The two-story pedestal base of 272 Hedges Avenue in Gold Coast, Australia, brings a human scale to the residential tower and creates a contextual connection with the surroundings. As urbanization grows, it separates humans from nature. The pedestal merges the built and natural environments, improving the area and community. Advanced design techniques and products were used by Contreras Earl Architecture to create a biologically informed and digitally engineered design. The pedestal is a unique and site-specific solution that contributes to the evolution of architecture and urban development, benefiting inhabitants and the environment.
Designed by Rafael Contreras
Recognized by A' Design Award.
Contreras Earl Architecture (CEA) is led by Rafael Contreras and Monica Earl. Contreras Earl Architecture was founded to design original, inventive, ground-breaking buildings that contribute to the evolution of architecture and toward a better future for our communities and cities. CEA creates buildings, spaces, masterplans and objects that are biologically informed and digitally engineered. From mid-sized commercial buildings and mixed-use developments to high-end apartments and bespoke objects, it’s not about the scale of your project, but the scale of your ambition.
Rafael Contreras has AA+ Rating, valid through 2025. AA+ stands for Superior Rating. DBI Awards the AA+ Rating to entities that have achieved notable success in innovation and design, demonstrating significant creative and technical prowess. This rating underscores a strong ability to deliver impactful and memorable solutions, showcasing superior quality and craftsmanship. This certificate is awarded following a rigorous evaluation process conducted by an esteemed jury panel, comprising a diverse group of experts from around the world, including journalists, academics, design professionals, and entrepreneurs. The assessment adheres to a blind peer-review methodology, ensuring complete impartiality. Entries are meticulously evaluated based on pre-established criteria, with scores being normalized and standardized to uphold fairness and consistency. This process celebrates and honors superior achievements in innovation, design quality, and creative capacity.
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The Design Business Index (DBI) is a merit-based rating system and professional directory founded to address one of the design industry’s biggest challenges: the difficulty of reliably assessing a designer’s true capabilities before a project begins. Through its partnership with the internationally recognized A’ Design Award, DBI combines a rigorous blind review process with transparent evaluation criteria to transform subjective design quality into objective credentials. By featuring only those who have demonstrated excellence under these stringent standards, DBI ensures a carefully curated pool of top talent, where clients can make confident, data-driven decisions about creative partnerships.
Beyond its directory, DBI offers a comprehensive DBI Credibility Suite™ designed to help designers and studios stand out in an overcrowded market. Each DBI-rated professional receives authoritative certificates, digital assets, and rating logos that validate their skills and attest to their proven creative excellence. These tools seamlessly integrate into websites, social media, and marketing materials—reinforcing trust, credibility, and, ultimately, market value. Notably, DBI ratings remain valid for a two-year period, encouraging ongoing professional development and highlighting those who continuously push the boundaries of innovation.
By systematically reducing guesswork and eliminating reliance on subjective portfolio reviews alone, the Design Business Index creates a more efficient, trustworthy, and merit-based environment for both clients and designers. With DBI, top talent rises above the noise, clients gain peace of mind, and the entire global design community benefits from higher standards of creativity, innovation, and professional excellence.
Design Business Index champions design excellence, valuing official recognition from respected international juries over mere popularity. Our criteria focus on transparent, rigorous evaluations by peers, assessing quality, ethics, and innovation. Notably, the prestigious A' Design Award highlights truly exceptional projects, judged by academics, press members, and professionals using a documented scoring system. We exclusively feature professionals and studios that have earned at least one peer-reviewed award, particularly the A' Design Award, ensuring that our listings represent meritocratic accomplishment, innovation, and credibility.
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