to PAUSE and PONDEr
Common Dwells is a forum for creative exchange, a gathering place for artistic minds and thinking hands. As an interdisciplinary design studio with a foundation in architecture, the studio works across creative fields on projects ranging architecture, interior design, furniture, objects, teaching and consulting.
As a place for learning and making, we favour collaboration and customisation to make works of importance – instilling humble yet novel and enriched, ways of living.
Everything that we do relates to the circadian rhythm. We believe that the spaces and things that surround us deeply impacts our health and well-being and that our lives improve as we learn to live in accordance with our natural rhythms. Our work explores ways in which we can elevate the rituals and routines that make up our lives.
founders bios
AGUSTINA GARCIA DEL RIO
Co-founder of Common Dwells and Dwelling Impressions creative workshops, Agustina works as an architect and designer. She also teaches at Emily Carr University of Art and Design.
Agustina has spent the past eleven years working across a diverse range of disciplines, including architecture, interiors, furniture, stage design, jewellery, photography and creative direction. She was also a professor at the University of Buenos Aires for eight years before relocating to Copenhagen.
Architect (Argentina)
B. Arch, M. Arch, M. Teaching Specialist in Architecture, Design and Urbanism.
Agustina co-founded the studio Carbono Atelier in Buenos Aires where she designed private residences and custom interiors. She currently holds a position at Openspace Architecture.
REBECCA NORBERG
Co-founder of Common Dwells and founder of Relief, a creative agency working in the fields of architecture, design and creative direction, Rebecca works as an architect, designer and creative director.
Rebecca has spent the last decade working in different positions within the architecture and design industry. Based in Scandinavia, she has work for both globally renowned cultural institutions and commercial design companies, local trade unions, organisations as well as emerging think tanks and start-ups.
Architect (Denmark)
B. Landscape Arch., MA. Architecture, Design and Interiors.
Clients include: Audo Copenhagen, Ómós Restaurant & Guesthouse, Ritz Carlton, Soho House, SSENSE, Hem, BoConcept, DUX, Danish Architecture Center and Architects Sweden.
background
As a practice, we are a design studio, though our passions span much wider.
Common Dwells was born in 2020, when architects and founders Rebecca Norberg and Agustina García del Río met in Copenhagen, Denmark. Through conversations around Rebecca being Swedish and Agustina Argentinian, a deep, cross-referential dialogue began to take shape. Sharing stories of work and passions that transcend territory and time, new ways of thinking and working began to form.
A will to learn, refine and invent new tools and techniques helped shape Common Dwells. This ultimately lead to the realisation of wanting to alter the status quo of the creative industry — to better serve the needs of the individual as well as society at large. The creation of the conceptual ‘Circadian Home’ became the foundation upon which the studio was built.
Now working globally with one part of the office on Bornholm (DK) and the other in Vancouver (CA), Common Dwells partners with both individuals, companies, organisations and institutions on projects of various scales.
TIMELINE
2024
The research project Urban Parasols is initiated.
Ground & Gather Rug installation at Lock & Mortise.
West Coast Modern Homes collaboration.
The Compañero Bench is launched in partnership with Cúmulo.
The Conversational Console is launched in partnership with Pablo Mariano Studio.
The Handcrafted Hanger is launched in partnership with Pablo Mariano Studio.
2023
The Circadian Cabin is conceptualised and exhibited at IKEA’s living lab Space10.
The Urban Circadian Home is conceptualised.
The Circadian Home Resort is conceptualised.
Research project The Sound of the Home is initiated.
2022
The Ground & Gather Rug collection is launched.
Proposal for The Bath House design competition.
Objects collection is designed (production on hold).
2021
Facilitating design collaboration between Audo Copenhagen and Amancio Williams.
Invited to design product proposals for Soho House Stockholm (unrealised).
2020
The Home Competition: The Circadian Home is conceptualised.
Agustina and Rebecca meet in Copenhagen.