Benni Allan, founding director of EBBA, takes an investigative approach to every aspect of his practice. Born and raised in Spain, the architect was surrounded by exceptional design, but it was a visit to fellow countryman Santiago Calatrava’s City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia when he was 12 years old that made a lasting impression. “The park is organized around large pools of water, with buildings interspersed around them that look like dystopian structures made of concrete, steel, and glass,” Allan says. “I was so taken aback, and I remember thinking that it was something I would end up doing.”

Benni Allan \\\ Photo: Salva López

Based in London, Allan strives to reflect poetic material qualities, whether envisioning a retail store or crafting furniture. Every piece and structure is formed to have an emotional impact, much like the rhythms that serve as inspiration for him. “Producing is very architectural in the way tracks are composed,” he adds. “If I had the opportunity, I would dedicate time to developing ways to make and play live, which is essentially creating music in real time.”

Today, Benni Allan joins us for Friday Five!

Photo: Devon Turnbull, courtesy Lisson Gallery

As someone who enjoys music and has spent most of my life going to gigs, I am very aware of the importance of the quality of sound. There’s been a major shift in the world of listening experiences, and this really came to the fore in an exhibition by Devon Turnbull at Lisson Gallery. The listening room he created was decked out with his own crafted speakers and a setup that offered an almost meditative experience.

Photo: Joshua White, courtesy Carpenters Workshop Gallery

I am drawn to work that explores materiality, and especially ways in which a ubiquitous material can be transformed into something so beautiful. In the work of Vincenzo De Cotiis, which was shown at the Carpenters Workshop Gallery in New York, I enjoyed the layering and texture of the material to create natural forms made entirely through an industrial process.

Photo: Courtesy of Marjan van Aubel Studio

The Sunne light by Marjan van Aubel is powered entirely by solar energy. Not only a functional piece, this elegant object makes us think about our impact on the world. The light was included in an exhibition at Vitra called “Transform!: Designing the Future of Energy,” which looked at renewable sources of energy and design responses to the climate issues of today.

Photo: Courtesy Silverlens Galleries

I was blown away when I first saw a painting of Nicole’s a couple of years back, as it reminded me of the shutters on the windows in Spain that block out the sun at the height of the day. Nicole takes common everyday objects and uses them to create intricate prints. In March she had her first solo show with Silverlens New York, titled “In Passing.”

Photo: John Marshall for JMEnternational

I was struck by Rachel Jones when I first experienced her work at a show dedicated to contemporary painters at the Hayward Gallery in London. It is no surprise that her beautifully textured forms have really seen her shine recently, including as the designer of this year’s BRIT Awards trophy.

Works by Benni Allan:

WatchHouse \ Drawing inspiration from the modernist architectural features of lobbies found in civic buildings, the project is rooted in an approach to craft an inviting, unique space whilst establishing a sense of connection to the broader building. \\\ Photo: Ståle Eriksen

“Low Collection” is a series of furniture designed by EBBA’s director, Benni Allan, as part of an investigation into what it means to sit and how every culture has a different relationship to the act of resting. \\\ Photo: Nina Lilli Holden

Belsize Lane \ EBBA have been appointed to work on the restoration of Belsize Lane, the house designed and lived-in by the unsung female architect Georgie Wolton. The works will involved a careful investigation into the existing structure and the overall fabric in order to bring the building back to life. The ambition is to make a building that is highly sustainable, benefiting from natural cooling and ventilation while making a home fit for the future. \\\ Photo: Riba Pix Archive & James Retief

Rotaro \ Working within the unique spaces of Liberty we have created a project focused around ideas of circularity, both in terms of materials and spatial ideas. The environmental response towards fashion is a key message that translates into the overall concept for the space. \\\ James Retief

Anna Zappia is a New York City-based writer and editor with a passion for textiles, and she can often be found at a fashion exhibit or shopping for more books. Anna writes the Friday Five column, as well as commercial content.