Meet the women behind C.A. Design House, Carla Bianca Lim and Alessandra de la Fuente
From construction site wanderings to intuitive floor plans, this duo designs with a rare blend of rigour and soul
Before she knew the word for it, Carla Bianca Lim wanted to be an architect. As a child, she would trail behind her father—“a frustrated architect himself”—on walks through nearby construction sites. All she could see were unfinished shells: raw concrete, rebar and rubble. But even then, she imagined light touching every surface and people moving through the space. “I vividly remember the excitement of imagining all the possibilities,” she says.
For Alessandra de la Fuente, the spark came later. In Year 10, her career adviser noted her interest in maths, physics and design technology, and casually suggested architecture. “That simple suggestion sparked consecutive summer internships when I’d visit Manila,” she recalls. One project that stayed with her: Melbourne’s Intercontinental Hotel, which transformed a narrow alley between two heritage buildings into a glass-covered lobby. “It showed me how architecture could breathe life into the old in an inventive yet respectful way.”
Now co-founders of Carla + Alessandra (C.A.) Design House, the two architects are known for their sensitivity to space, light and context. Their style is understated—natural materials, clean lines, simplicity with soul. They value process as much as product and believe architecture should reflect the people it’s built for.
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What’s your favourite material to work with, and why?
Lim: I’ve always been into raw material palettes—exposing wood, concrete and stone in their most natural, tactile forms. Beyond being aesthetic anchors in a space, they have a quiet, grounding quality that feels almost therapeutic. I like pairing them with softer layers like clean surfaces, greenery or warm lighting to bring balance and warmth to the overall composition. And when detailed properly, they age beautifully and are fairly easy to maintain, which makes them even more rewarding to work with.
De la Fuente: I personally love working with wood. I love how versatile and expressive it is—it brings warmth, texture and a natural character that instantly makes a space feel grounded and inviting. Wood also has this incredible ability to age gracefully; it tells a story over time through its patina, grains and even its imperfections. I also like how it can be both structural and decorative, allowing for endless creativity whether you’re designing bold forms or subtle details.
How can architecture contribute to a more sustainable future?
We think architecture plays a huge role in shaping a more sustainable future. As designers, we’re not just creating spaces, we’re shaping how they interact with the environment and the people who use them over time. Through smart site planning, conscious material choices, passive design strategies and adaptive reuse, we can reduce a building’s footprint while making it last longer and work better. Sustainability, for us, isn’t just about ticking off boxes for certifications. It’s about designing spaces that are climate-responsive, resource-efficient and still feel good to live, work or gather in. Good architecture should be inspired but also be kind to the planet.
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