Zebra Lab, architecture and design
Zebra Lab, architecture and design
With one office in Pamplona and another in San Sebastian, Zebra Lab is an architecture studio directed by two lovers of design: Borja Izaskun and Cristina Burgos. These young entrepreneurs understand their business as an artesian practice in which they must tackle areas ranging from research and experimentation to the piece’s materialization, always being open to collaboration and multidisciplinary cooperation.
Their projects include new residential and service buildings, complete renovations of buildings and homes, as well as urban planning consulting services – always seeking a balance between traditional architecture and contemporary needs, concepts, and techniques when searching for new design solutions. The work of this idea laboratory is guided by creativity, impeccable quality in terms of execution, effectiveness, commitment, and close, personal service every step of the way.
At their studio, they undertake projects for both the private and public sector. One of their latest jobs done for a city council was to make the Calle Mayor of Legazpi a pedestrian street. The goal that was set when addressing said challenge was to humanize and revitalize the surroundings by making the street pedestrian and accessible for all people. A relationship with the steel industry and the mountainous terrain of Alto Urola were very present in all the stages of this work. While for the design of the avenue they kept the same materials and finishes as the other executed phases, thus creating a homogeneous environment, at the end of the street they created a type of “grandstand” public space to act as a meeting area and small stage for those living in the vicinity. The environment’s curved geometry ties in with the rest of the urban fixtures, providing a more humane, organic character in contrast with the straightness of the axis of the street. The perforations in the steel used allow for a glimpse of the mountains in the background; thus, the feeling of a wall disappears while, at the same time, a safe barrier is created to serve as protection from the regional highway. These holes draw out a tuft of trees that blends into the environment and creates a pleasant mixture of daytime lights and shadows. At night, said trees are still present as the bench has interior lighting to make the square a nice and safe environment for those who live in the municipality, which had lacked a space of these characteristics in the past. Mimesis was the key to success in this project.
As for the private sector, one of the company’s latest renovation projects carried out was in a house in San Sebastian’s Old Town. Located in the former storage area of a building, the renovation sought the renewal of installations and to make the spaces suitable for the life and needs of a family, while at the same time preserving the building’s original character. The curves of the roof, the different heights of the floor, the precious oak wood structure, and light were enough for the rest of the work to go unnoticed. Thus, the architects chose white as a serene, unifying element and allowed the wood to take center stage, providing warmth. In this way, the architects at Zebra Lab updated the layout, installations, and finishings while following the current energy standards and making technique work for the user, achieving greater comfort for the owners and making their daily life more enjoyable.
Borja and Cristina do not aim to have their own standard hallmark in terms of style, but instead wish to value and emphasize the heart and soul of each project they do. They understand that every customer is a new challenge with specific needs that are always different, and that ability to adapt is what gives life to projects: spaces with something that makes them unique and special. That is the true hallmark of Zebra Lab.
Zebra Lab
Tel.: +34 943 297 666
