DF_DC is an architecture and urban design practice based in London and Lugano, founded in 2016 by DARIO FRANCHINI and DIEGO CALDERON.
Our work involves the production of buildings, places, and strategies for a range of sectors, pursuing an elemental space – an architectural language that is both legible and porous, interested in the relationship between structure and tangible finish.
Our approach is collaborative, having established strategic connection with other practices, forming part of an international network of consultants bolstered by our two studio locations, overseas work, and academic endeavour. This has led to a series of completed projects, ranging from a staircase to public buildings, masterplans and neighbourhood-making strategies; from curatorship and wayfinding to public design guidelines.
The practice has led a design studio at the Kingston School of Art since 2016 and was workshop leader at Porto Academy in the 2022 and 2023 editions. Recent projects received the Best Architects Award both for the 2022 and 2023 editions and Mention of Honour at the 2020 Architecture Biennial in Mexico.
The practice has recently received prizes in major public and cultural competitions (Swiss Embassy in London in 2022, Cantonal Natural History Museum in 2023) and has been selected for a number of emerging architecture publications (e.g. Wallpaper* Architects Directory, New Architects 4, Newgens). Our practice of architecture is informed by our academic endeavours, lecturing and invited as guest critics at universities in the UK and abroad. A first monograph providing a cross-section of ideas and buildings from our first years in practice was published by Quart Verlag in Switzerland in 2020. The work of the practice has been published internationally in print and digital media.
Contact us:
info@df-dc.co.uk
Follow us: instagram.com/dfdc_architects
Dario Franchini, USI-AAM / OTIA / SIA / REG A
Diego Calderon, USI-AAM / RIBA / ARB
PEOPLE:
Paolo Crippa, Laura Franchini, Felix Everard, Radija Raposo.
UK
42 Theobalds Road
London WC1X 8NW, United Kindgom
+44 (0)20 7405 9361
info@df-dc.co.uk
CH
Via Carona 6
6900 Paradiso, Switzerland
+41 91 950 98 70
info@df-dc.co.uk
AWARDS & DISTINCTIONS
2024 Concéntrico 10, The Street in Ten Years (SP)
2024 RIBA Local Ambassador (CH)
2023 Cantonal Natural History Museum, competition 3rd prize (CH)
2022 Best Architects 2023 (DE)
2022 Swiss Embassy in London, competition finalist (CH)
2021 New Architects 4 (UK)
2021 Best Architects 2022 (DE)
2020 Wallpaper* Architects Directory (UK)
2020 Mention of Honour, MX Architecture Biennale (MX)
2019 Lausanne Cantonal Tribunal Extension, competition finalist (CH)
2012 Palazzo del Cinema Locarno (with AZPML), competition 1st prize (CH)
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS & EVENTS
2024 Emerging Switzerland (IT)
2023 Four Architects from Ticino exhibition, curators (MX)
2023 Romanian Design Week, Architecture section curatorship (RO)
2023 Porto Academy Visits O'Gorman, Mexico City (MX)
2022 Porto Academy, FAUP Porto (PT)
2022 Best Architects 2023 (DE)
2022 Architects Journal (UK)
2021 New Architects 4 (UK)
2021 Best Architects 2022 (DE)
2021 Quart Verlag Anthologie 45 (CH)
2020 Focus Archi (BE)
2019 AS Schweizer Architektur (CH)
2019 Archi (CH)
2018 Architects Journal (UK)
TEACHING / GUEST CRITICS
2024 Ion Mincu University, Bucharest (RO)
2023 Kingston University (UK)
2023 Porto Academy, Casa O'Gorman (MX)
2022 Porto Academy, FAUP Porto (PT)
2022 Kingston University (UK)
2022 Tec de Monterrey, Guest Professorship (MX)
2021 Kingston University (UK)
2019 Kingston University (UK)
2018 London Metropolitan University (UK)
2018 Cambridge School of Architecture (UK)
2018 Kingston University (UK)
2017 Kingston University (UK)
2016 Cambridge School of Architecture (UK)
2013 Accademia di Architettura, Mendrisio, Assistant Atelier Bonnet (CH)
SELECTED TALKS
2024 Concéntrico, Logroño (SP)
2024 Ion Mincu University, Bucharest (RO)
2023 ForA, Guadalajara (MX)
2023 Porto Academy, Mendrisio (CH)
2023 ForA, Guadalajara (MX)
2022 Quinzena, Instituto Porto (PT)
2022 Porto Academy, FAUP Porto (PT)
2021 CCAD, Monterrey (MX)
2021 Arca Talks (MX)
2020 Scott Sutherland School of Architecture (UK)
2018 Kingston University (UK)
2018 Guadalajara (MX)
PAST PEOPLE
Jacob Lee, Aszvina Rangunathan, Mathias Broniatowski, Federica Zoboli, Veronica Casey Fierro, Victor Perlheden, Silvia Passiglia, Gianfranco Panza, Maria Teresa Albano, Sebastian Alvarez, Yuet Ming Wong, Diego Palomares Gaspar, Martina Solca, Francisca Aires Mateus, Priya Kana, Dafina Zariqi, Luca Pederzini, Davide Rossi, Ana-Maria Marin, Giulia Bisi, Nicola Andreani, Veronica Marzorati, Silke Schnidrig, Laura Vilalta Ibanez, Carlotta Sartorio, Carmen Cabañas, Ivan Ginzburg, Radina Todorova, Chris Painter, Clausen Buchartts, Salvador Borras i Mascarell, Nicole Vairetti, Laura Fuoco, Nuria Casais, Francesco Magni, Patrizio Pata, Lorenzo Rossettini, Kostas Biliunas.
COLLABORATORS
Henley Halebrown, William Guthrie Architect, Morris +Company, Witherford Watford Mann, AZPML, Peter Feeny Architects, OMMX, Ammann Architekten, Collective Urban Strategies, Thierry Dalcant, Ghiggi Paesaggi, Anton Landschaft , Officina del Paesaggio, AF Consult, Pini Group, Measur, Conisbee, Momentum Structural Engineers, Hardman Structural Engineers, ThreeSix Design, P3R, Pianifica, Mawi, Appleyard & Trew; Gabriel J. Villasmil, Mara Scalia, Ethan de Clerk, Mammutlab, Ver Estudio, Rory Gardiner, Simone Bossi, Lorenzo Zandri, Gautier Houba.
PRIVACY POLICY: Read here.
WEB DESIGN: Villalba Studio