Ricardas Blazukas (BSc Arch, MArch, RIBA) is a Founder and Design Director at WEFT. Ricardas carries a decade of professional experience as an architect designer and goes beyond his profession by bridging it with other creative disciplines of art & design. At WEFT, Ricardas lead the team on a number of high-profile projects, such as design and curation of Sheikh Jaber Al Abdullah Al Jaber Al Sabah Museum and an exhibition celebrating the 50 Years of Architecture in Kuwait, whilst also collaborating on projects such as Kuwait City Pavilion along with Desert Cast collective for Dubai Design Week 2018 and a public realm installation Aidah - The Invisible City in collaboration with Boano Prismontas for Dubai Design Week 2017. Ricardas also exhibited his work at renowned galleries such as Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai and Future Perfect in New York, along with various regional and international solo and group exhibitions. ​Prior to establishing WEFT, Ricardas worked as a Design Architect at leading multi-disciplinary firms BDP and Pace, in London and Kuwait City respectively. At BDP, Ricardas worked as part of the Educational Sector on projects such as Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University in Suzhou, award-winning Creative Arts Hub for City College Norwich as well as GEMS Wellington Academy in the UAE. Whilst at Pace, he expanded his portfolio with notable projects such as the New Palace of Justice in Kuwait City, New Maternity Hospital in Al Sabah Medical Area as well as a competition-winning scheme for a new town Diyar Al Muharraq in Bahrain.

Ricardas Blazukas offers services within the areas of architecture and interiors, art and product design, exhibitions and curating, retail and communication, creative consultancy and research. We strive to create context-driven tailor-made projects with careful attention to detail. We embrace local culture, heritage and society and bridge with today’s modern life in order to create a meaningful and honest design to people. We take pride in methodical work approach and uncomplicated yet profound design as a result.Recent projects include designing and curating Sheikh Jaber Al Abdullah Al Jaber Al Sabah Permanent Exhibition at Kuwait International Tennis Complex, taking on a design manager's role on Gastronomica's new projects Burger Boutique Al Khobar, Burger Boutique Gate Mall and Cocoa Room Riyadh, designing and curating the 50 Years of Architecture in Kuwait exhibition at the 1000sqm multipurpose hall in Shaheed Park in Kuwait City, representation of Kuwait City Pavilion with Desert Cast concept at Dubai Design Week 2018, as well as creation of one of the largest and most instagrammable landscape installations 'Aidah' at Dubai Design Week 2017. Worked with industry leaders such as Reebok, Hilton, Tamdeen, Mabanee, Gastronomica and Jameel Arts Centre to name a few.

Whilst at Pace, Ricardas worked as a Design Architect on some of the most exciting architectural projects in Kuwait of the last decade. - One of the key designers for the New Palace of Justice project concept. The scope of work involved the construction of a 12-storey government building comprising 140 courtrooms located at Al Qibla Area, Assima Governorate, Kuwait City, Kuwait. Ricardas was instrumental in securing the project in the early stages. Involved in the feasibility, concept and schematic design stages, he created a narrative and conceptualized ideas, developed the design through massing studies, physical models and detailed design. Ricardas was also in charge of production of in-house visuals, coordination of professional renders as well as all presentation materials.- Involved in the concept design stage as a Design Architect of Kuwait's New Maternity Hospital (KNMH), to be located to the west of Kuwait City within the Al Sabah Specialty Medical Area. The total contract value of USD 817 Million. Ricardas was part of a small design team during the concept design stage, particularly involved in the creation of an architectural concept, massing studies and envelope design. He was also responsible for digital modelling and concept visualisations, as well as the overall delivery of the concept scheme. - Winning the commission against tough competition, Pace became the lead designer and master planner of a new town centre in the unique Diyar Al Muharraq development in Bahrain. The Town Centre sits on a plot of 76,000 sqm within the 12 sqkm of the development. Ricardas was one of the key designers for a competition winning submission. He was later involved in development stages up until completion of the schematic design. Traditionally, Ricardas was instrumental in delivering design ideas and all supporting visual information - presentations, renders as well as digital and physical modelling.

Whilst working at BDP, Ricardas was actively involved in a variety of projects as an Architect Assistant and was awarded a BDP Education Bursary towards his MArch studies. - Ricardas worked on a project Creative Arts Hub project for City College Norwich completed together with Director Wayne Head and Senior Architect Anca Mihalache. This building has a multifunctional programme for art and drama based activity. Its strong and pure architectural frame means that it can absorb its transient and messy activities well. The program was nominated and won numerous awards: Civic Trust Award 2014 Winner, RIBA Regional Awards 2014 Nomination and Building Awards 2014 Finalist. Ricardas was involved in early stages of the concept design, planning submission as well as in drafting technical details during the detailed design stage. - Ricardas contributed to a competition-winning scheme - Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University in Suzhou, China. Ricardas supported the development of the masterplan and architectural concept.