Studio Tlalli is an architecture and furniture design studio based in Miami, with a fabrication workshop in Pedasí, Panama. Founded by Ivan and Kristin Morales, the studio blends contemporary design with ecological stewardship, crafting architecture and handmade furniture from sustainably sourced materials. Every piece reflects a deep commitment to place, process, and purpose.

All Studio Tlalli furniture is fabricated in Panama by a team of local carpenters using wood harvested sustainably from Reserva Ecológica Panamaes, a 1,600-acre private reserve co-founded by the studio. Over the past 15 years, more than 80,000 native trees have been planted on the reserve as part of an ongoing reforestation and land restoration initiative. The reserve ensures full chain-of-custody for the studio’s forest products—from seed to mill to finished object—making each piece traceable, regenerative, and deeply site-specific.

Studio Tlalli creates custom furniture for IM/KM Architecture and Planning’s projects, as well as a curated line of collectible pieces for the broader market. The studio’s design approach is material-driven: each piece is a response to the natural qualities of the wood—its texture, grain, density, and strength. Rather than force the material into a predetermined form, the studio reveals what is already inherent within it. Furniture will begin to be available for sale in the U.S. starting in 2025.

The name Tlalli — meaning “earth” in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs — embodies the studio’s ethos: to create works that are rooted in the land and in dialogue with its ecosystems. The studio’s design philosophy is informed by ancient Mesoamerican principles, particularly the Aztec tradition of engaging architecture with the environment in a way that ensures durability, meaning, and balance. These themes continue to influence Tlalli’s work today—both in its buildings and its furniture.

IM/KM and Studio Tlalli are separate entities that are united by a shared vision, set of values, and operational leadership. IM/KM is an architecture and planning firm that takes on complex projects, and collaborates with Tlalli for contract furniture pieces for site specific installations.  Additionally, Tlalli offers a curated collection of singular pieces to the consumer market. The two are interdependent and have a shared focus on the intersection of conservation and design that yields a positive social and environmental impact.