Arkoslight and Porcelanosa’s Third Gathering: Defining Architecture for Well-Being
14.11.2025
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On November 13, the Porcelanosa showroom on Jorge Juan Street in Valencia hosted the third gathering, bringing together more than a hundred architecture and design professionals to explore architecture centered on well-being and the challenges it presents.
Comfort, Well-Being, and Rethinking “To Inhabit”
The gathering opened a conversation about designing for comfort and reconsidering what it means “to inhabit” a space. Adapting spaces to different times of day, lighting’s transformative effect on a project’s materiality, and the way these elements work together to heighten sensation became central themes of a roundtable discussion exploring the importance of light, material, and space.
Residential Design for a Better Quality of Life
For Laura Moreno of Balzar, residential design aims “to create atmospheres that do more than accommodate daily life—they foster well-being and, in turn, help people feel better.”
Bringing a Human Dimension to Workspaces
Gabi Ladaria of Destudio extended these principles from home to office, emphasizing the many hours people spend at work. This perspective places the focus on indirect, warm, and adjustable lighting, which is already in high demand in workplace settings.
Emotion Starts with the Client
Discussing materiality, architect Ángel Fito highlighted his interest in “the client’s direction on materials when completing the composition,” describing material as a “compositional element that inspires the client.” He also noted that “it creates opportunities for surprise and, together with lighting, transforms the perception of space.”
“Architecture expresses a balance between materials and spaces; to nurture and evoke emotion, they must be thoughtfully dressed.”
Fernando Mora, architect
Jesús Olavarría of Nihil Estudio emphasized personalization and distinctive experiences in retail and hospitality design. He explored how carefully chosen materials evoke emotion, with light treated as a tangible ingredient alongside other finishes. Málek Murad of Murad García Estudio reflected on modernist architect Fernando Mora and his observation that “architecture expresses a balance between materials and spaces; to nurture and evoke emotion, they must be thoughtfully dressed.”
The discussion also highlighted key tools for design studios, including industrialized construction processes, lighting control aligned with circadian rhythms, backlighting natural materials, and invisible light technology to ensure maximum visual comfort.
