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Ask an Expert: Who is Your Design Icon?
Architects, designers and industry professionals give us the inside scoop on their design inspirations
In an industry that’s driven by imagination, style and taste, great designers, innovators and architects – both past and present – offer valuable lessons and endless inspiration to the current crop of creatives. We asked nine Houzz professionals who they’ve been influenced by over the years.
Carlo Scarpa
Hugo Tugman, founder of Architect Your Home, looks to Italian architect and designer Carlo Scarpa when searching for inspiration:
‘Carlo Scarpa has always been a design hero for me. He was able to combine the most sensitive understanding and love for historic buildings with the most ardently expressed modern design in astonishing ways. He was brilliantly inventive, his love and understanding of materials and ability to express their beauty is clear in everything he ever designed and his detailing is extraordinary.
‘One project that embodies his brilliance more than any other is the Castelveccio museum in Verona, where he peeled the building back to reveal layers of history and then inserted uncompromisingly modern elements that hold the whole project together in the most beautiful and cohesive way I have ever seen.’
Hugo Tugman, founder of Architect Your Home, looks to Italian architect and designer Carlo Scarpa when searching for inspiration:
‘Carlo Scarpa has always been a design hero for me. He was able to combine the most sensitive understanding and love for historic buildings with the most ardently expressed modern design in astonishing ways. He was brilliantly inventive, his love and understanding of materials and ability to express their beauty is clear in everything he ever designed and his detailing is extraordinary.
‘One project that embodies his brilliance more than any other is the Castelveccio museum in Verona, where he peeled the building back to reveal layers of history and then inserted uncompromisingly modern elements that hold the whole project together in the most beautiful and cohesive way I have ever seen.’
Jørn Utzon and Peter Zumthor
Andrew Brown, an architect at Brown + Brown Architects, has opted for two Pritzker Prize-winning architects:
‘Either Jørn Utzon or Peter Zumthor, who are both a bit clichéd for an architect to pick…
‘Utzon was a Danish architect most famous for designing the Sydney Opera House. His designs were influenced by natural forms, and by the historical legacies of the ancient world.
‘Zumthor is a Swiss architect who highlights the sensory and emotional aspects of the architectural realm.’
Andrew Brown, an architect at Brown + Brown Architects, has opted for two Pritzker Prize-winning architects:
‘Either Jørn Utzon or Peter Zumthor, who are both a bit clichéd for an architect to pick…
‘Utzon was a Danish architect most famous for designing the Sydney Opera House. His designs were influenced by natural forms, and by the historical legacies of the ancient world.
‘Zumthor is a Swiss architect who highlights the sensory and emotional aspects of the architectural realm.’
Ilse Crawford
For Camilla Pringle, founder of Camilla Pringle Interiors, the enigmatic Ilse Crawford has the winning edge. After a career as vice president of home product at Donna Karen, head of department at the Design Academy Eindhoven in the Netherlands, and the author of numerous books, Ilse Crawford has recently launched a cork and natural-fibre furniture collection with Ikea:
‘I just love love love Ilse Crawford. I love her philosophy of building habitable spaces from the inside out. It particularly appeals to me as I studied interior architecture at university. She puts human needs first in all her designs.’
Browse ways to add tactile cork to your interior
For Camilla Pringle, founder of Camilla Pringle Interiors, the enigmatic Ilse Crawford has the winning edge. After a career as vice president of home product at Donna Karen, head of department at the Design Academy Eindhoven in the Netherlands, and the author of numerous books, Ilse Crawford has recently launched a cork and natural-fibre furniture collection with Ikea:
‘I just love love love Ilse Crawford. I love her philosophy of building habitable spaces from the inside out. It particularly appeals to me as I studied interior architecture at university. She puts human needs first in all her designs.’
Browse ways to add tactile cork to your interior
John Lautner
For Stuart Duncan of Build Different, American architect John Lautner ticks all the right boxes:
‘John Lautner was way ahead of his time. His most famous building, the Chemosphere, wouldn’t look out of place on a sci-fi film set.
