My Info

About Me

"Since I learned the word 'architect,' I wanted to be one," says Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz, who went on to win two masters degrees, in architecture and urban planning. He credits John Saladino with "ruining" him into an interior designer. "I guess you could say I went from macro to mini. I noticed something was lacking in architecture. I wanted to work on the actual space that people lived in. Working for Saladino taught me to design like that."

Growing up in the tropical climate of San Juan "really shaped me," says Noriega-Ortiz. "In the summer, we were given a towel and a pair of shorts and sent outside for the day." No surprise, then, that wherever he designs-Noriega-Ortiz now lives in New York City but has clients as far-flung as Palm Beach and his native Puerto Rico-he is constantly opening up spaces, using indoor/outdoor materials such as terrazzo and glass, and creating architecture around a courtyard.

Temperate New York, long his favorite city for design inspiration, has lost out to Barcelona these days. Although he loves to travel, Noriega-Ortiz claims he hates to shop, and avoids it by shopping online, especially at 1stdibs.com. "They have everything!"

Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz, LLC
75 Spring Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10012
212-343-9707
www.bnodesign.com

Member Since

Feb 24, 2006

Sites

• Elements of Living
• Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz