The Studio

An international team, grounded in Beijing.

New Ground is a multidisciplinary design agency working across architecture, interior design and emerging media — built on close collaboration between designers, architects and technologists.

Our Thinking

Revealing what's already there.

In the studio's own words, on how a project begins.

"Our studio believes that every project carries within its own specifications and constraints, some design opportunities waiting to be unleashed. Our first and most important work is to reveal these inherent opportunities, to enlighten them and give them unexpected new grounds."

"During this first process our analysis always challenges the boundaries of the project, the existing conditions, the program and the constraints, in order to reveal that which is hidden and unthought-of."

How We Work

From first line to final walkthrough.

Four stages, adapted to the scale of the project.

01
Listen & research

Site, client, and the people who'll actually occupy the space.

02
Sketch & test

Massing studies and process sketches before any render.

03
Design & document

Architecture, interior and material decisions resolved together.

04
Build & deliver

On-site through completion, from first sketch to final walkthrough.

By The Numbers

An international practice across China.

15+Years of international experience (founder)
8Team members
6+Cities across China
3Design disciplines
The People

A small studio, mostly French, working from Beijing.

New Ground draws on a wider panel of independent experts across architecture, structure, lighting, landscape, urban and graphic design.

Nicolas GuarnottaNicolas GuarnottaArchitect · Founder

Nicolas Guarnotta is the French-born Founding Principal of New Ground.

First trained as an Industrial Designer, Nicolas went on to study at the La Villette School of Architecture in Paris, where he earned a mention of Excellence for his work. His formative years, post-graduation, were shaped by Christian de Portzamparc and Jean Nouvel, two Pritzker Prize-winning architects.

Nicolas' professional experience has extensively been in France and China, where he has worked with leading international practices on a variety of projects at different sizes and scales, including high-rises, mixed-use developments, office complexes, conference centers, and hotels.

Since 2012, Nicolas teaches and gives lectures at Beijing Jiao Tong University's Architecture department.

Registered member of the French Order of Architects
Diploma ENSA Paris-La Villette, equivalent to RIBA II

Pier-Luigi RussoPier-Luigi RussoArchitect
Alexandre PerrossierAlexandre PerrossierArchitect
François ChimierFrançois ChimierArchitect
Jean-Jacques LanzoJean-Jacques LanzoArchitect, Lighting Designer
Quentin FrancoisQuentin FrancoisArchitect
Amy GuAmy GuArchitect, Project Manager

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