++cataci.com topics/Thomas Sandell++

PD: What are your sources of inspiration?

TS: All my background, upbringing, and natureÅc everything.I think that what is special about Scandinavian designers is nature. We live very close to nature. When you think about Italian design, it is totally different. They are more connected to urban life.

PD: What do you think about function and design? It seems like there is an understanding that good design has to be functional. Yet sometimes design is not functional, which I think is also interesting.

TS: For me, it has to be functional. You are considered to be doing a bad job if you don't have functionality in design - that's the mentality of Swedish design.

PD: Did you ever design something that is not functional?

TS: No, not really (laughs).

PD: What do you think about the development of design? Do you think that design keeps evolving in a certain direction?

TS:Yes, absolutely.

PD: If there is a particular development in design, what is it?

TS: I think that right now design is more happy, organic, but not surrealistic. It keeps moving on.

PD: Have you ever though about the relationship between design and science? Now so many things are available since computers, for example, became accessible. Do you think these things affect your designs?

TS: I have not been very close to science. I like to use already known materials. I'm more used to it. I am more conservative in that sense.

PD: You were in Japan last year. What was your impression of Japan?

TS: Always good. I like the people, I like the country. It is a pity that I cannot speak Japanese, but Swedish style is a good example where we can develop contact with Japanese producers. Also, it gives us a chance to share our experience with the people in Japan.

PD: What do you think about the architecture in Tokyo?

TS: Fantastic.

PD: How about the city planning? Maybe it is not really planning (laughs).

TS: It seems like you can do lots of things in architecture. In Europe, on the other hand, there are lots of restrictions. You have to think about colours and height, etc.... Probably there are some restrictions in Japan as well, but it doesn't exist at the same level as Europe.

PD: Some people say Tokyo is very ugly....

TS:It is not ugly - it is just Tokyo. That's the way Tokyo is made. If you like a beautiful city, you can just move to Paris. It has its own originality. Tokyo shouldn't change. Tokyo should keep on being as it is.

PD: What is your favorite building in Tokyo?