13&9 Design

04/12/2025

// FRACTAL PROJECTS FINALISTS AT 2025 BEST OF YEAR AWARDS //
The 2025 Best of Year Awards (BOY) ceremony by Interior Design Magazine - the global, industry-leading design publication, website, and events company serving the interior design, architectural, and facility management communities - takes place on December 11, 2025, at BlackRock, 50 Hudson Yards, in New York City.

The Interior Design Best of Year Awards celebrate the most innovative work from around the world, spotlighting standout projects, products, and creative minds shaping what’s happening now and next in design.

Martin Lesjak and Anastasija Lesjak will join the award ceremony with two finalists: the Renaturation Collection for Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering in the product category "⁠Contract Wall Covering,"⁠ and the Fractal Chapel at the University Hospital in Graz, Austria, by INNOCAD architecture for KAGes - Steiermärkische Krankenanstaltengesellschaft m.b.H., in the project category "⁠Government/Institutional."⁠ Both projects integrate science-based fractal designs developed by 13&9 Design in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Richard Taylor from the University of Oregon and Fractals Research.

This year marks a major milestone: the 20th anniversary of Best of Year! For two decades, this iconic program has honored groundbreaking achievements in architecture, interiors, and product design from around the globe.

We would like to thank Editor-in-Chief Cindy Allen and her incredible team at Interior Design magazine. For more about the 2025 Best of Year Awards finalist products and projects, visit the links.
https://boyawards.secure-platform.com/a/page/2025-finalists/2025-finalists-products
https://boyawards.secure-platform.com/a/page/2025-finalists/2025-finalists-projects

25/11/2025

// WORLD INTERIOR OF THE YEAR AWARD 2025 WINNER //
At this year’s World Architecture Festival, we presented two Fractal Projects in WAF’s signature open-critique format, engaging directly with the jury and audience.

Following its category win in "WAF Interiors: Public Buildings," the project FRACTAL CHAPEL advanced to the final stage of the competition: the presentation to the WAF Interiors Super Jury, consisting of Nigel Coates, Adrien Gardère, Johnny Chiu, Lucy Tilley, and Mike Stiff.

After a transparent and dialogue-driven evaluation, the FRACTAL CHAPEL at the University Hospital Graz was selected as the World Interior of the Year 2025 – the festival’s highest interior design accolade.

The official Super Jury statement described the project as "a welcome opportunity for expansive contemplation in the busy and often stressful world of a hospital." The panel evaluated spatial ex*****on, emotional resonance, innovation, and societal relevance.

In addition, the project MOSH Bar & Dinner in Bucharest, Romania, was also a finalist in this year’s category "WAF Interiors: Bars & Restaurants."

Thank you to the jury, the WAF team, our collaborators, and everyone who contributed to this project. For more about the project, visit the link.
https://shorturl.at/mqus7

21/11/2025

// WORLD INTERIOR OF THE YEAR 2025 WINNER //
Our team is honored that the project FRACTAL CHAPEL at the University Hospital Graz won the "World Interior of the Year 2025" at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2025, which took place in Miami, Florida, USA.

The overall winners were announced during the festival’s gala evening on November 14th at the Miami Beach Convention Center, where Nigel Coates, Director of the World Festival of Interiors, presented the award to Martin Lesjak and Anastasija Lesjak in front of the global architecture and design industry.

After winning the category "WAF Interiors: Public Buildings," the project advanced to the festival’s final round, where the Super Jury - composed of internationally leading architects, designers, and critics - selected it as this year’s overall interior winner.

Standing on stage during this process, presenting the project live, and experiencing the response of the jury and audience was an unforgettable exchange.

The FRACTAL CHAPEL at the University Hospital Graz was developed through a collaborative approach between INNOCAD architecture, 13&9 Design, and Fractals Research, shaped closely together with hospital chaplain Christian Graf and artist Manfred Erjautz.

The Super Jury emphasized the project’s clarity of purpose, the integration of research, art, and spatial symbolism, and the quiet emotional resonance it creates within a hospital environment.
Congratulations to all 2025 winners who presented live at the festival in Miami and impressed the esteemed judging panels with their remarkable projects. For more about the WAF 2025 winners, visit the link.
https://www.worldarchitecturefestival.com/WorldArchitectureFestival2025/en/page/winners-2025

11/11/2025

// JURY AT WORLD ARCHITECTURE FESTIVAL //
The World Architecture Festival 2025 opens this evening in Miami, Florida, USA, bringing together architects, designers, researchers, and thinkers from around the world for three days of dialogue and exchange.

