S2E7: Astek Inc - Josh Hollis, Associate Creative Director & Anna Wahlers, Lead Designer

Welcome to this episode of The Right Angle Podcast. Today, I'm thrilled to have the team of partners from Modellus Novus joining me. Based in New York City, Modellus Novus is more than just an architecture firm. They're creators of spaces that not only shape but define culture. Their dynamic team, celebrated for their diverse backgrounds and perspectives, is united by a shared optimism and a commitment to design spaces for the many. At MN, the mission is to redefine what it means to have access to exceptional design. Their projects, ranging from grand public cultural institutions to intimate private homes, always prioritizes the experience of all users . These excellent experiences are driven by precise, pragmatic and daring decisions — regardless of project size or type. Diversity in perspective is not just an ideal but a cornerstone of their practice. They seek clients who echo their belief that great design is neither elusive nor exclusive. For Modellus Novus, architecture is a collaborative journey, a dialogue between those who create and those who experience. [Further Links] Modellus Novus: Website: ⁠https://mndpc.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/mndpc_ny/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/modellusnovus/ Music: Track: SkyHigh — Enine [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: ⁠⁠https://youtu.be/q-lf6x9cVXw⁠⁠ Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠https://alplus.io/skyhigh⁠⁠ Follow Us: Instagram ⁠⁠@therightanglepodcast⁠⁠ Personal Instagram ⁠⁠@elleliudesign⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.therightanglepodcast.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/therightanglepodcast

Welcome back to our podcast! Today, we're in conversation with artist and designer, Matthew Fisher. Brought up in a family steeped in geology, his early interactions with quarries, dinosaur fossils, and sediment lines imparted a unique understanding of time. This childhood insight fostered a deep love for timeworn materials like stone, a love that shines through in his work today. Originally trained as a ballet dancer, Matthew’s career took an unexpected turn after a career-ending injury. After enrolling in an Egyptian Art and Architecture course by chance, he developed an interest that soon expanded to include Roman art and architecture. With his design process deeply rooted in the study of ancient cultures, Matthew skillfully distills modern designs, creating pieces that exude an ambiguity of time and place. His work has caught the attention of esteemed publications like Galerie, Surface, and T Magazine, and has been showcased in the Noguchi Museum's group exhibition “On the Verge”. Join us today as we delve into the fascinating creative process of Matthew Fisher! [Further Links] Matthew Fisher: Website: https://mfisher.com/ Music: Track: SkyHigh — Enine [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: ⁠https://youtu.be/q-lf6x9cVXw⁠ Free Download / Stream: ⁠https://alplus.io/skyhigh⁠ Follow Us: Instagram ⁠@therightanglepodcast⁠ Personal Instagram ⁠@elleliudesign⁠ ⁠https://www.therightanglepodcast.com⁠ ⁠https://anchor.fm/therightanglepodcast

In this episode of The Right Angle Podcast, Elle Liu interviews Garland deGraffenried, Principal at JMH Development, a real estate development company based in New York City and Miami. Garland's journey in Real Estate started after earning his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Syracuse University in 2009. He began his career at Alloy Development, where he oversaw the design, planning, and project management of multiple luxury residential buildings in Brooklyn, New York. He later worked at Toll Brothers as a director and at DDG, where he led the development of design-driven residential properties in both New York City and Miami. Before joining JMH , Garland served as the Managing Director at SHVO, a luxury development and investment firm based in New York City. In addition to his real estate career, Garland is also dedicated to making a positive impact through The deGraffenried Foundation, a non-profit organization he founded and currently serves as board president. By providing award and scholarship programs and facilitating connections with industry leaders, Garland and his team are committed to supporting students in the design industry who are facing financial barriers, and helping them to achieve their career aspirations. [Further Links] Garland deGraffenried: The dF: https://www.thedf.org/ JMH Development: https://www.jmhdev.com/ Music: Track: SkyHigh — Enine [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/q-lf6x9cVXw Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/skyhigh Follow Us: Instagram @therightanglepodcast Personal Instagram @elleliudesign https://www.therightanglepodcast.com https://anchor.fm/therightanglepodcast

