INNOCAD architecture

Transparency, dialogue, and interdisciplinary thinking are at the core of the FRAME Awards by FRAME Magazine, one of the leading international platforms for spatial and interior design. We are excited to share that the FRACTAL CHAPEL at the University Hospital Graz, designed by INNOCAD architecture in collaboration with 13&9 Design and Fractals Research, received Silver in the April ranking in the category "Cultural Space" at this year’s awards.⁠ ⁠ Unlike conventional architecture competitions, the FRAME Awards follow a transparent evaluation process with ongoing monthly rankings reviewed by an international jury of architects, designers, creative directors, and industry experts. With monthly winners advancing toward the annual awards later this year, the FRAME Awards create an open discourse around innovation, functionality, sustainability, and spatial quality. This approach strongly resonates with our philosophy of "New Holism," where architecture connects research, wellbeing, atmosphere, and human perception.⁠ ⁠ Conceived as a contemplative space within the healthcare environment of the University Hospital Graz, the FRACTAL CHAPEL translates fractal geometries and biophilic principles into an immersive spatial concept through light, geometry, and atmosphere.⁠⁠ ⁠ We are honored to be part of this year’s FRAME Awards and grateful for the recognition in the April ranking. We now look forward to the announcement of the annual winners later this year.⁠ For more about the project ranking, visit the link in our bio.⁠ ⁠ Award: Frame Award @framemagazine ⁠ Project category: Cultural Space⁠ Project: FRACTAL CHAPEL at the University Hospital Graz ⁠ Perforated wall panels with Fractal Patterns by @13and9Design in collaboration with Fractals Research ⁠and @xal_lighting ⁠ Rootstock altar: @manfred_erjautz ⁠ Client: KAGes – Steiermärkische Krankenanstaltengesellschaft m.b.H. @lkh.uniklinikumgraz ⁠ Credit: @paulottphotografiert ⁠ ⁠ #award #frameawards #culturalspdace #fractalchapel #interiordesign @martin_lesjak @anastasija_lesjak #martinlesjak #architect #anastasijalesjak #designer @13and9design @manfrederjautz ⁠

FRACTAL CHAPEL PUBLISHED IN NEW YOSTAR⁠ We are thankful and excited, that our project, the FRACTAL Chapel at the University Hospital in Graz, by INNOCAD architecture, in collaboration with 13&9 Design and Fractals Research is included in the special edition of NEW YOSTAR by the renowned magazine architektur aktuell. ⁠ ⁠ YOSTAR is an initiative that in collaboration with the Haus der Architektur (HDA), through exhibitions in Graz, Maribor, Berlin, and Brussels showcased how the architectural scene in the Styria region operates. YOSTAR stands for Young Styrian Architecture. The occasion for this publication is the exhibition "Personalie Architekt Dietmar Feichtinger," which will be on view from March 5 to September 13, 2026, at the Austrian Cultural Forum in New York, where it will be presented by Zerina Džubur, Director at HDA, at the panel discussion "The New Enlightenment: Shaping Sustainability of Tomorrow." ⁠ YOUNG refers not to age, but to a phase of establishing a practice through first built work and developing an architectural position. ⁠ STYRIAN describes a network of shared architectural conditions across Austrian and Slovenian Styria rather than a clearly defined region. ⁠ ARCHITECTURE – not architects – is at the core of NEW YOSTAR: thirty-five practices contribute projects, images and texts that form a fragmentary picture of contemporary architecture in the region.⁠ ⁠ Our sincere thanks to the editorial team at architektur aktuell for the beautifully written article and congratulations on this great special issue. To read more visit the link in our bio.⁠ ⁠ Publication: "NEW YOSTAR" by @architektur.aktuell , Claudia Gerhäusser (Editor-in-Chief)⁠ Project: FRACTAL CHAPEL at the University Hospital Graz ⁠by @innocad in collaboration with 13&9 Design and Fractals Research⁠ Rootstock altar: @manfred_erjautz ⁠ Client: KAGes – Steiermärkische Krankenanstaltengesellschaft m.b.H. @lkh.uniklinikumgraz ⁠ Credit: @paulottphotografiert ⁠ ⁠ #publication #yostar #architekturaktuell #fractalchapel #innocad @martin_lesjak @anastasija_lesjak @13and9design @innocad @hdagraz ⁠