‘He began his career working under Frank Lloyd Wright and he always tried to integrate the house into its location and create a flow between the indoors and outdoors. Often he worked on challenging sites, usually on a steep hill. He also pioneered the use of modern building materials, such as glulam [glued laminated] timber, steel sheeting and concrete.’
For Stuart Duncan of Build Different, American architect John Lautner ticks all the right boxes:
‘John Lautner was way ahead of his time. His most famous building, the Chemosphere, wouldn’t look out of place on a sci-fi film set.
‘He began his career working under Frank Lloyd Wright and he always tried to integrate the house into its location and create a flow between the indoors and outdoors. Often he worked on challenging sites, usually on a steep hill. He also pioneered the use of modern building materials, such as glulam [glued laminated] timber, steel sheeting and concrete.’
Gio Ponti and Christian Liaigre
Rebecca Leivars, an interior designer and founder of LEIVARS, chose two icons, one past and one present –Italian architect, industrial designer and furniture designer Gio Ponti, and French designer Christian Liaigre:
‘Gio Ponti was so ahead of his time. His designs were so sexy, with defined lines mixed with metals and the strong use of blue and white. The crisp, sharp tones of the sea and the sun, with the romance of geometric shapes, instantly take me back to a poolside in Sorrento where I first experienced the impact of his work in rooms untouched since he designed them – it was a real sanctuary.
‘Christian Liaigre’s clean lines, simple contours, use of nature with texture, and bold crafted metal finishes with a punch of colour are my idea of luxury.’
Rebecca Leivars, an interior designer and founder of LEIVARS, chose two icons, one past and one present –Italian architect, industrial designer and furniture designer Gio Ponti, and French designer Christian Liaigre:
‘Gio Ponti was so ahead of his time. His designs were so sexy, with defined lines mixed with metals and the strong use of blue and white. The crisp, sharp tones of the sea and the sun, with the romance of geometric shapes, instantly take me back to a poolside in Sorrento where I first experienced the impact of his work in rooms untouched since he designed them – it was a real sanctuary.
‘Christian Liaigre’s clean lines, simple contours, use of nature with texture, and bold crafted metal finishes with a punch of colour are my idea of luxury.’
Paul Smith
Egon Walesch of Egon Walesch Interiors & Flowers names Paul Smith as his design icon:
‘From humble origins, Paul Smith used imagination and creativity to build a successful design business, staying true to his vision. He was a man of fashion without slavishly following fashion.’
Egon Walesch of Egon Walesch Interiors & Flowers names Paul Smith as his design icon:
‘From humble origins, Paul Smith used imagination and creativity to build a successful design business, staying true to his vision. He was a man of fashion without slavishly following fashion.’
Candy & Candy
Michael Parinchy from Pro Build 360 admires Candy & Candy. One of the world’s leading interior design houses, the firm was responsible for the style of the One Hyde Park development:
‘I suppose I see them as true icons, real celebrity types. I like their style because they’re ostentatious and luxurious, but always understated and classic.’
TELL US…
Who is your design icon? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
Michael Parinchy from Pro Build 360 admires Candy & Candy. One of the world’s leading interior design houses, the firm was responsible for the style of the One Hyde Park development:
‘I suppose I see them as true icons, real celebrity types. I like their style because they’re ostentatious and luxurious, but always understated and classic.’
TELL US…
Who is your design icon? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
For Andrew Dunning, a designer at APD Interiors, it doesn’t get better than Danish architect and designer Arne Jacobsen:
‘If I had to choose just one designer I really admire, it would be Arne Jacobsen. During his lifetime he designed so many amazing products that are still used all over the world today. I really admire the Scandinavian style, so love everything he ever designed. I have Series 7 chairs in my own home, and one day I’ll have the Egg chair I’ve always dreamed of.’
Read about Arne Jacobsen’s iconic Egg chair