ACLA architecture

A premium banking environment, designed and delivered in 8 months, natural materials took center stage 🪵🌱

The loft house 🏡🤌🏽

This renovation offered a uniquely exciting challenge—to totally elevate the existing space both literally and figuratively. We did this through the design of a double height ceiling simultaneously maximising the pe*******on of light into the living spaces while also creating a cozy loft in the quieter zones. Our aim was to create a space that reflected and suited a gorgeous collection of vintage Caribbean furniture and characterised life in the tropics in a contemporary and homely way.

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A different perspective—
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Embodying continuity with this mountain perched home.

We focused on expressing the language of the exterior through to the interior and vice versa, we’ve been hyper focused on this mutually beneficial relationship as of late 🤝♥️

Appreciating the strength of our team a little extra this month. We challenged ourselves to sum up our individual ethos in one line.

Head to the link in our bio to find out what we came up with! 💬

Moroccan meets Modern Caribbean ✨
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When you see the potential in the existing building, you don’t need major changes for it to make a big impact.
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In this instance, we did not want to alter the exterior drastically; so we re-used and repurposed so many materials that were originally there and included new accent light fixtures as well as new materiality and finishes that paired well with the existing.
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The teak louvres, entry door, wooden windows, Moroccan tiles and many more were re-used!
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It wasn't necessarily an easy task but it all works out when you have great clients and a great team who also see the vision. Trust the process. 🫶🏽🤩

>>> Swipe for more façade before + afters!

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Interested in joining our team of designers + architects?
Contact us if you meet the requirements above…

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CONGRATULATIONS!! to .narayansingh
Laura became a director here at ACLA in 2020 and has since been awarded for her contributions in architecture and design works in Trinidad & Tobago.

We are honoured to have her represent women in the industry and feature Trinbagonian design among fellow amazing professionals around the world in the 100 Women: Architects in Practice. Now available on RIBA’s website under RIBA Titles.

❤ from your ACLA family!

Grab a copy of MANIKIN today

A compilation of manuscripts that details the life and works of Anthony C. Lewis the founder of our firm ACLA

We've been getting a few requests for interior "design" services and we're here to clear the misconception that an Interior Designer and an Interior Decorator perform the same function.

Interior Design is the art and science of understanding people's behaviour to create functional spaces within a building.
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Interior Decorating is the furnishing or adorning of a space with fashionable or beautiful things e.g. furniture, drapery, paint colour, tile selection, etc.

In short, interior designers may decorate, but decorators do not design.

At ACLA, as part of our complete architectural design process, we can assist in selecting finishes and furnishings if so desired, but we offer this as part of the whole, not typically as a separate service.

We hope this is helpful 😉

Warm tones on a cool day; willow heights model unit interiors 🤎🌿

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Have you ever seen a brutalist beach house?
Here she is 🪄

design + visuals by: .schiller

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- check out The Bush House on
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ACLA Architecture () director Laura Narayansingh has designed the compact Bush House on the Caribbean island of Trinidad for her family.

Informed by the island's colonial architecture, the main living space is fronted by four arched openings that let light and air into the house, while giving views out to the surrounding hillside.

Find out more at the link in our bio.

✍️ Tom Ravenscroft ()
📷 Tamara Uribe ()

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Grenadian hospitality meets contemporary leisure 🏖️🇬🇩
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Interested in joining our team of designers + architects?

Contact us if you meet the requirements above…

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Some befores & proposed afters of this residential reno ✨

Externally, we simplified the colour palette and complex geometry with muted warm greys, highlighted by a bright white painted first floor anchored by dark stained timber slats and glass railings throughout.

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We'll finish off our FAQs today as Monday just ran away from us 🫣. We hope this has been an informative mini series. Have a great week folks!!

Next week, we finish this mini series of FAQs By Architects, By Clients, By The Public. Have a fabulous Friday!! 🤩

Continuing on from our post yesterday, here are some FAQs you, as the client or the public may ask.

We want you, the architect, the client, and the public to be informed. You can see these FAQs on the Board of Architecture of T&T's website at www.boa-tt.org, but thought we'd share them here as well 🧐. Everyday, we'll share a couple.

Dramatic transformation alert ⚠️

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We renovated this quintessential Caribbean style home to have a modern, warm, cohesive palette 🌞

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>>> Swipe to see the befores!
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Here’s a lofty face lift to an existing single storey home. We welcomed light, shade and shadow play in this design to pursue a modern take on our client’s vernacular aesthetic aspiration.

Stay tuned for our interior and exterior transformation of this home!

Can’t wait to show you the befores 🤩

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CONGRATULATIONS!! to Ricardo Newallo on becoming LEED AP BD+C certified.

A LEED credential (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) denotes proficiency in today's sustainable design, construction and operations standards, and is globally recognised.

❤ from your ACLA family!

We’ve been working on this one behind the scenes for quite some time and we’re so excited to share a tiny bit about this project with you!

The Maracas Bay Resort will be a transformational project – it promises to combine global advances in hospitality with exceptional design and building techniques to produce an experientially focused, expectation-exceeding destination and we’re so thrilled to be a part of the team to produce this.

So many exciting things for 2023… HNY!! 🎆

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(868) 626-2837 is working again 🥳🤩🙌👏👏

the oasis spot 🍃

the addition of an entertainment area in this already naturally beautiful environment offers a small ‘get away’ for the clients

this space transformed from a back porch that was not being used to it’s full potential, to an invigorating private escape

check out our website for the full project renovation!

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Some people call it Thursday, but we like to call it Friday’s Eve 😉

Construction progress on this private residence in Goodwood Park with spectacular views! 🤩

Fun fact: Rainbow Hill which was designed by Architect Roger Turton is framed through the openings of this residence, along with the Gulf of Paria in the south-east

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Robert Las Heras was a talented architect who began working with ACLA Architecture in the mid 1970s. Retired ACLA director, Brian Lewis recalls flying to London to interview him when the firm was recruiting staff to work on the design of the Eric Williams Financial Complex. Robert, who was always full of flair, showed up to the interview in a 3-piece suit and bowler hat.

The rest is history as he became involved with the design of several iconic buildings done by ACLA over the years including the Financial Complex, Citibank, the Institute of Marine Affairs, UTT Tamana Campus and the restoration of the Central Bank Auditorium. Robert also worked on several projects for the Roman Catholic Church including restoration works at Mount St. Benedict, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and St. Patrick’s Church to name a few.

Robert retired a few years ago, but his contribution to the profession and Trinidad and Tobago’s architectural heritage will not be forgotten. We at ACLA will miss him most for his hard work and dedication and tremendous knowledge about the arts and anthropology that he was always willing to share.

May his soul rest in peace.