( Alma Mater, a collection for mindful living )

For its U.S. debut, Lisbon-based studio AB+AC Architects presents Alma Mater, a collectible series that explores the intersection of ritual, sensuality, and mindfulness. Designed by Arianna Bavuso and produced under the supervision of Andre Chedid, the collection revisits AB+AC’s early sculptural works through a new narrative—a Monk who became Rock Star and lives in a motel room in Miami—a symbolic figure who embraces both spirituality and passion, discipline and desire, restraint and exuberance.

Crafted in stainless steel and dark brown beeswax, the collection includes Totem (their signature sculptural candleholder), Daybed (a therapy bed sculpted in beeswax), Dome (a playful tridimensional mirror), Ring (a 63-inch candleholder) with Stool I for meditation, Line (a miniature candleholder for table), and an Incense Holder—seven limited-edition objects for contemplation, each engraved with a secret message from the artist. Each piece embodies a dialogue between strength and ephemerality, between the enduring nature of metal and the fleeting warmth of wax.

Produced in collaboration with Italian and Portuguese artisans, Alma Mater celebrates meticulous handcraft, from micro-welded structures to hand-engraved candles that unfold like rituals of light and transformation.

Alma Mater—Latin words for “Nurturing Mother”—draws from elemental forces: sun, earth, and reflection. It is both a meditation and a celebration of life’s dualities, transforming collecting into a mindful gesture that invites stillness within our otherwise hectic lives.

AB+AC Architects is an international multidisciplinary studio based in Lisbon, operating at the intersection of architecture, well-being, and futurism. Founded by Arianna Bavuso and Andre Chedid, the practice pioneers a neuro-architectural approach that merges design, research, and teaching to create spaces and objects for mindfulness, healing, and transformation. Arianna—architect, artist, and researcher—explores how the built environment shapes emotion and health by translating scientific insights into projects and artworks alike. Andre—architect and former musician—brings a sensibility for craft and materiality. Together, they lead a mindful design practice that turns architecture into a form of self-care and renewal.