++cataci.com topics/Thomas Sandell++

Thomas Sandell is one of the most internationally well-known and successful interior designers and architects in Sweden. He has designed products for Asplund, IKEA, B&B Italia, David Design, and many other international companies. He has also designed the interiors of rooms at the Hotel Birger Jarl in Stockholm and is now designing the Stockholm Stock Exchange's building.

Style-pd (PD): Can you tell me about your current project?

Thomas Sandell (TS) We are working with the building of Stock Exchange in Stockholm. We are designing the building and the interior design. We have been working on it over the past five years.

PD:Are you going to do something different and surprising?

TS: Yes, I hope so. Besides this, we are also working with a new project in Russia and restaurants just outside Stockholm.

PD: You have taken on many projects connected with restaurants. Why do you enjoy designing restaurants?

TS: Because I like to eat at restaurants a lot, and it is also a meeting place where people have fun.

PD:As someone who represents Swedish design, how do you define it?

TS: If we put it simply, it is design made in Sweden (laughs). Normally, it is very closely connected to natural materials such as wood, and it often comes with quite light color - because we don't have much sunlight.

PD: Do you think that your design has some Swedish influence?

TS: Yes, I think so. Because I was raised in Sweden, and it is hard to escape from that since I grew up here.

PD: Are you conscious of Swedish design when you design something?

TS: No, I'm not conscious of it. Of course, it sometimes happens to be more Scandinavian style. But usually, I design something that meets the demand of clients.

PD: For example, when you design for an Italian company, it becomes more Italian?

TS: Yes, it does. When the producer is Italian, then my design tends to be more Italian.

PD:What do you think about the globalisation of design? It seems that the differences among cultures are getting smaller. Do you see that as something positive?

TS: I think it is positive. We try to meet the demands of our clients. Clients want their own original look. It doesn't have to be connected to countries. It can be connected to a person. To answer your questions shortly, globalisation is not a problem. What is happening now is that some people want to get something different - then the design becomes something different.

PD: What do you think about relationship between commercialism and design?

TS: Sometimes you have to do both. You design objects that are not commercial, but when you design a piece, the company has to survive with it. So you have to think about that as well. If you have one piece that sells thousands, you can do something original from there. I think that both sides are necessary.

PD: Some people think that design should be appreciated by everyone. But as a matter of fact, design tends to be more expensive.

TS: I think everything is design. Everyday objects are also design. It doesn't need to be expensive.