New York – based Designer, Architect and Artist. Originally from the Dominican Republic. Alvarez has long experience designing restaurants and hotels around the world for the last 27  years. As design director at Tihany Design, partner at Alvarez-Brock design and in his own  founded Studio, Bureau of Rafael Alvarez inc. realizing his interest was not only in design spaces but also in the elements that completed them. All along no to limit himself to one discipline with a prolific design portfolio that includes: furnitures, uniforms, lightings, carpets ties, scarf decorative hardware and tableware.  Alvarez has been Awarded with the Medal of Honor, “Citizen of Merit”, Dominican Consulate, New York 2009.  Fray Antón de Montesinos in architecture Award”. Alumni Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD). New York 2009.  “ Wave of the Future Award” by Hospitality Design Magazine. Miami, Florida 2010. “International Architect of the Year“ by Society of Dominicans Architects (SAD) & Dominicans College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors (CODIA) 2015.  Fixture in many art and design magazines, new papers, trade publications and documentaries. Has been a guest speaker in multiple international conferences. Alvarez seemingly finds inspiration in almost everything THE SEA AND THE SAND it is a sample of that.