Featured Project
Architecture Studio · Est. 2015
Form follows clarity. Space follows purpose.
AtelierForma designs buildings and interiors that balance structural rigor with human comfort—across residences, workplaces, hospitality, and cultural landmarks worldwide.
Studio Philosophy
Architecture as measured restraint
We believe lasting buildings emerge from clear diagrams, honest materials, and spaces calibrated to light, climate, and daily ritual—not from stylistic excess.
01 — Vision
Quiet monuments for everyday life
We design environments that feel inevitable—where structure, circulation, and material finish resolve into a single, readable composition.
02 — Mission
Precision without pretension
Every commission is approached as a collaboration: listening first, drawing rigorously, and delivering buildings that perform as well as they photograph.
03 — Core Principles
Proportion, light, and craft
We prioritize spatial hierarchy, daylight as a primary material, and detailing that rewards close inspection over decades of use.
04 — Sustainability
Durability is the greenest strategy
Passive orientation, low-carbon assemblies, and adaptable plans reduce operational demand while extending the useful life of every structure we complete.
05 — Design Philosophy
Editorial clarity at building scale
Like a well-set page, our architecture uses grid, margin, and contrast to create calm. Facades read as elevations; interiors read as sequences. Nothing is decorative without purpose—and nothing purposeful is left unresolved.
Featured Projects
Selected work across typologies
Twelve recent commissions spanning residences, workplaces, hotels, and cultural venues—each resolved through the same discipline of plan, section, and material honesty.
Nordic Courtyard Residence
A courtyard house organized around a planted void, with timber volumes framing views toward the Øresund and a sunken living room for winter gathering.
- Location
- Copenhagen, DK
- Year
- 2024
- Area
- 420 m²
- Status
- Completed
Cantilever House
A hillside dwelling where the living floor projects over the slope, freeing the ground plane for a sheltered terrace and native planting.
- Location
- Los Angeles, US
- Year
- 2023
- Area
- 380 m²
- Status
- Completed
Horizon Pool Villa
A single-story pavilion aligned to the sunset axis, with a continuous roof plane shading outdoor rooms and a linear pool as the site’s primary datum.
- Location
- Mallorca, ES
- Year
- 2025
- Area
- 510 m²
- Status
- In Progress
Stone & Light Apartment
A city apartment stripped to structure, then rebuilt with limestone floors, oak millwork, and a continuous window wall that dissolves the living room into the skyline.
- Location
- Zurich, CH
- Year
- 2024
- Area
- 185 m²
- Status
- Completed
Harborline Towers
Twin mixed-use towers with a shared podium lobby, retail arcade, and sky gardens that break the elevation into human-scaled terraces.
- Location
- Singapore, SG
- Year
- 2022
- Area
- 48,000 m²
- Status
- Completed
Garden Edge Estate
A family compound of linked pavilions set within mature oaks, with arrival sequence, guest wing, and primary suite each given distinct courtyard identities.
- Location
- Surrey, UK
- Year
- 2021
- Area
- 890 m²
- Status
- Completed
Cliffside Retreat Hotel
A twenty-suite boutique hotel carved into a coastal ridge, with guest rooms opening onto private terraces and a shared infinity edge that mirrors the horizon line.
- Location
- Amalfi, IT
- Year
- 2023
- Area
- 3,200 m²
- Status
- Completed
Black Cedar Cabin
A compact weekend house wrapped in charred cedar, with a double-height living volume and a sleeping loft suspended above the kitchen.
- Location
- Whistler, CA
- Year
- 2020
- Area
- 145 m²
- Status
- Completed
Spiral Gallery Home
An interior renovation centered on a sculptural stair that doubles as a vertical gallery, connecting three floors of art-filled living spaces.
- Location
- Berlin, DE
- Year
- 2022
- Area
- 260 m²
- Status
- Completed
Spa Suite Transformation
A heritage townhouse bath wing rebuilt as a spa suite—stone wet room, freestanding tub, and a glazed wall that opens onto a private courtyard garden.
- Location
- Paris, FR
- Year
- 2024
- Area
- 68 m²
- Status
- Completed
Atlas Workspace Campus
A four-floor workplace fit-out with a central atrium stair, focus rooms along the facade, and a ground-floor café that opens to the public plaza.
