Interviews

Yves Béhar has rethought the washbasin for Laufen with ‘Volta’. In this interview, he tells us how he translated the dynamics of water into sapphire ceramic and why a new electric tunnel oven influenced his design.

The internationally renowned fashion designer Jil Sander has reinterpreted Marcel Breuer's ‘S 64’ cantilever chair for Thonet. ‘Serious’ and “Nordic” are the names of the design lines with which she has given the tubular steel classic from the 1920s a new sensuality. In this interview, she tells us what was important in the process.

The kinetic installation ‘Library of Light’ by Es Devlin is a Salone project with the Pinacoteca di Brera and the publishing house Feltrinelli: a rotating sculpture consisting of illuminated shelves containing over 2,000 books. The scenery is accompanied by the writings of pioneering academics and classical music. The artist and set designer gives us an insight into her work.

The Spore Haus receives the DAM Preis 2025. With floor-to-ceiling windows, the cultural and educational centre opens up to the busy street and red bricks define the façade of the new building by AFF Architekten. A peaceful garden stretches out behind the building. Sven Fröhlich and Ulrike Dix explain the concept.

How can AI applications be energy-efficiently optimised, for example for digitalised processes in the construction industry? Dr. Mario Chemnitz explains his current research and points out the role that light fulfils in the process.

With their project "Off the Grid", designers Eva Benamou and Antonia Gauss have developed a textile dyeing system with a pen plotter that bridges the gap between craft and industry. They explain the concept, which is inspired by traditional silk painting, in an interview.

Aitor Ortiz is dedicated to the built world. His photography deals with architecture in the broadest sense: He is interested in details, structures, materials and angles. You will search in vain for the dissolving long shot in his pictures. In this interview, he tells us why this is the case.

Ecology researchers with a strong focus on aesthetics: the French architecture and design studio ciguë, based in Montreuil near Paris, is one of the best in France. Its portfolio includes showrooms, shops and hotels worldwide. Alphonse Sarthout and his team create an unconventional and scientifically sound appearance for major brands such as Aesop and Isabel Marant.

The "Nolita" collection by Pedrali has been evoking summer feelings and colourful moments with ease and elegance for ten years: the subtle tubular steel chair is a timeless design icon. A conversation with its creators at CMP Design about stable connections, magical teamwork and, of course, summer.

Katja Thoring is Professor of Integrated Product Design in Munich. She teaches and researches at the interface of product, space, architecture and technology. In this interview, she explains her interdisciplinary approach and how creative working environments can be designed with the needs of the user in mind.

For over 30 years, the Esser/Horn duo has been impressively demonstrating how diverse textile art and design can be. In this interview, Wolfgang Horn tells us why the subject fascinates them and what characterises their work.

Stefan Seitz is the Head of Brand Management ISH at Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH. In this interview, he tells us what the new offerings at the world’s leading trade fair for HVAC + Water from 17 to 21 March 2025 are and what is important in the industry now.

The young designer Kateryna Basiuk works on new and sustainable textiles in Lucerne. For her ‘Silent Canvas’ project, she investigated the sound-absorbing structure of insects and transferred it to knitwear. A conversation about virtual textiles, local natural materials and what moth wings have to do with fibres.

With the versatile textile installation ‘among us’, renowned designer and architect Patricia Urquiola offered a glimpse of the textile design of the future at Heimtextil in Frankfurt am Main, as she demonstrated its powerful effect on the room. In this interview, she explains the concept.

At the Louisiana Museum in Humlebaek near Copenhagen, the first exhibition in the new series “Architecture Connecting” is currently on display: “Living Structures”. The aim is to encourage interdisciplinary discourse on how to achieve a new, environmentally aware start in architecture and design. In this interview, curator Mette Marie Kallehauge explains the concept.

Since studying at the Royal Danish Academy in Copenhagen, Frederik Weber & Gustav Dupont have played a formative and illuminating role in the Danish capital's art and design scene as the duo Frederik Gustav. In this interview, the two reveal what inspires their love of experimentation and why they have a special bond with a chair back.

