ROOMS WITH HISTORY

As part of its projects, the Andrin Schweizer Company develops subtle atmospheres through intensive reflection on the specific architectural features and functions of the spaces and their inhabitants. Andrin Schweizer received the invitation from Carte Blanche whilst his architectural firm was already in the process of designing a private residence in Zurich - so how is it possible to combine the diversity and serene elegance of the "Cotton&Stories" collection with Andrin Schweizer's wealth of ideas and sensitivity for an ambience that invites you to linger for a while. We spoke to him about the potential hidden in the history of a room and how this influences his creativity.

After receiving the invitation, we decided to use materials from Création Baumann to furnish a property that we were already in the process of converting. So the need was to select materials from the collections of Création Baumann that could best support our design concept, which was already agreed with the customer.

The rooms in the house became more sensual and warmer. They also fit in better, again, with the spirit of the time when the house was built, whilst still exuding a significant amount of modernity and freshness.

We were perhaps a little more daring than we would normally be in the combination of different fabrics. It's not every day that you get the opportunity to freely create designs using materials with the range and quality of the "Cotton&Stories" collection. As well as looking good, these fabrics feel great to the touch.

Yes! Serata Fior particularly appealed to me, due to its light daintiness. I also really liked the VELLING cotton velour, primarily because of its sensuous touch and really great colours. We used VELLING in practically every room.

In my mind's eye, I immediately see countless possibilities for how a room can be designed. Each room has great potential in its own really individual way. It always comes down to a combination of the history of the house and the stories of its inhabitants or users. Naturally, each property is always considered in the context of its closer and wider environment. My team and I do not try to force our own style onto our customers; instead, we try to develop a suitable language for each project so that the nature of the house and its inhabitants is expressed.

A sense of a room develops through many little pieces of a puzzle. It is formed from the used materials, colour combinations, proportions and positioning of the furniture, the used lighting, and also the ingress of natural light. When I first walk in, I try to split the essence of the room into its individual parts, and to grasp why and how the room's sensation comes about.

I find it important and natural that as a Swiss designer I should support local Swiss companies wherever possible. Textile production has a long and rich tradition in our country, and yet this tradition is at threat of gradually being lost. Création Baumann differs from many other Swiss textile companies: Not only does it still exist, but it is still thriving!

My designs are strongly oriented towards the present, and I keenly perceive current trends. However, I always make reference to the history of a building or a room. And of course, whatever we design needs to remain relevant for the next few years! So my designs are always a combination of the past, present, and future. I love getting to grips with rooms and getting the best out of them.

For me, they really do play a central role. I find living spaces without curtains, beautiful upholstery, and rugs hard to fathom. Thankfully, the times when curtains were almost frowned upon by architects are gone.

I love old buildings. They offer me a huge stock of inspiration. I like to immerse myself in the substance of a building and the time when it was built, and to refer to these in my designs. In my opinion, nothing we do makes sense if we're ignorant of history. This applies in interior design as well as in politics and life in general.

I live in a house that was built in the 1960s, a little outside Zurich. My partner and I bought it three years ago and have renovated it - and fitted it with curtains made by Création Baumann, by the way!

A clear hand, subtle colour nuances, and strong contrasts - Andrin Schweizer's team has converted this space into an experience from a single mould. The deliberate use of light and shade creates a harmonious and comfortable atmosphere.