- Location
- Amsterdam, NL
- Year
- 2026
- Area
- 6,400 m²
- Status
- In Progress
Civic Reading Room
A public library annex with a timber-lined reading hall, mezzanine study carrels, and a street-facing exhibition wall for community programming.
- Location
- Oslo, NO
- Year
- 2021
- Area
- 1,850 m²
- Status
- Completed
Project Categories
Practice across eight disciplines
From private residences to urban frameworks, each category is led by specialists who share a common language of plan, section, and material.
Residential
Houses, apartments, and estates designed around light, privacy, and the rituals of domestic life.
48 projects
Commercial
Workplaces, retail, and mixed-use buildings that balance brand presence with operational clarity.
22 projects
Hospitality
Hotels, resorts, and dining rooms where arrival sequences and guest comfort define the architecture.
14 projects
Cultural
Museums, libraries, and performance spaces that serve civic life with generous public rooms.
11 projects
Urban Planning
Masterplans and district frameworks that set density, open space, and mobility for decades ahead.
8 projects
Landscape
Gardens, plazas, and ecological edges that extend architecture into climate-responsive terrain.
16 projects
Interior Design
Interiors resolved as architecture—millwork, lighting, and material sequences as spatial instruments.
31 projects
Renovation
Adaptive reuse and heritage upgrades that honor existing fabric while meeting contemporary performance.
19 projects
Design Process
Six stages from brief to handover
A transparent method that keeps clients informed and decisions accountable—from first site visit to final snagging.
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Discovery
Site walks, stakeholder interviews, and a written brief that captures constraints, ambitions, and non-negotiables.
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Research
Climate analysis, planning review, precedent studies, and material testing that ground every design move in evidence.
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Concept
Diagrams, massing models, and narrative boards that establish the project’s spatial idea before detailing begins.
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Development
Coordinated drawings, specifications, and consultant integration that turn the concept into a buildable package.
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Construction
Site reviews, sample approvals, and detail refinements that protect design intent through the build.
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Delivery
Handover documentation, commissioning support, and a post-occupancy check to confirm performance in use.
Awards & Recognition
Recognition for craft and care
Independent juries have recognized AtelierForma for design excellence, sustainability leadership, and client partnership.
2025
International Design Award
World Architecture Forum
2024
Sustainable Architecture Award
Green Building Council Europe
2023
Urban Excellence Award
European Urban Institute
2022
Innovation in Design
Design Futures Summit
2021
Client Satisfaction Award
Architecture Practice Review
2020
Studio of the Year
Swiss Design Association
Team
Architects who lead by drawing
Six principals and associates who share authorship across studios in Zurich, Copenhagen, and Singapore.
Elena Varga
Founding Principal
Elena established AtelierForma after leading cultural projects across Central Europe. She oversees design direction and public commissions.
Marcus Klein
Principal, Residential
Marcus specializes in courtyard houses and hillside dwellings, with a focus on timber construction and passive solar strategies.
Sofia Alvarez
Principal, Interiors
Sofia leads interior architecture for hospitality and residential work, known for millwork precision and material restraint.
James Okonkwo
Associate, Commercial
James coordinates large workplace and mixed-use projects, bridging client operations with architectural clarity.
Hana Yamamoto
Associate, Sustainability
Hana integrates energy modeling, low-carbon materials, and post-occupancy feedback into every studio project.
Thomas Richter
Associate, Urban Design
Thomas leads urban frameworks and landscape edges, shaping density, mobility, and public realm strategies.
Project Timeline
A decade of milestones
Major studio projects and practice moments from founding in 2015 through current commissions in 2026.
2015
Studio founded in Zurich
Elena Varga and Marcus Klein open AtelierForma with a focus on residential and cultural work across Switzerland and Germany.
Founding2017
First international commission
The studio completes its first overseas residence in Copenhagen, establishing the Nordic Courtyard typology that would define later housing work.
Residential2019
Singapore studio opens
A second office launches to support Harborline Towers and regional hospitality commissions across Southeast Asia.
Expansion2021
Civic Reading Room completed
The Oslo library annex opens to the public, marking the studio’s first major cultural building and earning Urban Excellence recognition.
Cultural2023
Cliffside Retreat Hotel opens
Twenty suites on the Amalfi coast establish AtelierForma’s hospitality portfolio and win the International Design Award shortlist.
