This Friday's edition of House & Home features an exclusive interview with Ronan Bouroullec of the Bouroullec Brothers, who are two of the most highly-regarded designers of our age. Since they first joined forces in the 1990s, the brothers have produced iconic designs for some of the biggest names in the industry, from Vitra and Cappellini to Ligne Roset, Flos, Magis, Alessi and Established & Sons. They have also won countless awards and continue to take the design world by storm with their beautifully simple and intuitive creations.
Their remarkable career is being celebrated in a recently-released book, Works, published by Phaidon. Recognising that it would be impossible to produce a definitive guide to the brothers' creations, which are intangible and almost ethereal in their appeal, the book attempts instead to capture the essence of their work.
"It is built like a song; something fluid,” says Ronan. “Design books in general can be boring. They are missing that sensuality. We wanted to show our work in a certain way: simple, sensual, based on real things. We wanted to do it like a ballad – not too didactic.”
There is a lightness and simplicity to the book that is entirely in keeping with the brothers’ work. Whole pages are often dedicated to a single product, ensuring that it is given space to breathe and express its individuality.
Here's a look inside Works:
Whole pages are often dedicated to a single product, ensuring that it is given space to breathe and express its individuality. Image courtesy of Studio Bouroullec.
The book is published by Phaidon and co-authored by Anniina Koivu.
The brothers wanted the book to look sensual and simple, and were careful to ensure that it did not come across as too didactic.
Ronan says that it was difficult to condense 15 years of work into 304 pages, but that it was "a good exercise".
To read our exclusive interview with Ronan, pick up a copy of this Friday's Weekend section.
The Bouroullec brothers. Ronan, right, speaks exclusively to House & Home in this Friday's edition of Weekend.
