The 2016 Hot List

Stay ahead of the curve in 2016 and watch out for these influential people and practices making waves in architecture, design and interiors. From emerging talents to award-winners, where these creative minds go, others are sure to follow.

The architects

1. Skene Catling de La Peña

Set on the estate of Waddeston Manor in Buckinghamshire, the RIBA award-winning Flint House by London architecture firm Skene Catling de La Peña cuts a striking silhouette on the landscape. Its unconventional shape and choice of flint cladding (a rare material in contemporary architecture) is reflective of the geology of the surrounding landscape, while the deceptively spacious interiors include flint walls and roof terraces of polished stone. The project has earned its designers much acclaim and attention throughout 2015, so we're expecting the firm to be hot favourites in 2016 following the success of Flint House.

www.scdlp.net

Images: James Norris

2. Alejandro Aravena

The Chilean architect has been named as the artistic director of the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale. Best known for his social housing work with his firm Elemental, Aravena has announced his take on the festival will focus on the 'battles to be won' to improve quality of life within the built environment. Titled 'Reporting From The Front', Arevena's biennale is set to influence a new wave of architectural designs and designers with its altruistic agenda.

Image via Dezeen

www.labiennale.org

3. Aberrant Architecture

The winning entry of this year's Dulux Let's Colour Award for Colour in Commercial Buildings and Architecture, Aberrant Architecture's inspired treatment of Rosemary Works School reimagined a Victorian school building for the betterment of its pupil and teachers' daily lives. 2016 is set to be another exciting year for the practice, with projects including the design for RIBA's Creation from Catastrophe exhibition (opening in January).

Read our Q&A with the designers.

www.aberrantarchitecture.com

The Designers

4. &New

Scooping up the top spot in the Best Furniture Design category in Elle Decoration's prestigious British Design Awards this year, &New is a furniture brand gaining serious traction. The British-Finnish duo behind its designs are Jo Wilton and Mirka Grohn, who set up the studio in January 2014. &New's ranges are characterised by a bold colour palette, geometric shapes, sharp lines and a minimal aesthetic - a visual style that'll continue to be popular for 2016.

www.andnew.co.uk

5. Luca Nichetto

It has been a momentous year for Italian designer Luca Nichetto, who launched his own furniture line at Paris trade show Masion&Object, as well as designing numerous attention grabbing pieces for interiors brands Hem, &Tradition and De La Espada. Well on his way to becoming the next super-designer, Nichetto's signature style usually incorporated saturated, rich shades of burgundy, alpine green, ochre and midnight blues - a palette that will be dominant in design and interiors throughout 2016.

Nichettostudio.com

6. Bethan-Laura Wood

Making a stark contrast against the minimalist-centric contemporary design scene, British designer Bethan Laura Wood's work could be best described as 'more-is-more'. Wildly colourful, playful and unlike anything else out there, she works across a diverse spectrum of disciplines (set design, installation, furniture, lighting, jewellery) using an array of different materials. 2015 was arguably her breakthrough year, finishing with a colourful installation at London destination (and patron of artists and designers) Sketch.

www.woodlondon.co.uk

The Interiors Designers

7. Afroditi Krassa

Multidisciplinary London-based designer Afroditi Krassa's eponymous practice has a number of impressive projects under its belt, including Heston Blumthental restaurants, arts cinemas, and a chain of sushi restaurants. Having quietly created award-winning interiors for restaurants over the last few years (including the much-loved Dishoom), the practice has helped to shape the contemporary hospitality industry as we know it, and is poised on the cusp of being a household name in the design world.

www.afroditi.com

8. Beata Heuman

Rising star Beata has made her mark on the interior design landscape this year with the relaxed yet upbeat scheme for new health food restaurant Farm Girl in London's Portobello. In her residential projects, she artfully combines textures, materials and subtle motifs, so her spaces have warmth and character without appearing overwhelming. We're sure that we'll be seeing much more of her work throughout 2016.

www.beataheuman.com

9. Maddux Creative

Scott Maddux and Jo leGleud are the driving force behind Maddux Creative, a south London-based interior design practice. Their confident residential schemes effortlessly mix found pieces, treasured belongings and unexpected colours and style, but the outcome is always elegant and refined. Included in this year's House & Garden's 100 leading interior designers directory, Maddux Creative is certainly one to watch for 2016 and beyond.

www.madduxcreative.com

Image: Ricardo Labougle

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