Creative Mind: Atelier Oï
This innovative Switzerland studio’s practice encompasses architecture, interiors, scenography, and furniture design
Three heads are better than one, particularly in the case of Switzerland’s Atelier Oï, whose founders, Aurel Aebi, Armand Louis, and Patrick Reymond, named their multifaceted practice in a nod to the Russian word troïka, meaning a “team of three.” From their studio in the foothills of Mont Sujet, overlooking picturesque Lake Biel, the creatives channel the beauty of the surrounding nature into their oeuvre, which spans architecture, interiors, scenography, and furniture design.
“Material is one of the central components in all our creations,” says Louis, who, alongside his colleagues, has transformed marble, glass, and leather into sculptural furnishings and objets for Bulgari, Louis Vuitton, and B&B Italia. “Material has the power to transport the viewer into the heritage of a house.
“Material has the power to transport the viewer into the heritage of a house”
Armand Louis
Atelier Oï’s pieces for Fendi Casa—which include a side table, a dining table, and a sofa—meld pronounced arches and trusses with soft edges. “The house of Fendi has its codes and typology for many decades, and it is exciting to interpret them with our designers’ eyes and give them a new facet while respecting the Fendi vision,” adds Aebi. “This collaboration was a chance to meet the artisans and learn their knowledge and apply it to our creative process. It was an exchange with the spirit of Fendi, and as a result, a fascinating dialogue was born.”
A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2023 Spring Issue under the headline “Creative Minds.” Subscribe to the magazine.