studio wok was founded by Marcello Bondavalli, Nicola Brenna and Carlo Alberto Tagliabue.
Since 2012, we have focused our research on architecture, design and landscape, paying great attention to the quality of living.
We have taken part in several national and international competitions, where we have won a number of awards.
Our work has been featured in major exhibitions, including “Stanze, altre filosofie dell’abitare” at the XXI Triennale di Milano and “Invisible Architecture” at the Museo Carlo Bilotti Aranciera in Villa Borghese, Rome.
Our projects have been featured in numerous publications such as “Wallpaper”, “La Repubblica”, “Abitare” “AD Germany”, “Elle Decor” and “Living” by Corriere della Sera.
In addition to our professional design work, we engage in academic endeavours and we have been invited to give lessons and workshops at various universities in Italy and abroad: Politecnico di Milano, SUN Seconda Università di Napoli, ISCTE-IUL Instituto Universitário de Lisboa and Domus Academy.
We have been featured in the Wallpaper* Architects Directory 2019 , the selection of the 20 world’s most promising emerging practices
Our methodological and design approach is artisanal. For the development of our work, we carefully note the physical features of the project site: the landscape, the materials that characterise the area, the light, the atmosphere.
Our quest for environmental sustainability does not only involve the use of certain technical devices and systems, it is primarily a design and construction process that considers – and makes the most of natural and environmental aspects – specific to each location. We prefer the use of natural materials, capable of evolving over time and able to mature in step with the architectural structure that welcomes them.
Over time, several collaborators have joined the team who now form a cohesive and dynamic group. Every project comes from the comparison of the ideas of all members of the company and the integration of specific expertise from consultants who work alongside us.
Since 2016 Federica Torri, senior architect
Since 2018 Claudia Begni, senior architect
Since 2020 Marzia Colombo and Sara Cefis, architects
Since 2024 Laura Trobec
The following have collaborated with the studio in various ways so far: Alberto D’Asaro, Marta Pavan, Giulio Spiranelli, Dominika Mucha, Patryk Mrugula, Martin Huba, Benedetta Sciaraffa, Giulia Galimberti, Clelia Zurlo, Mariachiara Vinati, Katarzyna Pawlik, Elena Busoni, Marcella Procaccini , Elena Angeli, Filippo Bernardini, Giulia Procaccini, Francesca Ghiselli, Paolo Manfroni, Pavlo Kukurudz, Noemi Colombo.
The concept of habitat, for us, refers to the quality of living: conceiving, designing and building positive environmental conditions is our aim. And this design research constantly infuses our work, whether it be developed on a residential or urban scale.
The word habitat, in fact, comes from the Latin verb habeo indicating to have, but also to inhabit. Inhabit also means creating habits: habits are created by the interaction with the environment and allow us to inhabit reality. There is a close relationship between us humans, the nature of places and the way we live in them: the living space is like an outfit that instead of being worn, is to be experienced.