CASA S has been longlisted for the Archello Awards 2025 in the category "Architecture & Wood". As a project that is especially close to us at INNOCAD, we are very happy about this nomination. The Archello Awards are an international program recognizing excellence in architecture and design, evaluated by a global jury of leading architects and industry experts. Each year, over a thousand projects are submitted worldwide, with only a small number shortlisted in each category.⁠ ⁠ The category "Architecture & Wood" highlights projects that demonstrate innovative use of timber, material intelligence, and a strong dialogue between structure, sustainability, and spatial quality.⁠ ⁠ Our project was selected for its thoughtful and consistent use of timber throughout the design. Behind its calm façade lies a sophisticated timber structure, built from native spruce in cross-laminated timber. This structural concept is a tangible part of the spatial experience. Visible wooden beams and panels form the interior, holding the gabled roof while giving warmth and atmosphere to the rooms. A reduced palette of wood, stone, and earthy tones reinforces the connection to nature, while the craftsmanship of the timber elements turns the house itself into a piece of inhabitable architecture.⁠ ⁠ Award: Archello Awards 2025 by @archello ⁠ Award category: Architecture & Wood⁠ Project: CASA S⁠ Client: Private⁠ Credit: @paulottphotografiert ⁠ ⁠ #award #archello #architectureandwood #casas #residentialdesign #timberarchitecture #architecture #interior @martin_lesjak @anastasija_lesjak #martinlesjak #architect #anastasijalesjak #designer⁠ ⁠#innocad

ARCHITECTURAL FASHION There is a moment when a wall becomes a sleeve. When a facade folds into a bodice. When the language of structure finds its way – quietly, inevitably – into the language of dress. This is that moment. Together with Sabrina Stadlober, we have been translating architecture into the body and soul shelter. Not copying. Translating – the way a poem moves between languages, losing nothing essential, gaining something new. Thread becomes tension. Metal becomes memory. A mathematical principle becomes a garment that shifts and breathes and refuses to be seen the same way twice. The craft is everything here. Each piece born from hours of dialogue between concept and material, between the rigour of construction and the intimacy of the hand. Objects that are neither fashion nor sculpture, but something slower and more serious than either. The dress is this thinking made visible. A band of metal threads, three-dimensional, knitted and folded into pentagons that mirror one another in endless repetition. The golden section – ancient, precise, alive – running through every seam. The geometry shifts as you move around it. The form never settles. It is a building you can wear. A body that thinks in structure.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ The work traveled. Berlin. New York. Chicago. Venice – where it entered the 15th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Architecture Biennale 2016 at the European Cultural Centre and found its place among the great conversations about space and the human form. A recognition, perhaps, that what we make with our hands always speaks louder than what we say with our words. For more about the Architecural Fashion, visit the link in our bio. Project: Architectural Fashion at @labiennale @ecc_italy Art Direction: Anastasija Lesjak and Martin Lesjak Fashion Design: @sabrinastadlober Credits: Markus Mansi, Harald Glanz Sound Design and cut: @severinsu #architecturalfashion #architecturebiennale #13and9design #anastasijalesjak #innocad #martinlesjak @martin_lesjak @anastasija_lesjak @sabrinastadlober @innocad

