Mindful Materiality: Enhancing Environments through Thoughtful Design

As part of NYCxDESIGN’s Soho Day Out and in partnership with Soho Design District, Scavolini presents Mindful Materiality: Enhancing Environments through Thoughtful Design, a dynamic panel exploring how today’s architects are redefining the role of materials in shaping space, experience, and sustainability.

Moderated by Jack Murphy, Executive Editor of The Architect’s Newspaper, the conversation brings together three visionary practitioners—Kit von Dalwig (Principal, vonDALWIG Architecture), Ed Parker (Principal, 1100 Architect), and Ravi Raj (Principal, Ravi Raj Architect)—whose work demonstrates the power of thoughtful material choices in creating meaningful environments.

From surface to structure, the panelists will share how their practices prioritize materials not only for their aesthetic and tactile qualities but also for their capacity to foster emotional connection, enhance well-being, and reduce environmental impact. Whether working within the constraints of adaptive reuse, exploring high-performance natural materials, or pushing the boundaries of fabrication and form, each architect brings a unique perspective on how materials influence the way we live, work, and interact with the built world.

The discussion will delve into recent residential, cultural, retail, and commercial projects, revealing how design teams balance durability, beauty, and context through material expression. How do architects navigate client expectations, supply chain realities, and shifting sustainability standards? How can a single material decision shape the mood and performance of an entire space?

Set within the elegant surroundings of Scavolini’s Soho showroom—a brand long recognized for its commitment to sustainable, high-quality craftsmanship and design innovation—the event offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with leading voices in contemporary architecture. Attendees will gain insight into the nuanced decision-making behind some of New York’s most thoughtful built environments and leave with a deeper understanding of how materiality can serve as both a technical solution and a poetic tool.

Mindful Materiality is free and open to the trade as part of Soho Day Out programming during NYCxDESIGN. RSVP required. Seats are limited. Refreshments to follow.