Francesc Rifé Studio is one of the most representative design studios in the context of contemporary Spanish design, consistently operating across the fields of architecture, interior, and product design. Founder Francesc Rifé is renowned for his restrained and rational spatial language. Influenced by minimalism and adhering to a tradition closely tied to craftsmanship, his work focuses on an approach that honors material honesty, spatial order, and geometric proportion. During Yintour Masterclass DL in Spain, we had the privilege of inviting Francesc Rifé to share his insights personally with Yintour participants.
Rather than focusing on a single project, this masterclass systematically presented the working methodology of Francesc Rifé Studio through multiple residential, hospitality, and architectural renovation cases. Throughout the session, he repeatedly emphasized the importance of “preservation”—preserving the rhythm of the original structure, the traces of materials, and the inherent sense of order already present in a building. Design intervention, in his view, is not about covering up, but about re-signifying these values in a clear, contemporary way. The manner in which light enters, the play of shadows, and the relationship between material interfaces serve as key criteria for him in determining whether a space truly works.
There was no deliberate performative intensity in his delivery; instead, it was a state of honest and open dialogue. From daily studio operations to project details, from lessons learned through setbacks to long-held design principles, the discussion revolved around “how we work and why we work this way.” In the quiet and harmonious atmosphere of the class, participants’ questions were met with thoughtful responses, making the session feel like a shared journey into the very process of design thinking.