In this episode of The Right Angle Podcast, Elle Liu interviews Richard Felix-Ashman, Founding Principal of Richard Felix-Ashman Design. After studying painting and architecture in England, he moved to San Francisco to pursue his passion for design. He quickly fell in love with interior design, starting with hospitality projects and eventually expanding to residential projects of varying sizes, from modest apartments to large houses. Richard's approach to design focuses on combining technical precision with artistic flair, ensuring that each space he designs is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. He places great importance on the harmony of scale, tone, and texture in his work, and views the flow of movement within a room as a fundamental aspect of his design philosophy. His work has been recognized and celebrated by some of the most prestigious publications in the industry, such as Architectural Digest, Galerie Magazine, Mountain Living, Luxe Magazine, Home & Garden UK, and California Home and Interior Design Magazine. [Further Links] Richard Felix-Ashman: Richard Felix-Ashman Design: https://www.richardfelixashman.com/ Music: Track: SkyHigh — Enine [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/q-lf6x9cVXw Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/skyhigh Follow Us: Instagram @therightanglepodcast Personal Instagram @elleliudesign https://www.therightanglepodcast.com https://anchor.fm/therightanglepodcast

In this episode of The Right Angle Podcast, Elle Liu interviews Adam Rolston, Creative & Managing Director, and partner at INC, an open source, multi-disciplinary, architecture and design studio. Adam Rolston has been engaged in the practice of architecture since 1985, was born and raised in Los Angeles and attended Syracuse University School of Architecture, where he studied both in Syracuse and in Italy under the influence of the northern Italian Rationalists. Adam has served as the Senior Designer and Project Architect for many large-scale, commercial office, residential condominium, private residential, hospitality, and retail projects in Southeast Asia, Europe and New York. He is known for his keen attention to detail, his ability to tackle the design and planning of complex projects at a variety of scales and for his careful attention to client and user needs. [Further Links] Adam Rolston: INC: https://inc.nyc/ Music: Track: SkyHigh — Enine [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/q-lf6x9cVXw Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/skyhigh Follow Us: Instagram @therightanglepodcast Personal Instagram @elleliudesign https://www.therightanglepodcast.com https://anchor.fm/therightanglepodcast

In this episode of The Right Angle Podcast, Elle Liu interviews Rachel Doriss, Vice President and design director of Pollack. Rachel first studied printmaking and painting, and even taught batik workshops when she first entered college. But it was in the Textile Design department at the Rhode Island School of Design that she realized, for the first time, the practical application of her beloved woven and printed textile techniques. She graduated with a BFA from RISD in 1999, and designed printed silk scarves at Echo before joining the Pollack Studio in 2000. In 2007, Rachel was appointed Vice President, Associate Design Director. She took the helm as Pollack’s Design Director in 2011, overseeing the Studio and guiding the creative vision for each textile collection. In the Studio, she and her team always begin a pattern by first creating artwork by hand. Rachel’s designs for Pollack have been featured in national magazines, including Architectural Digest, Interior Design and Elle Décor, and she has been profiled on such sites as Apartment Therapy and House and Home TV. Two of her creations, “Mod” and “Curlycue,” are in the permanent collection of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. [Further Links] Rachel Doriss: Pollack: https://www.pollackassociates.com/ Music: Track: SkyHigh — Enine [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/q-lf6x9cVXw Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/skyhigh Follow Us: Instagram @therightanglepodcast Personal Instagram @elleliudesign https://www.therightanglepodcast.com https://anchor.fm/therightanglepodcast

