Can you describe the creative process that led to the use of bronze for the "Bird of Prey Ceiling Lamp" and how this material enhances the intended aesthetic of a sunset glow?
We have chosen bronze for two reasons. The first is its appearance. When light reflects on it, bronze enhances the warm glow produced by the lamp. We love the patina it has acquired over the years.
Second, we wanted to create a sculptural pendant lamp, and using bronze references a very durable material that has always been used throughout history for casting sculptures.
The "Cofit-20" Concrete Table Lamp incorporates coal and coal waste in its concrete mixture. What was the inspiration behind using these particular recycled materials, and what challenges did you face in manipulating them?
We grew up in an old mining area and have always spent a lot of time on the old mine slag heaps. What was once a pile of stones and rubble has been transformed into a hill with open spaces, woods, and walking paths. There is still coal to be found on these slag heaps, and it is those pieces that we collected during walks to include in the design as raw material.
So, it was mainly the nostalgic charge attached to the material that inspired us to do something with it. Additionally, the fact that we can give a waste product from a decaying industry a second life after so many years is a very nice bonus.
One of the challenges we encountered was finding the right mixture so that the pieces of coal remained nicely visible in the design.
In designing the "Cofit-20" lamp, you have allowed for variable configurations by the user. How does this design philosophy reflect Atelier Haute Cuisine’s broader approach to interactive and functional art?
We always like it when the person who purchases a work from us connects with it.
By integrating several options into the design, the consumer can arrange the configuration according to their feelings, which hopefully strengthens this bond with the object.
With the use of site-specific installations, how do you ensure that your designs resonate with the local environment and community?
First, we take the time to study and observe the location, and we try to understand the people's needs. Then, we try to find original solutions for them.
The local environment and community are the starting points for the design. It is essential that what we come up with resonates with the people we are making it for. You design it not for yourself, but for the community where it will be placed.
We try to push ourselves to make valuable and timeless objects that are highly durable and can survive the test of time. Objects that are repairable and can be passed on from generation to generation.
What has been the most unexpected source of inspiration for one of your designs, and how was it integrated into the final piece?
As we drove past a drive-thru with empty stomachs, we got the inspiration for how to connect art festival visitors with poetry. The name of the festival was Watou, so we turned a large illuminated advertisement from a well-known fast food chain into a W.
This was followed by a self-order kiosk that prints a cash register ticket with the desired poem, allowing the consumer to take it with them to read at their own pace at a location of their choice.
How does Atelier Haute Cuisine maintain a consistent creative identity while working with a diverse range of materials and design briefs?
This is not something we think about very consciously; it happens automatically. Our interests are too broad to always work with the same material or pin ourselves down to a particular style. Nevertheless, our designs are always a reflection of our character and the things we like.
Looking forward, how do you see your design collective evolving, and are there new materials or technologies you are looking to explore in future projects?
As long as we keep growing, exploring, and having fun as a collective, it is not important exactly what this will look like.
Learning to work with new materials and technologies is something we want to continue doing. We are currently experimenting with 3D scanning and printing, and we are also looking for ways to transform abandoned polyester boats into something new.
