The Lens is where observation becomes reflection.
Through essays, notes, and visual narratives, it explores travel, design, and daily life as interconnected experiences—shaped by culture, place, and perspective.
Receive The Inspired Lens
For those who experience places, not just visit them.
Each issue explores culture, space, and daily life through travel patterns, visual studies, and observations from the places that shape how we live — written by interior architect and experience designer Ali Giaudrone.
The observations collected here inform the journeys, stories, and spaces designed through the studio. Explore Experiences →
LIBRARY
Paris Notre-Dame: What the Fire Revealed
I have stood inside Notre-Dame three times, and each time…
Keep reading
São Miguel: Fog, Fire, and Tea
São Miguel arrived after Pico, which meant arriving after something…
Keep reading
Faial: From Green to Ash at the Edge of the Atlantic
I had imagined the Azores as something like Hawaii —…
Keep reading
The Netherlands: Water, Tolerance, and the City That Shouldn’t Exist
On our first evening on the houseboat, we settled onto…
Keep reading
Belgium: The Country That Contains Two Countries
Belgium is the size of Maryland and contains within it…
Keep reading
Buenos Aires: La Vida Es Buena
Buenos Aires doesn’t ease you in. It absorbs you, neighborhood…
Keep reading
3 Southern US States, 3 Universities, 3 Styles
Join our adventure in the story links below. Discover how…
Keep reading
A Whirlwind (literally) of Grandeur in Tuscaloosa at the University of Alabama
Our first visit to the state of Alabama started out…
Keep reading
Finding a Haven at the University of Georgia
Jubilant students on TV rushed to ring a chapel bell…
Keep reading
Guided by Warm Charm at the University of South Carolina
Just a couple blocks from the South Carolina State House,…
Keep reading
The Space Needle’s New Vibe
Mostly improved, but missing one thing—the restaurant The centerpiece of…
Keep reading
La Lonja de la Seda: Valencia’s Temple of Trade
Light streams between a forest of spiral stone columns. Each…
Keep reading
La Nit de Sant Joan: Fire, Catalan Pride, and a Sleepless Night in Girona
From the shallow Juliet balcony of our apartment in old…
Keep reading
Gluten-free Banana Oat Muffins
These gluten-free banana oat muffins are made with whole oats…
Keep reading
Coconut Thai Curry Tofu and Squash
This spicy Thai-inspired dish combines coconut milk and Thai red…
Keep reading
Travel Guide: How Florence Inspires a Higher Standard and ‘Slow Tourism’
Stunning architecture and sculpted masterpieces, natural regional food and wine—Florence…
Keep reading
Florence, Italy: Currently Closed. Our Recent Visit Affirmed the Need for Sustainable Tourism.
Today the jewelry and souvenir shops lining the Ponte Vecchio—in…
Keep reading
A Quick Taste of Geneva, Switzerland
First impressions influence perceptions, but even a short stay can…
Keep reading
The Luster of Valencia: Revealng Spain’s Third-Largest City (Part 3 of 3): Quality + Balance
As my family’s Valencian soccer trip came to an end,…
Keep reading
The Luster of Valencia: Revealng Spain’s Third-Largest City (Part 2 of 3): Artistry + Progress
As Valencia progresses into the 21st century, this city built…
Keep reading
The Luster of Valencia: Revealng Spain’s Third-Largest City (Part 1 of 3): Her Allure
Valencia doesn’t seem to realize how beguiling she is, which…
Keep reading
The Italian Bar: How a Country Drinks Coffee
In Italy, the morning doesn’t begin with coffee. It begins…
Keep reading
The Roman Pastas: Four Dishes, One City, No Substitutes
There are four pasta dishes that belong specifically to Rome,…
Keep reading
From Overload to Awe in Vatican City
Vatican City contains the greatest concentration of human artistic achievement…
Keep reading
How to Visit Vatican City
Vatican City is the world’s smallest country — an independent…
Keep readingSomething went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.