Tastemakers
q&a
words by Bethan Ryder
mårten claesson of swedish architects claesson koivisto rune
Big in Japan: CKR’s Sfera
Building, Kyoto your work ranges from kyoto’s sfera building and the swedish ambassador’s residence in berlin, to restaurants for mcdonalds, set design for kylie and furniture for iitala. which of your projects has been the greatest challenge?
The greatest challenge is always the next project, it doesn’t matter if it’s a cooking pot or a large building. This is the curse of our profession. You must always evolve and can never relax, but it’s also a blessing. Tomorrow will always be different from today, which makes for a very rewarding way of life.
do you feel your architecture and design work is particularly swedish, or scandinavian?
Other people have told us our work is Scandinavian, so it probably is.
you’re based in stockholm, what do you love about the city?
This is where our families and friends are. Apart from that, it’s the ever
presence of water. And, for its relatively small size, the atmosphere in
Stockholm is surprisingly creative and cosmopolitan.
which are your three favourite projects?
Eero [Koivisto] likes the ‘Neo’ cooking pots in stainless steel, designed for Iittala. We worked on this project for about two and a half years and in the end it produced a rare product - one that we were completely satisfied with! Ola [Rune] loves the ‘Aladdin’ lounger in super-strong felt, designed for Paola Lenti. Paola Lenti manufactures seating and carpets using progressive, advanced fabrics that they develop, many of which can be used outdoors as well as indoors. Their thin, super-strong, ‘non-bobble’ felt inspired us to create a slender lounger - almost like a floating carpet! And for me it’s ‘AH#001′, a prefab two-storey house, designed for Arkitekthus. An architect-designed house at an affordable price.
the names of your products are unusual – tell us about the naming process?
We don’t have a set model of how to name our products except it must feel right. Normally it’s a discussion that involves the entire office when a new product is ready and about to be put on the market. Sometimes it takes five minutes. There have been occasions though when we’ve held up big companies for several days, with increasing irritation on their part, when the naming process got stuck.
which building or product do you wish you’d designed and why?
The product or building that has no bad angle.
what’s your dream project?
It is – perhaps surprisingly – not so much a matter of a dream project but rather a dream client. A rich and nice client? Or, we’d work with you if you’re not rich but you have to be nice.
which creative people inspire you?
Donald Judd for his uncompromising attitude and his view that architecture and art can be interchangeable. [Industrial designer] Castiglioni for his conceptual thinking. Rick Joy [the US architect] for his control of materials and treatment of space. And Atelier Bow-Wow for their super-interesting Tokyo investigations.
what object couldn’t you live without?
Family, friends, emotions, passion are all hard to live without. But are there actually any objects you can’t live without?
which six people would ckr invite to a dream dinner party?
John and Paul, Jimmy and Robert and Joe and Mick. And hopefully the dinner would be a long one – and loud.
what’s the secret of good design?
A good idea and artistic sensibility.
which future projects are you most excited by?
A private residence situated on a hillside near Espina de Cruz, in Uruguay. Construction is starting now. Also our second house design, ‘AH#002’, for Arkitekthus, situated here in Stockholm and a gallery and office building in Marfa, west Texas (USA), due for imminent completion.
what is your philosophy?
Always evolve.
Mårten Claesson is co-founder of dynamic Swedish architecture and design firm Claesson Koivisto Rune with Eero Koivisto and Ola Rune. www.ckr.se
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