Browsing through magazines specialising in interior design and architecture or following social media accounts related to these topics does not always mean finding only inspiring and aspirational ideas. Beyond what our own tastes dictate, it is also possible that, if we apply a critical eye, we see details that escape us at first glance. Is that design chair really functional? Why was this huge, expensive building built on the beachfront? There are even social media accounts dedicated to this analysis: behind them are architecture and interior design professionals who study the sector from this perspective and criticize practices related to hyper-luxury devoid of functionality.
One of those professionals is the expert in Urban Studies Erik Harley, who became known with his Instagram account @pormishuevismo (now @periferia.periferia). The success of his content, among which those dedicated to roundabouts stand out in particular, has even led him to publish several books in which he investigates speculative and corrupt architecture through multiple examples throughout the peninsula.
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His role and vision are not limited to an account with many followers and its corresponding books, but the sector itself values his critical outlook with which he also tries to be constructive. Proof of this is their participation in professional events. At the end of 2024, for example, he gave a talk at Interihotel, the design event for hotels and restaurants. That same year he was awarded the Architectural Digest Populariser of the Year award.
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Esteban Gómez also uses his Instagram account, @estebango___ , to raise awareness, in his case, about interior objects. His particular hobbyhorse is minimalism, specifically design chairs that are sold in the luxury sector at exorbitant prices and which are then uncomfortable, something impractical for an object of this type. Although at first glance it may seem like it goes against design in general, the content creator makes it very clear that what he is interested in is making design accessible to everyone.
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In addition to chairs, on his account he also critically and humorously analyses other elements of domestic furniture, such as beds, sofas and lamps. The objects that suddenly become fashionable on social media and that seem to be a must-have (the Togo sofa or the Panthella table lamps) also have a place in Gómez’s content.
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The aim of both creators is the same: it is not about criticising for the sake of criticising, but about helping us to critically analyse the objects and buildings that surround us, always thinking about their usefulness, sustainability and accessibility.