After an idyllic childhood in Puerto Rico, Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz was set to pursue higher study in math—instead, he chose architecture, and found himself working for legendary New York designer John Saladino. After setting up his own firm in the 1990s, Noriega-Ortiz built a legend of his own, designing boutique hotels for Ian Schrager and homes for celebrities like Lenny Kravitz.

On this episode of the podcast, Noriega-Ortiz speaks with host Dennis Scully about learning to design like a painter, how he trains architects to think like designers, and why he writes a story for every project—but doesn’t always tell the client.

This episode is sponsored by Ernesta and Hickory Chair

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Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz
Dennis Scully
Business of Home