Our project CASA S was recently published in the latest issue of the Luxury Estate Magazine by "Die Presse". The ‘cool new home with pitched roof’ as described in the article, points out with clear and contemporary interpretation of a strict suburban single-family housing context. Rather than replicating the existing typology, the project translates it into a reduced architectural language – maintaining the familiar silhouette while refining proportion, materiality, and spatial clarity. ⁠ The curated magazine focuses on high-end residential architecture, real estate, and contemporary living in and a strong connection to place. It presents a selection of national and international projects that combine architectural quality, design and excellence. ⁠ CASA S reflects this approach through its precise use of timber as both a structural and atmospheric element, shaping the exterior expression as well as the interior experience. Generous openings frame the surrounding landscape, while a more closed wooden shell defines the private upper floor – balancing openness and retreat within a coherent spatial concept. Read the full interview in the current issue of Luxury Estate Magazine or via the link in bio.⁠ ⁠ Publication: LUXERY ESTATE MAGAZIN by @diepresse ⁠ Project: CASA S⁠ Client: Private⁠ ⁠ #publication @diepresse #casas #residentialdesign #timberarchitecture #architecture #interior #design @martin_lesjak @anastasija_lesjak #martinlesjak #architect #anastasijalesjak #designer⁠ #innocad⁠ ⁠ ⁠

Recently featured in the current Xilence catalog, XALec demonstrates how evidence-based design strategies can meaningfully shape the contemporary workplace.⁠ ⁠ At XALec, INNOCAD architecture translated principles of biophilic and science-based design into a holistic office environment shaped around focus, wellbeing, and human performance. A central design element is the integration of large acoustic wall panels featuring fractal structures, based on the research of ScienceDesignLab – a collaboration between Prof. Richard Taylor (University of Oregon & Fractals Research, USA) and 13&9 Design. Embedded within the spatial and acoustic layers of the interior, these elements become part of a broader architectural concept that addresses both atmosphere and function.⁠ ⁠ Rather than acting as decorative motifs, these geometries contribute to a calm yet stimulating environment, supporting concentration and reducing stress through spatial qualities grounded in scientific research.⁠ ⁠ The project reflects our holistic approach to contemporary workplace design: creating spaces that not only enable productivity but actively enhance the emotional, cognitive, and sensory experience of those who work within them. Learn more about FRACTAL CODE via the link in our bio.⁠ ⁠ Project: XALec ⁠ Product: FRACTAL CODE⁠ by Prof. Dr. Richard Taylor (University of Oregon & Fractals Research, USA) and 13&9 Design⁠ Manufacturer: @xal_lighting ⁠ with @xilence_acoustics ⁠ Photo Credits: @kurt_kuball ⁠ Sound Design and cut: @severinsu ⁠ ⁠ #xalec⁠ #officedesign #innocad #architecture #interior #design @martin_lesjak #martinlesjak #architect @anastasija_lesjak @13and9design ⁠ @xal_lighting @xilence_acoustics ⁠

FRACTAL CHAPEL NOMINATED AT HEALING ARCHITECTURE AWARDS⁠ Great news came to our office: the FRACTAL CHAPEL at the University Hospital Graz, by INNOCAD architecture in collaboration with 13&9 Design and Fractals Research, has been nominated for the Healing Architecture Awards, recognizing its contribution to healing-centered design and its innovative synthesis of science, space, and human perception. Healing Architecture is more than a competition – it is a platform for excellence and inspiration!⁠ ⁠ The award honors outstanding architecture and interior architecture in the healthcare sector, celebrating projects that promote well-being and set new standards through healing spatial concepts. The nomination highlights the Fractal Chapel as a pioneering example of evidence-based, atmospheric design.⁠ ⁠ A key aspect of the chapel’s design is its biophilic approach, translating natural growth into spatial experience. The spiral geometry unfolds as a continuous, embracing movement, guiding visitors intuitively while evoking organic patterns found in nature. Fractal lighting filters through perforated patterns, creating shifting plays of shadow and glow over time. This dynamic interplay evokes the complexity of natural environments, resulting in a calm, immersive atmosphere that supports perception and well-being through scientifically proven stress-reducing effects. For more about the project, visit the link in our bio.⁠ ⁠ Award: Healing Architecture Award by @callwey ⁠ Project: FRACTAL CHAPEL at the University Hospital Graz by @innocad ⁠ Perforated wall panels with Fractal Patterns by @13and9Design in collaboration with Fractals Research ⁠and @xal_lighting ⁠ Rootstock altar: @manfred_erjautz ⁠ Client: KAGes – Steiermärkische Krankenanstaltengesellschaft m.b.H. @lkh.uniklinikumgraz Credit: @paulottphotografiert ⁠ Sound Design and cut: @severinsu ⁠ ⁠ #award #ScienceDesignLab #13and9design @martin_lesjak @anastasija_lesjak #martinlesjak #anastasijalesjak @manfrederjautz @lkhgraz ⁠