Bette produces architectural bathroom elements made of glazed titanium steel. In the search for new perspectives, the team is constantly exploring the limits of steel molding with renowned designers. Thilo Pahl, managing director of Bette, gives the publishers of Stylepark a glimpse behind the scenes of the think tank.

Under the name ‘into stories – architecture and beyond’, Berlin architects Romina Falk and Sophia Frommel develop individual narratives for their building projects, going beyond the usual design process. They are concerned with core questions: how they want to work and respond to the signs of the times.

reverse.fashion has developed an automated sorting system that uses artificial intelligence to sort used textiles, saving time and money. Dr Karsten Pufahl, Member of the Management Board, tells us how it works.

The ISH will take place in Frankfurt am Main from 17 to 21 March 2025. The motto of the world's leading trade fair for water, heat and air is ‘Solutions for a sustainable future’. In this context, we spoke to Dr Christian Schlicht about the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) for the building sector.

British designer Sophie Earp has designed stools made of ash with a seat in green paracord – the "Woven Collection" – for the graduation of her studies in three-dimensional furniture and product design at Northumbria University. She explains the idea in an interview.

Prof Dr Brigitte Franzen has recently been appointed President of the Hochschule für Gestaltung (HfG) Offenbach. In this interview, she tells us about the qualities she would like to promote at the university of art in the future and what the HafenCampus will change.

Valentina Ciuffi and Joseph Grima are the founders of Alcova Milano, an experimental platform for independent design. For the upcoming Heimtextil in Frankfurt am Main from 14 to 17 January 2025, the duo will be curating the trends for the first time. In this interview, they give us an insight into their concept.

Schmidt Holzinger Innenarchitekten have been developing customised interior solutions for private and business clients since 1998. In an interview with the publishers of Stylepark, they explain what drives them and how they work.

BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group and CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati have conceived the “CapitaSpring” high-rise in Singapore – a vision for the future of urban development which was honoured today with the International High-Rise Award. Brian Yang and Carlo Ratti explain the idea of vertical urbanism to us in an interview.

Prof Lesley Collier is a professor in occupational therapy with a focus on dementia, sensory processing and sensory integration. In this interview, she tells us what influence textiles have on cognitive impairment and how her research can be applied to the design of workspaces.

Architecture practice Cobe was founded by Dan Stubbergaard in Copenhagen in 2006 and is shaping urban designs locally and inspiring people with its international projects. We talk to Stine Lund Hansen, Director of Business Development and Communications, about the team’s philosophy and why people should be at the heart of the design.

In Shanghai, the Salone del Mobile is cooperating with West Bund Art & Design, while the SaloneSatellite Permanent Collection 1998-2024 will be shown in Hong Kong until 21 November 2024. Maria Porro, President of the Salone del Mobile.Milano, tells us what guests can expect in a brief interview.

With RHO, Lennart Zemke and Nikita Marykov work at the interface of architecture, music, performance and creative production. The duo focuses on minimal interventions to develop contemporary architectural solutions for cultural and subcultural environments.

Moritz Walter is an industrial designer and lives in Berlin. His extensive portfolio does not show that he only completed his studies last year. In this interview, he tells us what his idea for the heating system of the future is and why he is fascinated by designing luminaires.

Since 1949, the Wagner company has been showing new perspectives for healthy seating and holistic interior design. In an interview, Peter and Rainer Wagner tell the publishers of Stylepark what values underlie their decisions and what they are planning for the upcoming Orgatec.

How does Wilkhahn teach seating to walk? And what are the benefits of dynamic sitting for people's health, such as the efficient furnishing of an office or home office? Carsten Gehner, Head of Product Pre-Development, in an interview.

Oscar Parkinson recently completed his degree in Product and Furniture Design at Kingston University in London and already has some exciting prototypes to show for it. In this interview he gives us an insight into his practice.

The former flak bunker on Feldstrasse in Hamburg was recently given a five-storey extension by phase10 Ingenieur- und Planungsgesellschaft mbH. Managing Director and Project Manager Ronny Erfurt tells us in an interview what was involved.

The film E.1027 – Eileen Gray and the House by the Sea will be released in cinemas at the end of October. Director Beatrice Minger and co-director Christoph Schaub tell us how they aim to make the architect and designer's perspective experienceable through docufiction.