet and Simona Malvezzi of Kuehn Malvezzi – collaborating with innovators allows us to anticipate trends and prepare for increasingly rapid changes that can, for example, transform “Working spaces into Living spaces.” For tissellistudioarchitetti, whose Sidera headquarters project is presented here, “people themselves become an integral part of the project, a key component in a complex system of gears that, once set in motion, unfolds into a stimulating and surprising narrative in constant pursuit of reactions.”
The boundary between spaces for work and living is becoming increasingly blurred. In the Go offices in Morelia, Mexico, designed by FMA, there is a room dedicated to meditation and introspection, while the Spanish firm Masquespacio creates their unique “live and work” concept. This multifunctionality, regarding the not-so-distant future, is expected to be a winning strategy for any design type and scale.
