As part of CASACOR 2025—Latin America’s leading exhibition of architecture, interiors, and design—David Zwiebach Arquitectura introduces Atelier del Perfumista, a space that translates a personal story into a built narrative. Located within the historic "Puericultorio Pérez Araníbar" in Lima, the project reflects a careful balance between heritage, contemporary craftsmanship, and material honesty.
Architecture as a Narrative Medium
The design concept emerges from the story of an individual who leaves a conventional career path to pursue the artisanal craft of perfumery. This intimate, almost therapeutic process—listening, interpreting, and creating a unique essence—became the architectural brief: to craft a space that resonates with sensitivity and depth, while offering an environment that feels curated and timeless.
Material Integrity and Crafted Detail
The architectural intervention is restrained yet highly articulated, respecting the spatial qualities of the existing heritage shell. The design avoids over-layering; instead, it seeks to reveal the intrinsic beauty of the existing structure.
Furniture and built-in elements were conceived as architectural components, with every joint, proportion, and surface detail meticulously studied. Natural wood, sourced from a sustainable supply chain, is treated to express its tactile and warm qualities, while recyclable sintered stone introduces a refined counterpoint of texture and permanence. These materials were used to their full potential, showcasing precision joinery and a seamless integration between structure and finish. Every decision has been intentional.
Atmosphere and Experience
The resulting space is evocative, intimate, and quietly sophisticated. The interplay of light, texture, and proportion creates a sense of calm and focus, while subtle interventions ensure that the building's heritage character remains present and celebrated.
Atelier del Perfumista demonstrates how architecture, when approached with rigour, material intelligence, and narrative intent, can transform a simple interior into a sensorial and memorable experience.
Photos by Renzo Rebagliati.