As the live presentations begin tomorrow, Dr. Anastasija Lesjak and Martin Lesjak will take part as category judges, joining a panel of peers and international experts to reflect on and discuss the shortlisted works presented on stage. This shared format - where ideas are presented live and openly debated - is what makes WAF a platform for meaningful conversation rather than merely a competition.

Later this week, on Thursday, Martin will present INNOCAD architecture's shortlisted projects, the Fractal Chapel at the University Hospital in Graz, Austria in the category "WAF Interiors: Public Buildings" and Mosh Bar & Dinner in Bukarest, Romania in the category "WAF Interiors: Bars and Restaurants," within this setting.⁠
https://shorturl.at/r4hjK

04/11/2025

// FRACTAL PROJECTS ARE FINALISTS AT THE WORLD ARCHITECTURE FESTIVAL 2025 //
The World Architecture Festival (WAF) – the world’s leading live event celebrating architecture and design – takes place November 12–14, 2025 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami, Florida, USA. ⁠

WAF’s unique format invites architects and designers from around the world to present their shortlisted projects live to an international jury, followed by a direct dialogue - offering feedback, debate, and inspiration. This approach turns the conference into an open platform for architectural exchange, rather than just a competition.
⁠
Martin Lesjak and Anastasija Lesjak will join the conference and present two finalist projects by INNOCAD architecture, the Fractal Chapel at the University Hospital in Graz, Austria in the category “WAF Interiors: Public Buildings” and Mosh Bar & Dinner in Bukarest, Romania in the category “WAF Interiors: Bars and Restaurants,” both integrating fractal lighting installations, developed by 13&9 Design in collaboration with Fractals Research, live in Miami.

The 2025 theme, “Hearts and Minds,” explores how architecture connects rational thought and emotional experience - a philosophy that deeply resonates with our practice. For more about the Projects at WAF 2025 visit the links.

https://www.worldbuildingsdirectory.com/entries/fractal-chapel-at-state-hospital-graz/

https://www.worldbuildingsdirectory.com/entries/mosh-bar-dinner/

30/10/2025

// PATTERN PLAY INTERVIEW FOR HOSPITALITY DESIGN MAGAZINE //
Thank you, Hospitality Design Magazine, for featuring us in your latest issue with an article titled "13&9 Fuses Science and Sustainability with Soul," and for highlighting our two fractal design-based interior projects that are 2025 finalists at the World Architecture Festival in Miami, USA.

In 2013, Anastasija Lesjak and Martin Lesjak launched 13&9 at the annual NYCxDesign festival with an expansive, human-centered mission. The duo also joined forces with Fractals Research on three flooring tile collections for the Mohawk Group to promote well-being, as well as on the Renaturation range of wallpaper and murals for Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering.

"We wanted to take a holistic approach to creativity and design. What makes us - ourselves, our communities, our environments - feel well? We are interested in different disciplines and in meeting artists, designers, and scientists," says Anastasija, who serves as co-CEO and creative director. "We always start from zero and do our research. Sometimes it takes a couple of years to get from idea to product."

To read more in this print and online issue, which summarizes how Martin and Anastasija Lesjak’s studio transforms research-driven design into multisensory products, visit the link.
https://hospitalitydesign.com/people/interviews/13-and-9-martin-anastasija-lesjak/

29/10/2025

// CHAPTER IN ROUTLEDGE HANDBOOK OF NEUROSCIENCE AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT //
We are honored to be published in the next scientific volume Routledge Handbook of Neuroscience and the Built Environment, edited by Alexandros A. Lavdas, Ann Sussman, and A. Vernon Woodworth, and released by Routledge International Handbooks in their first edition of Handbook of Neuroscience and the Built Environment.

Our chapter, "⁠A Guide to Fractal Fluency: Designing Biophilic Art and Architecture to Promote Occupants’ Health and Performance,"⁠⁠ is one of a total of 31 chapters presented in six sections. The book discusses human perception, the need for connection, and how design impacts health and well-being, through topics such as neuroaesthetics, color, memory and place, proportion, sound, neurophenomenology, neurodiversity, biophilia, beauty, artificial intelligence, among many others.

According to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), in the 21st century we are living in a New Age of Biology, acknowledging the rapid development of transformative findings in the life sciences. The Routledge Handbook of Neuroscience and the Built Environment demonstrates how these new discoveries impact architecture, planning, and design - changing our understanding of how people respond to their surroundings and how these environments can be optimized for human well-being.

Congratulations to Richard P. Taylor, Anastasija Lesjak, and Martin Lesjak for contributing this chapter to a pioneering book exploring how architecture and design influence our well-being.
To download the book or our chapter, visit the link.

