Interview

“A good project is an alchemy of many factors, including aesthetic and functionality.” — French designers and brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec.

- Aziz Amin

What inspired the two of you to take up design and architecture?

Ronan Bouroullec (RB): We do not feel that inspiration is ever direct; it is always far more complex. However, observation can be considered as our main external influence. We try to observe people’s behaviour accurately in their daily lives and understand their usual practices and needs. In fact, we have a deep interest or even a passion for the small details of life — the way people consider objects, the way they use them, etc.

How is designing small utility products different from big architectural projects?

Erwan Bouroullec (EB): We try our best to bring something new — marked by creativity and innovation — in every project. Every creation has to be considered in the same manner. For example, in both the urban principles — Rêveries Urbaines and Steel wood that we developed, we tried to achieve a kind of inventiveness, technical improvement, and typological novelty. They may seem very different, but both come from the same process and the same quest for questioning the project.

What kind of design targets do you aim to achieve through your projects?