SML Architektur is a young architecture firm based in Zurich. The founders belong to a new generation of multicultural female architects who combine Eastern design principles with those of the West. Specifically, this means that they take East Asian spatial concepts from China, Japan, and Korea and elevate them to new levels of quality with Swiss precision and craftsmanship. Their work is strongly influenced by their Asian philosophy and aesthetics. One of the firm's three architects is a trained Japanese tea master. The firm has particularly specialized in the creation of tea rooms and has already realized several of them in Switzerland.

We designed the visual identity for SML Architektur. We were inspired by Shide paper strips. These are strips used in Shinto rituals to offer gifts to the gods. Shintoism teaches that gods are not visible, but rather take the form of nature, such as rocks, trees, or waterfalls. In Japan, not only the entrances of houses or temples are decorated with Shide, but also natural elements such as branches or stones are wrapped in Shide. They thus symbolize the presence of a divine force. SML Architektur also holds great respect for all natural living beings and materials. The logo can be interpreted in many ways: is it a tree? A temple? A person? Or does it symbolize an alley, construction, or architecture as a discipline in general? This diversity, the Asian influence, and the connection to nature are what define the studio, which is what we want to convey with the logo.

www.smlarchitektur.com