FRACTAL LIGHTING AT LOVE THAT DESIGN⁠ Thank you Love That Design, a platform with a pioneering community of architects, strategists, innovators, and tech enthusiasts, for featuring MOSH Bar & Dinner in Bucharest by INNOCAD architecture.⁠ ⁠ The interior of this "multitalented space" is defined by transformation, connectivity, and collective experience including a fractal lighting concept, developed by 13&9 Design and Fractals Research, which changes the interior into an atmospheric environment. ⁠ ⁠ Rather than remaining static, the lighting continuously adapts, shaping the perception of the space over time. It moves from focused and vibrant during dining, to dimmed and intimate in bar mode, and finally to a dynamic, kinetic state where a movable fractal installation animates the entire interior. This choreography of light establishes a rhythm that aligns with the social energy of the venue, turning atmosphere into something that evolves with the night.⁠ ⁠ Beyond its visual impact, the fractal pattern introduces a more subtle, almost physiological dimension. Rooted in scientific research, these patterns are associated with stress-reductive qualities, influencing how the space is experienced on an emotional level. The result is an environment that feels both stimulating and calming at once - balancing intensity with a sense of ease. To read the article, visit the link in our bio.⁠ ⁠ Publication: MOSH Bar & Dinner by @lovethatdesignme ⁠ Project: MOSH Bar & Dinner by @innocad ⁠ for @mosh.bar.and.dinner ⁠ Product: Fractal Lighting, perforated Fractal Patterns on the ceiling in collaboration with Fractals Research⁠ Manufacturer lighting: @xal_lighting ⁠⁠ Sculptural Element: "Manic Youth" by @manfred_erjautz ⁠ Credits: ⁠Paul Ott ⁠ Sound Design and cut: @severinsu ⁠ ⁠ #publication #mosh #ScienceDesignLab #13and9design @martin_lesjak @anastasija_lesjak #martinlesjak #anastasijalesjak @innocad ⁠

At the heart of the apartment, the central volume is wrapped in a wallcovering from the Renaturation Collection, developed by 13&9 Design in collaboration with Fractals Research and Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering.⁠ ⁠ Based on scientific research into fractal geometry, the collection translates natural patterns into architectural surfaces. Fractals, self-repeating structures found in nature, have been scientifically proven to boost cognitive performance and significantly reduce stress.⁠ ⁠ The selected motif, "Fractal Bark," interprets the vertical texture of tree trunks as a layered, hand-drawn pattern. From a distance, it appears as a subtle rhythm; up close, it reveals depth and complexity.⁠ ⁠ Applied to the bath box, the surface contributes to the spatial experience through atmosphere rather than ornament, introducing a perceptual layer that resonates with the overall organization of the apartment. Discover more about the Renaturation Collection via the link in our bio.⁠ ⁠ Project: APT PHD⁠ Client: private⁠ Credit: @paulottphotografiert ⁠ ⁠ #newproject #residentialdesign #graz #innocad #interiorarchitecture @martin_lesjak @anastasija_lesjak #martinlesjak #architect #anastasijalesjak #designer @13and9design ⁠

