For Gonzalo Cabezas, furniture is architecture at an intimate scale.

Each piece begins as a spatial and structural composition, bringing together proportion, geometry, function and material. Rather than treating furniture as purely functional, Gonzalo approaches it as a form of inhabitable design—something that interacts with the body, shapes its surroundings and becomes part of everyday experience.

His transition into furniture design and making is a natural extension of his architectural practice. The same attention to space, structure and proportion is translated into objects that feel both useful and expressive.

Material plays a fundamental role in this process. Gonzalo is drawn to wood for its warmth, texture, imperfections and natural character, with reclaimed timber sitting at the heart of the practice.

Materials that might otherwise be overlooked or discarded are given a second life through thoughtful design and careful craftsmanship. Existing marks and imperfections are retained as part of the finished piece, allowing the history of the timber to become part of the object’s identity.

Gonzalo’s approach is informed by the architectural rationalism of Le Corbusier and the geometric clarity of Piet Mondrian. These influences can be seen in his interest in reduction, rhythm, balance and the relationship between individual elements within a larger composition.

The resulting design language is minimal, timeless and distinctive. Simplicity is not treated as an absence of detail, but as a process of removing what is unnecessary until the essential becomes visible.

Based in Auckland, Gonzalo develops this practice through Andes Design NZ, which he founded with strategist Carola. Together, they share a belief that good design begins long before the first cut of timber and that materials, craftsmanship and local production all carry responsibility.

Their work is guided by a simple question: how can something beautiful be created while making better use of the resources already around us?

Each piece is designed to make an immediate visual impression while revealing its deeper character gradually through touch, use and close observation.

Because furniture can be more than something placed within a room—it can help shape the way that room is lived in.