Meet the Designers: Agustina García del Río and Rebecca Norberg

Founded by Agustina García del Río and Rebecca Norberg, Common Dwells is an interdisciplinary design studio with roots in architecture and a global presence spanning Bornholm, Denmark, and Vancouver, Canada. The studio explores projects across architecture, interiors, furniture, and creative consulting, with a focus on collaboration and customization. Their work is deeply influenced by the circadian rhythm, aiming to enhance health and well-being by aligning spaces and objects with natural cycles.

Agustina, an Argentinian architect and educator, brings over a decade of experience across diverse disciplines, including stage design and creative direction. Rebecca, a Danish architect and creative director, has collaborated with renowned cultural institutions and design companies globally. Together, they craft spaces and objects that elevate daily rituals, blending cultural narratives with innovative design to challenge the creative industry's status quo.

About the Project

In this episode, Agustina and Rebecca of share the philosophy behind their circadian home concept and its application in a unique, nature-connected residence. Rooted in the interplay between body and space, the project emphasizes sensory experiences, natural rhythms, and the emotional impact of design. The result is a space where rituals are elevated, and every element contributes to a sense of well-being and connection.

A Rhythm Between Body and Space

The circadian home begins with a question: how do the spaces we inhabit shape the way we breathe, feel, and connect?

For Agustina and Rebecca of Common Dwells, design is not neutral. Space is understood as a physiological environment—one that the body is constantly responding to through light, material, and sensory input. What we experience is not only visual, but internal, influencing our state of mind over time.

Each element is attuned to the body, creating a balance between stimulation and rest, and supporting the natural ebb and flow of daily life.

In Dialogue With Nature

Perched on a rocky slope in West Vancouver, the Sea Ranch House is inseparable from its surroundings.

Originally designed in 1975 by Stuart Howard, the home embodies West Coast Modernism, where architecture and landscape are deeply intertwined. But rather than imitating nature, the design carries its qualities—contrast, variation, texture, and change—translated through material and light.

As the day unfolds, so does the interior. Light shifts across surfaces, tones deepen and soften, and the boundary between inside and out remains in flux. The result is not a literal expression of nature, but an environment that moves with it.

Renewal Through Craft

Today, the Sea Ranch House is shaped as much by memory and ritual as it is by form.

Stripped back and rebuilt with care, the home emphasizes material integrity and longevity. Natural finishes are chosen to age over time, allowing the space to evolve alongside its inhabitants.

The final layer is quiet but deliberate. Objects are selected not only for function, but for the role they play in daily rituals—morning light, familiar textures, the gradual transition between rest and activity.

What emerges is a home that is not static, but lived in—a responsive environment that supports both the rhythms of the body and the patterns of everyday life.

Project Collaborators

Banner Carpets – carpet overall; Brandt Copenhagen – oil burner; BC Hardwood – hardwood flooring (kitchen and bathrooms); Bocci – small cordless glass lamp; Bradford Hardware – Emtek knobs; Cloth Studio – sofa and millwork upholstery; Dana Lee Brown – clothing; Eskimo – towel warmers; Goodbeast – glass vase; Henry Wilson – cast table lamp; Huey Lighting – decor lighting; Itsumo – home accessories; Julian Tile – bathroom tile; Legacy Timberworks – builder; Light Form – decor lighting; Light Resource – architectural lighting; Lock & Mortice – dining table, coffee table, custom bed, side tables, and sofa; Midland Appliances – Miele and Fisher & Paykel appliances; Mjölk – decor lighting; Noanoko – millwork; Obakki – home accessories; Origins Works – sculptures; Pablo Mariano Craft Studio – small shelves, wooden pieces, stools, and custom bench; Robinson Plumbing – Kohler fixtures and Acritec bathtub; Rowen & Wren – bathroom hardware; Roxy Ceramics – soap dish; Sangre de Fruta – botanicals; Sömn – bedding; SSC Countertops – millwork countertops; Tara Mayer – teapot; Timothy Dyck – metal bowl; Vancouver Island Marble – millwork marble.