What makes a space feel like home? Architect Raquel Aparicio, founder of Mara Design, reveals how her childhood journey from Portugal to China sparked a lifelong passion for meaningful design. Raquel blends creativity, efficiency and purpose to transform spaces into havens of joy and belonging. She explores the emotional impact of colour, culture and user experience on wellbeing. From navigating change to designing for connection, discover how architecture can be both profitable and deeply human. Preparation, empathy and personal identity shape the places we love most so tune in to discover the architecture of joy.
KEY TAKEAWAY
‘It's all about how people experience spaces and how those spaces make them feel.’
ABOUT RAQUEL
Raquel is the founder of Mar Design, a bespoke design and architecture studio for property developers and investors. With 20 years of international experience and a background in major projects like the Four Seasons Hotel and Chelsea Barracks, she combines design expertise with a developer’s mindset to create high-performing, transformational homes. Driven by her own experience of displacement, Raquel’s mission is to design spaces that feel like true homes, places that enrich lives and that people love and can call their own. Through Mar Design, she empowers developers to achieve higher profits, build lasting legacies, and gain the freedom to focus on what matters most.
CONNECT WITH RAQUEL
https://www.linkedin.com/in/raquel-aparicio-mardesignuk/
https://www.instagram.com/mardesignuk/
ABOUT THE HOST - AMY ROWLINSON
Amy is a purpose and fulfilment coach, author, podcast strategist, podcaster and mastermind host helping you to improve productivity, engagement and fulfilment in your everyday life and work. Prepare to banish overwhelm, underwhelm and frustration to live with clarity of purpose.
BOOK RECOMMENDATION*
Shortlisted in The Business Book Awards 2025 (Work and Life category): .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}
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