In this episode of The Right Angle Podcast, Elle Liu interviews Shlomi Avdoo, Founder and Principal of Avdoo & Partners. Shlomi has been involved in New York real estate for over 18 years. He has great love for the industry and a passion for collaborating with various partners to develop projects that create a positive impact on a neighborhood and a community. Shlomi personifies Avdoo & Partners commitment to designing and building quality projects with great craftsmanship. He believes in developing strong relationships and operating with utmost integrity in working with his partners, contractors and community. Shlomi directs all aspects of the company's acquisitions, strategic development, financing, construction, and marketing. He has deep expertise and understanding of the entire development cycle and has a reputation for having the ability to underwrite and structure complex real estate transactions. When not working, Shlomi enjoys volunteering with Project Sunshine, a non-profit organization that sends trained volunteers into hospitals to provide companionship and deliver enrichment programming to pediatric patients and their families. [Further Links] Shlomi Avdoo: Avdoo & Partners: https://avdoo.com/ Saint Marks Place: https://saintmarksplacebk.com/ 10 Lenox: https://10lenox.com/ Music: Track: SkyHigh — Enine [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/q-lf6x9cVXw Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/skyhigh Follow Us: Instagram @therightanglepodcast Personal Instagram @elleliudesign https://www.therightanglepodcast.com https://anchor.fm/therightanglepodcast

In this episode of The Right Angle Podcast, Elle Liu interviews Francine Monaco, co-founder and principle architect of D’Aquino Monaco. D’Aquino Monaco is a design firm she established in 1997 with Carl D’Aquino to allow and create more opportunity for the dialogue between “the container” and the “contained.” As an architect and interior designer, Francine has created a diverse career combining the practical with the magical to create memorable timeless spaces. Her focus on the intersection of architecture and interior design led to a uniquely balanced practice and holistic approach. For the past 23 years she served as a professor at Pratt Institute's Interior Design Department. Her constant encouragement for students to pursue design in both conceptual and practical matters, easily made her one of my favorite studio professors when I studied there. [Further Links] Francine Monaco: D’Aquino Monaco: https://www.daquinomonaco.com/ Music: Track: SkyHigh — Enine [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/q-lf6x9cVXw Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/skyhigh Follow Us: Instagram @therightanglepodcast Personal Instagram @elleliudesign https://www.therightanglepodcast.com https://anchor.fm/therightanglepodcast

In this episode of The Right Angle Podcast, Elle Liu interviews Benjamin Weaver, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The London List. The London List is a digital publication exploring art, architecture and interiors, from carefully researched and thought-provoking articles, to interviews with artists, makers and industry insiders. With a particular focus on the defining aesthetic movements of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the aim of The London List is to provide a voice on design, both past and present, discussing relevant and prescient topics with openness, honesty and balanced academic rigor. Ben graduated from the University of Cambridge with an MA in Architecture and went on to study at the University of London. Since then he has worked on a number of private residential interior commissions, as well as curating and sourcing art, antiques and decorative arts of the twentieth century. He also has several years’ experience writing and providing guidance on all aspects of architecture, interiors and design. [Further Links] Benjamin Weaver: The London List: https://www.thelondonlist.com/ Music: Track: SkyHigh — Enine [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/q-lf6x9cVXw Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/skyhigh Follow Us: Instagram @therightanglepodcast Personal Instagram @elleliudesign https://www.therightanglepodcast.com https://anchor.fm/therightanglepodcast

In this episode of The Right Angle Podcast, Elle Liu interviews Teddy Mayer, Vice President of Design at Virgin Hotels. As Vice President of Design, Teddy oversees the vision and execution for how the Virgin Hotels brand comes to life in the hospitality design environment. Teddy spent seven years as the senior director of design and development at Morgans Hotel Group where he focused on the expansion of the Delano, Mondrian and Hudson Hotel brands. On the agency side he began his career at SOM in New York where he focused on hospitality interiors projects for brands such as W Hotels and Resorts, Capella and The James to name a few. Most recently Teddy worked for Gensler in New York as the regional director. He was responsible for establishing a hospitality studio and developing the regional practice. [Further Links] Teddy Mayer: Virgin Hotels: https://virginhotels.com/ Music: Track: SkyHigh — Enine [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/q-lf6x9cVXw Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/skyhigh Follow Us: Instagram @therightanglepodcast Personal Instagram @elleliudesign https://www.therightanglepodcast.com https://anchor.fm/therightanglepodcast