Hospitality2024–2026
Atlas Campus & Horizon Villa
Current work includes the Amsterdam workplace campus and Mallorca pool villa, alongside a growing renovation practice in Paris and Berlin.
In ProgressPublications
Writing from the studio
Essays and research notes published in design journals and our own editorial series.
Residential Design Trends
How courtyard plans, timber hybrids, and flexible guest wings are reshaping private houses across Northern Europe.
Urban Futures
A framework for mid-density districts that prioritize walkability, shared courtyards, and climate-adaptive streetscapes.
Sustainable Architecture
Why durability, repairability, and passive orientation outperform short-cycle “green” finishes in whole-life carbon terms.
Interior Concepts
Treating millwork as architecture: continuous storage walls, threshold lighting, and material sequences that calm circulation.
Smart Buildings
Integrating building systems without visual noise—sensors, shading, and controls that remain subordinate to spatial clarity.
Modern Materials
A field guide to low-carbon concrete alternatives, mass timber detailing, and stone that ages with dignity.
Client Testimonials
What clients say about the work
Feedback from homeowners, developers, and cultural institutions who commissioned AtelierForma.
“They listened before they drew. The courtyard house feels inevitable now—as if it had always belonged to the site.”
“Harborline Towers delivered on schedule with a podium that actually works as a public place—not just a lobby.”
“The hotel feels quiet and precise. Guests notice the light and the terraces before they notice the design.”
“Our reading room became a civic living room. The timber hall is full from morning to evening.”
“They renovated our Paris townhouse with respect for the fabric and zero compromise on comfort.”
“Atlas Campus gave us a workplace that feels calm under pressure. The atrium stair changed how teams meet.”
Journal
Notes from the drawing board
Short editorial pieces on craft, materials, and the ideas shaping our current work.
Minimal Architecture
Why removing elements is harder than adding them—and how restraint becomes a form of generosity for occupants.
Read article
Concrete & Steel
Expressing structure honestly: when to reveal the frame, when to clad it, and how joints carry the narrative.
Read article
Human-Centered Design
Measuring success by how a room feels at 7 a.m. on a Monday—not only by how it photographs at golden hour.
Read article
Passive Buildings
Orientation, thermal mass, and shading as primary design tools—before mechanical systems enter the conversation.
Read article
Workspace Design
Focus rooms, shared edges, and the atrium as a social condenser—lessons from Atlas Campus and earlier fit-outs.
Read article
Green Construction
Site logistics, waste reduction, and contractor partnerships that make low-carbon specifications achievable on site.
Read article
FAQ
Questions we hear most often
Practical answers about working with AtelierForma—from first contact to construction handover.
What project types does AtelierForma accept?
We take residential, commercial, hospitality, cultural, landscape, interior, renovation, and selected urban planning commissions. Projects typically begin at 100 m² for interiors and 200 m² for new buildings, though we evaluate each brief on its own merits.
How does the design process begin?
We start with a discovery consultation—on site when possible—followed by a written proposal outlining scope, fees, and schedule. Once appointed, we produce a project brief and concept options before entering detailed design.
Do you work internationally?
Yes. With studios in Zurich and Singapore and associates across Europe, we deliver projects in 18 countries. Local licensing partners support permitting where required by jurisdiction.
How are fees structured?
Most commissions use staged percentage fees tied to construction cost, with fixed fees available for interiors and smaller renovations. We provide a transparent fee schedule at proposal stage and update it if scope changes.
Can you join a project already in progress?
We regularly take over or collaborate mid-process—especially for interiors, detailing, and sustainability upgrades. We begin with a design audit to clarify what can be improved without disrupting the construction program.
How do you approach sustainability?
We prioritize passive design, durable materials, and whole-life carbon thinking. Certification support (LEED, BREEAM, DGNB) is available when clients require it, but we treat performance as a design responsibility regardless of labels.
What is a typical project timeline?
A residence often spans 12–24 months from appointment to completion; larger commercial and cultural projects may run 3–5 years including permitting. We publish a milestone schedule at the start of each stage.
How can I request a consultation?
Email muhammad@roboticela.com with a short project description, location, and timeline. We respond within five business days to schedule an introductory conversation.
Start a Project
Tell us about the building you imagine
Whether you are planning a residence, workplace, hotel, or cultural space, we offer a focused consultation to understand your site, brief, and ambitions.