Plasma Studio Architects

The term Plasma comes from Classic Greek and means modeling, form, fabric, imagination, fiction.
In Physics, the Plasma State- or fourth state of matter- describes a unique condition of matter arising at a complex overlay of external forces. Plasma, a charged field of particles, conducts energy.

Plasma Studio is one of the leading emergent architectural studios with a worldwide recognition and scope.

Plasma Studio was founded by Eva Castro and Holger Kehne in London in 1999 and quickly came to recognition through a range of small innovative residential and commercial refurbishment projects in London, that all share a consistency in innovation, appropriateness and quality and gained the practice the prestigious Corus/ Building Design ‘Young Architect of the Year Award’ in 2002.

Shortly afterwards Plasma expanded into Europe with a second office location in Sesto near Bolzano, Italy, lead by partner Ulla Hell.
These two studio locations work dialectically: in London its multicultural staff is immersed in a fast-moving, diverse and urban culture, whereas in Bolzano- an area of outstanding natural beauty and strong local crafts tradition- the work is developed from engaging with nature, the landscape and local materials.

Plasma came to worldwide recognition with its floor for Hotel Puerta America, Madrid in 2005. The project was published widely and became a benchmark for experimental hotel design.

SInce then the studio has become increasingly global, working on projects in Europe, Africa, The Middle East and China. In 2008 it won the competition for the International Horticultural Expo 2011. In charge for 37ha landscape park with a range of cultural and infrastructural buildings, Plasma has just opened a new office in Beijing.

Form, space, experience
The studio is best known for its architectural use of form and geometry. Shifts, folds and bends create surface continuities that are never arbitrary but part of the spatial and structural organisation. Space becomes expanded, new potentials arise, new experiences abound. A reduced palette of materials and colors with minimal clean detailing is used in order to let dynamic ephemeral events, such as light changes, reflections and people’s movements happen and be noticed.

Programme, organization, performance
As importantly, each project is geared towards maximizing space, performance and value through highly creative, open minded and skilful work processes. Starting with a careful analysis of the site and the brief, the studio develops together with the client a thorough framework of the contrains, objectives and potentials. Tangible and intangible parameters, such as material, light, structure, budget, usage patterns, atmosphere, weathering etc are all equally processed as determining forces.

Technology, sustainability, collaboration
The spirit and techniques of inclusiveness, collaboration, life-cycle engineering and full sustainability are guided by the academic research of both partners at the Architectural Association and its collaboration with leading consultants such as Buro Happold. Working on the limits of current computer-aided design tools, sophisticated environmental analysis software and parametric dynamic modelling, Plasma is contributing to a more transparent, complex and interactive development process that connects designers, clients, consultants and fabricators at once.

- Young Architect of the Year Award 2002
- International HotDip Glavanizing Award 2002
- Next Generation Architects Award 2008
- ContractWorld Award 2009
- Europe 40 under 40 2009
- Cityscape Award- highly commended 2009