Representatives from the three regions that shaped the Creative Team for the CMF Forecast Obra Blanca will share their experience of this exercise. At Obra Blanca, we believe that dreams are built with finishes, materials, and colors. That is why our forecast is conceived as a living tool, grounded in the experience of its creators, documenting the collective thinking of leading architecture and interior design firms. It draws on constant observation, critical analysis, and aesthetic sensitivity. These trends do not dictate rules—they open possibilities. They serve as creative compasses that allow design professionals to make more informed, sensitive, and visionary decisions.
CMF Forecast Obra Blanca 2027 Presentation – Panel
Speakers:
- Claudia López Duplan, López Duplan Arquitectos
- Josefina Larraín, Reyes Ríos + Larraín arquitectos
- David Martínez-Soto, TRENDO Arquitectura Interior
- Judith van Vliet, The Color Authority
Claudia López Duplan is an architect who graduated from Universidad Anáhuac and is originally from Mexico City. She has specialized in residential interior architecture and in-depth remodeling of houses and apartments, whether for enjoying urban living or retreating to peaceful spots in the countryside or by the beach in Mexico, the United States, and El Salvador.
In 2008, she founded her own firm, López Duplan Arquitectos, with the goal of creating spaces that connect with the people who inhabit them and reflect their lifestyle. Each project is a dialogue where no barriers exist between the interior, the exterior, and all the elements that shape them. In all her projects, the most important material is the space itself, for which she seeks the perfect balance.
A key feature of her residential and commercial projects is the careful attention to detail and the design of custom furniture. In architectural renovation projects, one of the main challenges is preserving the value of the original structure.
After completing her degree in 1989, she pursued specialization studies and later worked at Casa y Jardín in Madrid, Spain, as well as at Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos with Javier Sordo Madaleno in Mexico City. For seventeen years, she was a partner at the interior design firm Espacio & Color alongside Ana Paula de Haro and Javier Sordo, in addition to being the founder and lead furniture designer at the store DENTRO.
She is a key figure in contemporary architecture in Yucatán, recognized for her artistic sensitivity, heritage vision, and social commitment. Born in Chile and educated in Germany, Josefina Larraín began her studies in Philosophy in Freiburg before collaborating on restoration and visual arts projects in New York and Miami. Her arrival in Mexico in 1990 marked the beginning of a profound relationship with Yucatán’s heritage, when she acquired and transformed the Machine House of a former henequen hacienda.
In 2000, together with architect Salvador Reyes Ríos, she founded the firm Reyes Ríos + Larraín Arquitectos, based in Mérida, Yucatán. Since then, the studio has specialized in the design and intervention of haciendas, mansions, and heritage buildings, developing an architectural language that integrates local techniques such as Chukum mortar and “kancab” red earth concrete. Their approach encompasses architecture, interiors, furniture, landscaping, and construction coordination, with a contemporary vision deeply rooted in the local context.
As director of image, art, and design at the firm, Larraín has played a key role in consolidating an aesthetic that has influenced Mexican architecture and has been replicated by professionals across the country. Her work has been published internationally and documented in the monograph Lugar, Materia y Pertenencia (Arquine, 2017).
An architect graduated from Tecnológico de Monterrey in 2002, with a specialization in Interior and Architectural Design from the Polytechnic University of Turin, Italy. In 2010, he founded TRENDO, a firm that has built a solid trajectory in interior design, architecture, and the conceptualization of spaces with identity. His academic background is complemented by diplomas in design from the Mexican Chamber of the Construction Industry, Universidad Iberoamericana, and once again from Tecnológico de Monterrey, reflecting a constant commitment to professional development and the pursuit of new creative perspectives.
He also holds a Master’s degree in Project Management from Universidad Iberoamericana, which allows him to integrate a strategic and methodological vision into every stage of the design process. He has actively participated in various ephemeral interior design events in Monterrey, where he has explored new forms of spatial expression, collaborated with emerging talents, and strengthened ties with the local creative community.
TRENDO’s philosophy is based on values such as gratitude, effort, and constant reinvention. Each project represents an opportunity to achieve excellence, not only in aesthetic and functional terms but also in the ability to generate meaningful experiences for those who inhabit the spaces. His firm stands out for its sensitivity to detail, collaborative approach, and conviction that design can transform realities, inspire emotions, and build authentic narratives.
Founder of The Color Authority, she is an expert in the field and the host of the popular The Color Authority podcast, which focuses on color. She previously served as President of Color Marketing Group, and before that, she was Senior Color Designer at Avient ColorWorks and Creative Director of ColorForward.
As a former president of Color Marketing Group and through her leadership roles spanning more than fifteen years, she remains at the forefront of the discussion on color theory and its practical applications.
She has been pivotal in shaping the color narratives for leading brands, leveraging her deep understanding of the emotional resonance and psychological impact of color. Her passion for color transcends conventional boundaries, as demonstrated by her dynamic involvement with various industries, designers, and marketing specialists worldwide.
Through her podcast, conferences, and workshops, she offers invaluable insights on how to harness the transformative power of color in brand creation, design, personal expression, and cultural storytelling. Her work inspires professionals to embrace color as a vital tool for innovation and connection in a constantly evolving creative landscape.
