Trinidad Davanzo & Camilo Palma

Which place do you currently call home and where do you work on your projects?

Since 2023, Berlin has been our home and workplace.

Where is your studio located & how does it look?

Our studio is located in Schöneberg. We both work from home, and we absolutely love it. It’s been a year since we launched Holder, so working remotely is the best thing for us right now. We have our own space, all white, with a fantastic view of a large tree. The sounds of the birds, and the way the sun passes through the leaves, casting moving shadows on the walls, is incredibly calming. It feels like a living painting that changes on our walls every day.

Are there any projects that are important to you personally, that you have recently completed or that you are still working on?

For the first time, we have the opportunity to exhibit all the pieces we have in Berlin. The exhibition, titled Continens, runs until Saturday, December 20th and began on Thursday, October 16th at AM TACHELES. Continens takes its name from the Latin “holding together”, a vision of unity within diversity, and is inspired by Buckminster Fuller’s Dymaxion Map, which reimagines the Earth as one continuous, connected landmass. It has been an excellent opportunity where we took over a completely raw space that was initially empty and lacked electricity, using five tons of gravel and playing with light and shadow on the walls in a space of approximately 120 square meters.

Do you have a favorite place in your area where you like to relax and linger?

Heinrich-Lassen-Park and Neue Nationalgalerie.

Are there any urgent political issues or problems in your region?

Yes. Berlin is growing faster than its bureaucratic and housing systems can handle. To name a few:

Housing Crisis: increased rents, housing shortages, gentrification.

Public Services: although Berlin generally has excellent infrastructure, rapid growth has tested its services. Bureaucracy and constant maintenance required for public transportation (BVG).

And social integration and acceptance.

Do you know a hidden gem when it comes to local manufacturers—whether it’s arts and crafts, sustainable products or food?

Yes, one of the Chilean designers based in Berlin who has recently joined Holder is “Material Streams.” They work with recycled materials from the “Haus der Materialerisierung” warehouse, a wonderful place that recycles materials from the construction, film, and advertising industries. From this, Material Streams has developed a series of objects that boast tremendous sustainability, ingenuity, and technical quality.

Is there anything particularly innovative in your region? Also in comparison to other places you have already visited?

Berlin is known for its vibrant, interconnected ecosystem that quickly turns ideas and technologies into scalable businesses, especially in the digital and creative sectors. On top of that, it’s a truly multicultural city with a real drive to create and a genuine appetite for welcoming new creative concepts.

Do you have a secret restaurant tip that you would like to share with us?

Salumeria Treviso: a small beautiful italian restaurant owned by this italian couple. He serves and she cooks. All fresh, super tasty and homemade.

Is there a local shop whose products are only available in your region?

In a city as multicultural and cosmopolitan as Berlin, I imagine it’s very difficult to know this information, especially coming from a Chilean couple who have only lived here for 2 years, so at the moment it’s something we don’t know but would like to find out.

What are your 3 favourite apps that you use every day and couldn’t live without?

– NTS Radio
– Kleinanzeigen
– Bands in Town
– Bank app
– Instagram

Do you have any favourite newspapers or online magazines? And how do you keep up to date with politics or social and cultural issues?

Both economically and politically speaking, perhaps our attention is still focused more on the current situation in Chile, and we believe that the best way to stay informed is through independent and serious journalism, one that doesn’t depend on large economic groups. In that sense, we get our information from CIPER, a Chilean digital media outlet dedicated to investigative journalism, which operates as a non-profit organization.

And culturally speaking, we closely follow what’s happening in Berlin, a very stimulating city with a very strong agenda; for that, we follow Ex Berliner or The Berliner.

Imagine you could be mayor for a year—what would you change?

I would definitely try to control housing prices as much as possible in order to accommodate the local community, without aggressive gentrification ultimately forcing citizens out of their neighborhoods.

One last question: If you could choose another place to live—regardless of financial or time constrain—which one would you choose?

Antwerp.