Responses by Blok Design.

Background: As a multilayered architectural firm, superkül needed a website to insightfully showcase the breadth and depth of its body of work. With projects ranging from residential to institutional, this platform had to express the firm’s distinct point of view, keeping accessibility and clarity at the forefront.

Design core: We are lucky to have a longstanding relationship with superkül, having designed the original identity and a book for the firm. Continuing the language we developed, the site owns its gravitas, clarity and humanity within the digital space. It follows the same values of superkül’s architecture—concept, thoughtfulness, form and process—simply and earnestly.

We focused on layering narratives, designing a structure that creates intuitive movement and a fresh contemporary voice to carry the same simple uniqueness that is inherent to the firm’s work.

Favorite details: The Interstice page, because it was designed to serve the senses. A convergence of textures, processes and forms, it offers a more raw, emotional documentation of the firm’s philosophy and soulfulness.

The image transition on the Interstice page was drawn from the architectural process itself. Superkül co-owner Andre D’Elia wanted to create a similar sense to layered translucent papers used in architectural drawing. This transition is a very distinct element of the site that gives it its personality and fluidity, coming from a real place.

We thoroughly love designing down to the smallest detail and savor overlooked elements like the logo changing color based on the photography and subtle typographical animations. For us, these considered elements turn a good site into a great one.

Challenges: Time was the most challenging aspect but also the most rewarding. Over the course of the project, we had to rethink and shift the decisions we made at the start. The initial homepage design was very poetic, but we decided far into the project that it needed to be more informative and direct. Because of the length of our involvement, we were able to manifest the rethinking and deliver a site that responded honestly to superkül’s needs—not our interpretation of them. 
 
Navigation structure: It was imperative to be able to navigate the website easily in numerous ways—by name or image, linearly or emotionally—so that the user can choose how to engage and connect to the content. The main project navigation enables two kinds of content structure: by image or list. This allows users to discover and react visually to the work while creating the avenue for direct accessibility to a specific project.