Book: Routledge Handbook of Neuroscience and the Built Environment, ISBN 9781032744216, 528 Pages 107 B/W Illustrations, Published October 9, 2025 by Routledge

Chapter 7: A Guide to Fractal Fluency: Designing Biophilic Art and Architecture to Promote Occupants’ Health and Performance, Richard P. Taylor, Anastasija Lesjak, and Martin Lesjak

https://www.routledge.com/Routledge-Handbook-of-Neuroscience-and-the-Built-Environment/Lavdas-Sussman-Woodworth/p/book/9781032744216

27/10/2025

// WAVE SOFT FOR WEVER & DUCRÉ //
In WAVE soft, designed for Wever & Ducré, thermal forming produces an undulating structure with convex and concave surfaces, improving acoustic performance compared to a flat surface while also creating a spatial, sculptural expression. When two shades are mounted in opposing orientations, organic, wave-like voids emerge - reminiscent of the imprint of a water ripple on a shell’s surface - further supporting sound wave absorption. For more information about WAVE SOFT visit the link.
https://www.weverducre.com/en/products/c/wave-soft~186990

Waves of silence above the meeting table. Inspired by seashells, WAVE Soft brings a calm rhythm to the room while its PET felt panels quietly absorb the noise. Designed by 13&9 Design, it’s the kind of light that knows when to speak — and when to soften the atmosphere.

Find out more about our product novelties on www.weverducre.com/product-news-2025

Products: WAVE Soft 1.0, 2.0 & 3.0, DOMY on STREX 1.0

Designer: 13&9 Design

20/10/2025

// RECAP OF MOHAWK GROUP’S EVENTS IN MONTANA //
Thanks to our long-term collaborator, Mohawk Group, for having us as speakers and guests at their thoughtful and inspiring Healthcare and Design FWD event, set in the breathtaking backdrop of Big Sky, Montana. Invited guests had the chance to exchange ideas on emerging topics presented by The Center for Healthcare Design, including keynotes on the topics of Neurodiversity and Healthcare, Human-Centered Design, as well as the Fractal Movement at Mohawk Group.

Beyond Mohawk Group’s design insights for 2026, participants joined diverse panel discussions covering technology and crafts, sustainability, as well as trend forecasts. Our ScienceDesignLab team of Prof. Taylor, Anastasija Lesjak, and Martin Lesjak, together with Jackie Dettmar of Mohawk Group, also introduced insights for the upcoming Design Days 2026 in Chicago.

We would also like to thank all engaging guests, Mohawk Group’s marketing and organization team, location host Montage Big Sky, as well as all guides and event locations during the sightseeing programs. It was truly memorable to visit various places in Yellowstone National Park, observe wildlife in an intact ecosystem, and explore geothermal areas.

Special thanks to Dan Banko of Banko Creative Studio for capturing these wonderful days.

16/10/2025

// ANASTASIJA LESJAK INTERVIEWED BY DIE PRESSE //
In the latest issue, Anastasija Lesjak was interviewed by editor Elke Jauk-Offner for Luxury Living - a special supplement to the nationwide Austrian daily newspaper Die Presse, published in Vienna.

In this print and digital magazine, specializing in interior design, architecture, and exclusive living, five experts from the fields of art, architecture, design, and interior discussed role models, style, and attitude.

In seven questions, Anastasija shared her thoughts not only on what makes something iconic and what nature has to do with it, but also on her role models, what makes a timeless design, her sources of inspiration, and her design style.

How would you describe your style?
“Mindful, as far as the context allows. It doesn’t always succeed, since the path from idea to production is often defined by complex tasks and certain constraints. But I try to apply this approach at every step of the process in my work.” To read the full interview, visit the link.
https://www.yumpu.com/de/embed/view/DKgYNJ2lmIbCok8G

15/10/2025

// SPIRRA SOFT FOR WEVER & DUCRÉ //
With SPIRRA soft designed for Wever & Ducré, our focus was to create a functional, three-dimensional sound-absorbing surface. By thermally shaping a circular felt panel with a single cut, a spiral, spatially defining shade is formed. The clarity of the geometric form and the resulting angles enhance its acoustic performance. For more information about SPIRRA SOFT visit the link.
https://www.weverducre.com/en/products/p/spirra-soft-1.0~182296

A quiet beauty floating above the noise. SPIRRA Soft calms the room with a sculptural spiral made of PET felt — reducing sound and adding softness in all the right places. Designed by 13&9 Design it's the perfect mix of form, function, and hush.

Find out more about our product novelties on www.weverducre.com/product-news-2025

Product: SPIRRA Soft 2.0

Designer: 13&9 Design