In the second episode of In Light of It All, we sit down with Pablo Lambrechts — a senior architect whose work blends poetic insight with rigorous practicality. With more than three decades in the industry and landmark projects like Google’s King’s Cross HQ in his portfolio, Pablo’s approach to architecture is as human-centred as it is environmentally attuned.
What unfolds is not just a conversation about buildings, but about the soul of space — about how texture, light, material, and mood intersect to shape the way we live, feel, and connect.
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Designing for Human Beings — Not Just Building Users
Pablo’s journey began in his family’s construction business in Uruguay, where he developed a fascination with how ideas become physical form. But as his career matured, so did his approach. Alongside his wife Lindsay, a landscape architect, Pablo co-founded a practice grounded in biophilic and organic design.
Their shared ethos? Architecture should be more than functional. It should be healing.
“We don’t just respond to briefs passively,” Pablo explains. “We want to create architecture that’s active — that restores, stimulates, and supports human wellbeing.”
Beyond Context: Borrowed Views and Emotional Landscapes
Rooted in the Japanese garden concept of shakkei — the art of “borrowing” surrounding views to frame an experience — Pablo’s design thinking reaches beyond physical boundaries. Whether it's drawing the outside in, layering a sense of awe, or cultivating feelings of protection through spatial sequencing, Pablo is deeply invested in emotional resonance.
“It’s not just about matching the local vernacular,” he says. “It’s about triggering something deeper — a sense of place, memory, and peace.”
The Rise of Biophilic Design — and Its Misunderstandings
Though the term biophilic design is now used widely (and sometimes superficially — “a plant in a kitchen isn’t the whole story”), Pablo’s understanding runs deep. Influenced by Alvar Aalto, Frank Lloyd Wright, and the early organic architecture movements, he’s been integrating natural materials, light, and form into buildings long before it was fashionable.
Biophilic design, as he describes it, isn’t just about greenery or aesthetics — it’s about mimicking nature’s systems. The design process itself becomes iterative, evolving like an ecosystem, often landing somewhere entirely different from where it began.
The Power of Light — Seen and Unseen
A major theme in our conversation is lighting. For Pablo, light is more than a practical tool — it’s a neurological nutrient.
“We can’t dissociate space and light. They’re inseparable. Natural or artificial, light shapes how a space feels, behaves, and functions,” he says.
Referencing projects like Google’s HQ — where vertical marble slabs mimic reeds and rooflights create cathedral-like moments of awe — Pablo reveals how light can be used to define zones, evoke safety, and spark joy. From mimicking circadian rhythms to playing with shadow and texture, lighting, when used wisely, becomes a tool for neuroaesthetic storytelling.
And yet, lighting design is often undervalued — especially in domestic builds. “The tragedy is that it’s usually the first thing cut from a budget,” he notes. “But when it's done well, it defines everything.”
Sensing the Space — The Unconscious Impact of Architecture
One of the most resonant parts of the discussion is Pablo’s reflection on how we perceive space unconsciously. From smells and airflow to material finish and visual texture, every element of our surroundings interacts with our nervous system.
He speaks passionately about the moment a house becomes a home — “when the soul meets the space” — and about the importance of designing for that invisible transition. This is where lighting, texture, and emotional intention become paramount.
Nature Knows Best: Biomimicry and Sensory Intelligence
Pablo also shares stories from his international work — including designing a church based on the form of a clam, to evoke both awe and intimacy. Nature, he says, often holds the answers we seek.
Even ancient traditions like feng shui, once unfamiliar, are now revealed to him as intuitive expressions of biophilic principles — evidence that long before we had words like “neurodiversity” or “salutogenesis,” we were already designing for health and harmony.
On AI, the Future, and What Buildings Should Do
Looking ahead, Pablo is cautiously optimistic about AI’s role in architecture. If used wisely, he believes it can free architects to focus more on outcomes — on how people feel — by automating the iterative legwork of design development, cost modelling, and sustainability assessment.
But he’s clear on this: no technology can replace the responsibility of designing spaces that nourish. Whether for schools, homes, or workplaces, architecture must move beyond celebrating itself — and instead celebrate life.
As he puts it: “Buildings shouldn’t just be spaces to live in — they should help us live better.”
Final Reflections: A Mountain Refuge
When asked what he’d design with no budget or rules, Pablo doesn’t opt for grandiosity. Instead, he dreams of a mountain refuge by a lake — a space chosen first for its spirit, as the Greeks once did.
It’s a fitting answer from someone who designs with the soul in mind. His practice, like his presence, is grounded, generous, and gently revolutionary.
Key Takeaways from the Episode:
- Biophilic design is about far more than plants — it’s about how the brain, body, and built environment connect.
- Lighting is not a feature; it's foundational. Used well, it defines space, enhances wellbeing, and evokes emotion.
- Texture and materiality feed the senses and influence behaviour in ways we’re only beginning to understand.
- Neurodiversity-informed design is quietly becoming the future — and it overlaps directly with biophilic principles.
- AI in architecture can help measure space quality and support wellbeing-driven design if integrated responsibly.
In Light of It All is a podcast by Light Tribe by Phos, exploring how light and space shape the way we feel, live, and connect.
WATCH THE PODCAST NOW ON YOUR FAVOURITE STREAMING PLATFORM → TAP HERE TO LISTEN