The intervention establishes a precise dialogue between the existing structure and newly introduced elements. Rather than blending in, the additions are articulated through a restrained material language, creating a deliberate contrast to the warmth of the historic fabric.⁠ ⁠ Original features such as herringbone parquet flooring and double-leaf doors remain intact, anchoring the apartment in its architectural past while framing the new spatial insertions.⁠ ⁠ At the center of the layout, a compact bathroom volume, conceived as a "⁠bath box,"⁠ organizes the surrounding program. It defines the entrance with integrated storage and sauna, and structures the adjacent kitchen with island and dining area. The volume is not concealed but expressed as a distinct spatial anchor within the open sequence. The project is currently featured on @Archello and can be accessed via the link in our bio.⁠ ⁠ Project: APT PHD⁠ Client: private⁠ Credit: @paulottphotografiert ⁠ ⁠ #publication #aptphd #residentialdesign #graz #innocad #interiorarchitecture @martin_lesjak @anastasija_lesjak #martinlesjak #architect #anastasijalesjak #designer @13and9design ⁠

Located in Graz, this apartment is part of a municipal housing ensemble built between 1929 and 1931 in the spirit of Neue Sachlichkeit. Defined by its restrained façade, generous proportions, and rational layout, the building reflects the social and spatial ideals of interwar modernism and is now protected as a listed structure.⁠ ⁠ The original apartment typology follows the logic of the historic Altbau, with expansive main rooms paired with compact service areas. Even before the intervention, daily life gravitated toward the kitchen, a place of gathering rather than mere function.⁠ ⁠ This quality became the starting point for the redesign. Without altering the position of the existing wet areas, the layout was reorganized into two distinct zones. A generous entrance unfolds into a connected sequence of cooking and dining spaces, forming the communicative core of the apartment, while the more private rooms, set within the existing spatial framework, retreat into quieter atmospheres. Read more about the project via the link in our bio.⁠ ⁠ Project: APT PHD⁠ Client: private⁠ Credit: @paulottphotografiert ⁠ ⁠ #newproject #residentialdesign #graz #innocad #interiorarchitecture @martin_lesjak @anastasija_lesjak #martinlesjak #architect #anastasijalesjak #designer @13and9design ⁠

The relationship between architecture, neuroscience, and wellbeing has become an important field of research.⁠ ⁠ INNOCAD architecture has been exploring these connections in collaboration with ScienceDesignLab, an initiative by 13&9 Design and physicist Professor Richard Taylor from Fractals Research and the University of Oregon, that investigates how scientific insights can inform design for the built environment.⁠ ⁠ Their research focuses on fractal geometries found in nature and their measurable benefits on human perception and stress reduction. These findings contribute to a broader biophilic design approach, integrating patterns and structures from natural environments. Within this framework, design strategies that balance orientation and retreat support fundamental human needs. Through shifting perspectives, visual connections, and changing sequences, environments emerge that continuously adapt to movement and perception.⁠ ⁠ At the MAM Competence Center, this research informed several aspects of the interior design, including the flooring.⁠ ⁠ The carpet system incorporates fractal patterns developed by 13&9 Design together with Richard Taylor for Mohawk Group. Derived from natural patterns, studied for their stress-reducing visual qualities, the modular flooring translates these natural structures into the workplace environment, contributing to a calmer visual atmosphere.⁠ ⁠ For further insights into the work of ScienceDesignLab visit the link in our bio. ⁠ ⁠ Project: MAM Competence Center⁠ Client: @mambaby_at ⁠ Credit: @therenderers ⁠ ⁠ #mamcompetencecenter #sciencedesignlab #fractaldesign #biophilicdesign #neuroscience #workplacedesign #architecture #interior #design @martin_lesjak @anastasija_lesjak #martinlesjak #architect #anastasijalesjak #designer⁠