Looking for the perfect architectural firm to transform your home – or perhaps your private jet? There are few that have quite the talent required to transfer their expertise in luxury home and commercial design to the field of aviation, but twin sister-run, London-based firm Lie Alonso is doing just that.
Headed up by Brazilian architects and designers Valeria and Diana, who have a diverse international background and specialise in high-end architectural spaces and private aviation, Lie Alonso transcends the classical and the contemporary eras, turning each project into a discovery of the depths of imagination. Infusing designs with a sense of ease, wonder and all-round sophistication, it is fast making a name for itself thanks to the sisters’ foray into the world of luxury travel – with their multicultural backgrounds serving as inspiration for their esteemed and highly-custom private jet designs, as well as their more typical, land-based projects.
In 2020, the company’s private jet concept was shortlisted for the International Yacht and Aviation Awards and features a unique interior inspired by a trip Valeria and Diana took to Essaouira, Morocco, garnering them much attention and acclaim for their inspired approach to architecture and highlighting Lie Alonso’s unique versatility and eye for all-round opulence.
Born and raised outside of São Paulo, Brazil, with their ancestry stemming from a Spanish father and Hakka Chinese mother, it’s perhaps unsurprising that the Lie Alonso twins’ worldview, based on broad international influences from both life and travel, has helped to shape their multidisciplinary practice.
Bringing their international heritage and artistic perspective into play, the sisters have successfully managed to create a new language of the future that exudes charm and inspiration and celebrates a rich fusion of cultures, influenced by history, literature, art, travel and reverence towards the gift of life – all coming together in the creation of spaces and pieces that can’t help but delight the senses.
In the private aviation industry, Valeria and Diana, along with the rest of the talented and forward-thinking Lie Alonso team, are innovating by bringing an artistic exploration into their aircraft designs, pushing the boundaries of the industry by imbuing character, emotion, and vibrancy into their interior and exterior concepts.
Every piece of furniture, lighting, carpet – and each fine detail of all the firm’s projects – is designed by Lie Alonso, and to date, they have been transposed into a range of unique spaces – not just aircrafts, which is perhaps the most notable environment on the list, but also yachts, homes, hospitality, and workspaces.
Both having graduated in Architecture and Urban Planning from university, Valeria went on to work as principal designer for Gulfstream Aerospace and Embraer Executive Jets in the United States, expanding her experience in interiors, industrial design and the luxury market while delving into an artistic exploration where she further developed her creative skills.
Valeria Lie Alonso has amassed over a decade of experience creating custom aircraft interiors for HNWI and Forbes 500 CEOs around the world, so it’s safe to say that she is accustomed to the task.
Art has always been a passion of Valeria’s, ever since early childhood, and she has worked with many different art modalities over the years. Today, she adores incorporating oil pastels and watercolours into her work to create a kinaesthetic feel, with her approach to design emphasising vibrant colours with refined textural finishes. Her ability to hand draw architectural elements, from furniture and lighting pieces to carpets and exterior designs, from imagination, is a key strength and is fundamental in bringing Lie Alonso’s projects to life.
Diana Lie Alonso, meanwhile, is equally experienced in the field, having specialised in architectural projects ranging from international multimillion-pound workspaces and corporate offices, to retail and hospitality environments and residential properties, and with a client list ranging from global corporations in the technology and aerospace defence sectors to private individuals, she knows exactly how to create bespoke and tailored projects that never fail to impress.
Together, the twins and their firm are perfectly placed to offer something new and exciting within the architectural design world, and their innovative concepts have seen them gain industry-wide recognition that is well-deserved. Never one to blend in with the crowd, Lie Alonso prides itself on being a trail-blazer in its field, and its recent projects have won it an ever-expanding customer base of high-net-worth, affluent individuals and companies who are looking to push the boundaries of design in their homes, workspaces and of course, on board their luxury vehicles of choice.
“We feel that there is a select group of clients who want something new, unique, and exciting, that has a voice of its own,” says Valeria.
“It’s a unique group of highly travelled, worldly people, who appreciate collecting art from different corners of the globe, being surrounded by different cultures, and have a distinguished eye towards life.
“This is where Lie Alonso’s multi ethnic and multicultural background comes in.”
With a sophisticated artistic approach, the firm brings a rare fusion of ethnic and cultural influences, where East meets West, to create transcendental spaces and pieces that delight the senses and ignite the soul.
Along with their partners, the Lie Alonso twins have amassed 20 years of combined aviation experience, and 30 years of architectural design expertise, so it’s little wonder they are quickly making a name for Lie Alonso as one of the very best in the business.
With such unique expertise, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Lie Alonso’s availability is becoming likened to gold dust, with the firm’s calendar already filling up fast with bookings for 2022 and beyond. So, if you’re looking to transform a luxury space, whether at home, work, or on board your luxury transport mode of choice, then there’s no time to waste.
