Practising architect Malaika Carr, has named her unisex jewellery brand Arco Studio after the Spanish word for 'arc' – one of the most complex structural forms. Curving shapes are also prevelant in her minimalist and sharp designs.
‘Being an architect has given me a clear set of parameters to work within,’ Carr explains. ‘I concentrate on function, scale and precision. When you design a building, you think of the end user and how you can make them fall in love with the spaces. The same thread of thought translates to when I think of jewellery. However, I often imagine that the end user is me.'
New collections will take inspiration from buildings she loves, or the style of a particular architect. Carr cites Venetian architect Carlo Scarpa as the influence for this collection, in particular his La Tomba Brion, a striking space contoured in layered ridges cast in concrete.
Fusing the modern with the classical, his linear lines and intricate detailing are reflected in jewellery in sterling silver, both gold plated and left clean. Sculptural necklaces are fluid like the curves of Scarpa's building, while sharply defined earrings and rings echo the geometric detailing in his work. ‘Using such solid materials was very satisfying; it gives the pieces a nice weight,’ Carr says. ‘The result is versatile and timeless.'
Left, ‘Arco’ and ‘Open Arco’ rings. Right, ‘Layered’ earring, all in sterling silver
Left, ‘Stepped Arc’ earring. Right, ‘Linear’ earring, both in sterling silver
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Arco Studio website
-
Japan in Milan! See the highlights of Japanese design at Milan Design Week 2025At Milan Design Week 2025 Japanese craftsmanship was a front runner with an array of projects in the spotlight. Here are some of our highlights
-
Tour the best contemporary tea houses around the worldCelebrate the world’s most unique tea houses, from Melbourne to Stockholm, with a new book by Wallpaper’s Léa Teuscher
-
‘Humour is foundational’: artist Ella Kruglyanskaya on painting as a ‘highly questionable’ pursuitElla Kruglyanskaya’s exhibition, ‘Shadows’ at Thomas Dane Gallery, is the first in a series of three this year, with openings in Basel and New York to follow
-
Jessica McCormack's minimalist jewellery brings glamour to the 9-5Take diamonds from day to night with the Rush Hour collection: a rethink of corporate dressing
-
Art takes London: Tiffany & Co, Damien Hirst and artists take over Selfridges' windowsFour British contemporary artists celebrate Tiffany & Co's pioneering history with a series of storied window displays
-
Late summer jewels: what to wear at Golden HourLate summer signals a jewellery style-shift. These independent designers have got it covered
-
All smiles: How a grillz jewellery making class in London became an international hitWhat started as a passion project quickly exploded in popularity. We get the story behind the grillz-making workshop at Cockpit London
-
Emerging jewellery designers to get to knowThese independent, new and emerging jewellery designers and brands from New York to Paris are firmly on our radar
-
Jewellery designers share their most precious personal piecesA host of jewellers give us a peek at the jewellery which brings them joy and solace
-
Playing it cool: pearls are having a momentWe've been deep-diving into boutiques around the world to find the very best calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form. It seems jewellers have been busy rethinking pearls, with contemporary (and often affordable) results
-
Eternity rings for the modern coupleEternity rings, whether sleekly minimalist or sprinkled in diamonds, can be a chic and contemporary love token
