Autor: Taller KEN
Taller KEN is a New York and Guatemala based practice focused on playful design with social and cultural relevancy. Founded in 2013, the firm embraces the collaborative nature of making partnerships and connections. Incorporating a multitude of voices, our work goes beyond merely elevating elements of design to creating an architecture with broad appeal.
The firm often works in developing countries and urban areas defined by an imbalance of growth and social inequities. Realizing projects in this context has helped the practice establish its approach to working in the public realm. In 2016, Taller KEN began an annual design-build initiative in order to work more closely with local communities. The program, FUNdaMENTAL brings design interns together with real world problems and partners to engage in all phases of realizing of a public urban intervention for the collective good.
Inés Guzmán and Gregory Melitonov prior to founding the practice worked for Pritzker Prize laureate Renzo Piano. Both gained a great deal of experience on large construction projects in Manhattan as part of the design team for the Whitney Museum of American Art and the headquarters building for the High Line.
Inés holds a Masters and Bachelors degree in Architecture from the Universidad del Diseño de San José, Costa Rica. Gregory holds a Masters in Architecture from Yale University and a Bachelors of Science in Studio Art from Skidmore College.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
The Architectural League Prize – 2019
Established to recognize visionary work by young practitioners, The Architectural League Prize is an annual competition, lecture series, and exhibition organized by The Architectural League and its Young Architects + Designers Committee.
Art Omi: Architecture Fellowship – 2018
The mission of the Architecture Residency is to provide early- and mid-career architects the time and the space to work on a project of their own without external pressures or concerns and to create a diverse community of architecture-educated individuals from all over the world to discuss and challenge urgent issues of our time.
Interior Design Magazine 40@Forty- 2017
The first time the magazine devoted a special section to the work of up-and-comers, highlighting the work of international, interdisciplinary studios by designers around that same age to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit inherent to the profession—a go-forit attitude reflected in their work.
AIA New York New Practices Award – 2016
Since 2006, this biennial competition serves as the preeminent platform in New York to recognize new and innovative architecture firms that have undertaken unique and innovative strategies.
AIA Los Angeles Restaurant Design Awards – 2015
People’s Choice Award for Saul Bistro Concepcion. Evaluation based on function, ambience and visual impact. AIA Los Angeles Restaurant Design Awards – 2014 People’s Choice Award for Saul Bistro Concepcion. Evaluation based on function, ambience and visual impact.