Here, we ask designers to take a selfie and give us an inside look at their life.
Names: Nick Roseboro and Alessandro Orsini.
Occupation: Designer and musician (NR). Architect/educator (AO).
Instagram: @architensions
Hometown: Brooklyn by way of Seattle (NR). Brooklyn by way of Bassano Romano, a small medieval town in Italy (AO).
Studio location: Brooklyn with an outpost in Italy.
Describe what you make: We engage in architectural research with many goals and outcomes. Sometimes it’s a building; other times a drawing, model, or writing. What counts for us is the process. We also intertwine the practice with academia.
The most important thing you’ve designed to date: I consider every project with the same importance and passion. Some projects make you grow more, in that case probably the smallest project to date: The Writing Pavilion (AO). I believe that everything I’ve designed is important. It’s an ongoing and ever-evolving process. You learn from one thing and apply it to another, linking them together in a long chain of learning something new (NR).
Describe the problem your work solves: Architecture alone cannot solve problems but can establish a dialogue with the political and social context of our cities, environment, and society. Our work aspires to highlight questions and issues within the practice and the built environment.
Describe the project you are working on now: We’re working on a number of projects to challenge domesticity, developing ideas around collective living in the context of cooperative and social housing.
A new or forthcoming project we should know about: Two residential projects are being completed this spring: House on House on Long Island, and a seven-floor vertical living townhouse in London. We also hope to see our Coachella installation being unveiled in the future!
What you absolutely must have in your studio: Pencils, tracing paper, and music (AO). Music playing in the studio is a must. It helps drive me (NR).
What you do when you’re not working: It’s difficult to detach from working these days, but I like to listen to my vinyl collection and read (AO). When I’m not working, I’m thinking, listening, and exploring (NR).
Sources of creative envy: We take inspiration from multiple sources: art, music, architecture, literature. It’s difficult to name just one, but when we’re in the process of defining project details, the reference is almost always one: Carlo Scarpa.
The distraction you want to eliminate: My cell phone (AO). Visual notifications (NR).
Concrete or marble? Concrete (AO). Concrete. It can take on many different qualities (NR).
High-rise or townhouse? Townhouse (AO + NR).
Remember or forget? Remember (AO). Remember when I forgot to remember? (NR)
Aliens or ghosts? Ghosts (AO). Aliens, enough said (NR).
Dark or light? Light (AO). Gradient (NR).
