(Left to right) Jay Osgerby and Edward Barber | Photo courtesy of AXOR ART4D HAD A CONVERSATION WITH EDWARD BARBER OF BARBER OSGERBY, A WORLD-RENOWNED DESIGN STUDIO WITH INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED WORK AND THE DESIGNER BEHIND THE AXOR ONE COLLECTION
TEXT: NATHATAI TANGCHADAKORN
PHOTO CREDIT AS NOTED
(For Thai, press here)
Barber Osgerby is a world-renowned design studio with internationally acclaimed work, such as the London Olympic Torch in 2012, the Tip Ton Chair, the Loop Table, etc. They also have many famous works that reflect their signature technique of utilizing bold and bright color schemes. Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby possess the capability to create a diverse range of designs, encompassing sculptures, furniture, and interior space.
Edward Barber | Photo courtesy of Barber Osgerby
art4d had a conversation with Edward on the occasion that Crystal Home and AXOR are co-hosting a design talk, ‘The Power of Colors: Personalizing Luxury Design,’ at Soho House on November 5, 2024, for Thai designers to meet and converse about colors in a relaxed atmosphere and to present the AXOR One collection, designed by Barber Osgerby.
art4d: As a designer, which personal design philosophy have you applied while collaborating with AXOR?
Edward Barber: As a studio, the fundamental reason for designing is to try to find new ways to do things, to innovate. We try very hard not to just produce something that already exists in a different look. I think the very best example is AXOR One because we started this project with innovation at the core.
We wanted to find a new way to control water that was more precise, to conserve water because, certainly, in Europe and many parts of the world, water is a very scarce resource. AXOR One tries to get the same quality of shower experience but using less water. When we started with the control panel, we worked very closely with the engineers at AXOR to develop this new way of controlling on/off because traditionally, an old tap has a screw thread, and then obviously, the mixer tap. You could still leave the water on whether it’s a screw thread or a mixer. With AXOR One, it’s impossible. You can leave it on full, but you cannot leave it on a little bit. So you’re really trying to educate the customer that you have to turn it off completely – no water wastage.
When you look back now, It is obvious what we’re trying to achieve, but at the time, it was very new, and that was the exciting part for us as designers to find something new. Starting with the control panel and then moving on to the faucet, which controls the system in the same way. And in all of this, we wanted to simplify the visual complexity of the bathroom – so in the control and in the shower head at that time.
Photo courtesy of AXOR
art4d: Jay Osgerby once said that the bathroom is where people get a spiritual experience within the home. Could you elaborate on that as his co-worker, Edward?
EB: Yeah, I didn’t say that. (Laugh) So it’s difficult to elaborate on Jay’s. I wouldn’t say spiritual myself, and everyone has their private space, the bathroom, typically. It’s a moment for yourself, like a time for decompression or energizing in the morning. Also a change of emotion probably – From when you arrive and when you leave. The room where this happens has to be very carefully designed. The feelings and the materials that you use are very important in that way.
Historically, the bathrooms are spaces that’ve been overlooked. It’s just a purely functional space and compromised in terms of size and expenditure. People have realized in the last 20 – 30 years that it is an important part of the house and of your day. So using AXOR products, as I can testify, actually does improve your daily routine. I’ve had it in my house for 4 years. I start my day with pleasure. (Laugh)
Photo: Sukit Sudnan
art4d: As a part of Barber Osgerby, who is an expert in the power of color, do you think using colorful materials could go with the concept of sustainability? How would people still feel that it is natural with vibrant products?
EB: That is an interesting question. I’m not sure they do. When I talk about sustainability in AXOR One, it’s not so much actually about the materials. It’s more about water conservation.
Also, for example, in the tap, traditionally, as soon as you turn it on, the boiler starts to heat the water, but the hot water probably doesn’t reach the tap by the time you finish washing your hands because it has to travel some distance. With AXOR One, we have what is called CoolStart because most of the time, you don’t need hot water for small activities like washing your hands. With AXOR One, hot water is only activated when you turn the handle. So, from that point of view, it’s sustainable, but I’m talking about the water and the energy behind it.
Photo courtesy of Crystal Home
Photo courtesy of Crystal Home
Photo courtesy of Crystal Home
art4d: Your point is it doesn’t have to look sustainable when it’s actually sustainable, right?
EB: Yeah, but not that we skip thinking about the materials and colors. AXOR One’s parts are all recyclable. We know that colors are always related to trends and not forever in a way. So, we were very careful when we selected the colors for AXOR One.
People are nervous to choose a color because maybe in a few years time it’s not fashionable anymore. So the colors that we chose are actually what we call colorful, but they’re a little bit muted colors, which means that they have much more lifespan in terms of the perception of people.
art4d: Most of your works are based on innovation, materials, and colors, and then you just add some ‘spice’ to your favorite topics at that time. My question is, what’s your favorite spice for design right now?
EB: That’s a good question. Spice for us is not like a trend. The way we design is things involve through the process. So we start with a lot of research. We try to innovate where possible. And that spice that you’re talking about comes somehow in that process.
We use colors a lot in our projects. It’s an identifying part of our studio, probably, because not so many studios use strong colors, but we tend to engage with colors a lot. But for spice, we don’t have the exact idea for the next two years or try to find another for the next period of time. It’s hard to explain how you arrive, it’s just a process, and in the end, something comes out. I’m not trying to avoid the question, by the way. (Laugh)
Photo courtesy of Crystal Home
art4d: So you just design and then it pops up?
EB: Yeah. When you design something, it has to have a character or a personality. If it’s just a thing, first of all, it’s probably not very useful. Secondly, people don’t engage with it. Whether it’s this lamp or this glass, people have to feel like ‘I really love this.’ They don’t know why, but they’re drawn to this thing and want it in their life. And if you don’t have any spice you’re talking about, it’s just a thing.
Actually when we design, we want people to love those things, use them every day and enjoy using them. We also don’t want people to throw things away after a few years. I don’t want people to buy something just for now. “It’s okay, let’s buy it. Then when we move out or when we do something else, we chuck it away and get something else.”
The way I live my life. I buy objects. I keep them. Honestly, I would say I’ve kept every single thing that I’ve purchased in terms of furniture, in terms of artwork, in terms of objects that I bought on my travels around the world because I make the decision, a very sort of precise decision, that I love that object. I know it sounds a bit romantic, but I like to surround myself with beautiful objects and functional objects. So that’s how I also design. I want things that I designed to be loved by other people.
Photo courtesy of AXOR
Photo courtesy of AXOR
art4d: Any ideas you get when you’ve arrived in Thailand? And what’s the most impressive in terms of design?
EB: I’ve been to Thailand many times. I used to come a lot in the 80s and 90s for backpacking and holidays. I went to the north, to the south, to the islands, to many places, and I just found it really exciting and beautiful places to be – the attention to detail in everything, and even just now, the coffee that I had. When I first came to Thailand in 1986, I was completely astonished at the level of detail and the culture here.
art4d: Does it make any impact on your work?
EB: Every experience that I’ve had during my life somehow comes through in my design process. I’m very sure about it, and sometimes you’re not aware of it and sometimes you are. On various trips through Thailand, just the architecture. All these experiences that you have as a creative person contribute to the end result. The smells, the light, and everything else come through in what you create in the end.
As I traveled here a lot in my 20s and early 30s, I think it was a very informative part of my career when I was just starting as a designer. I mean, yesterday we went to various different places, actually. Seeing a sitting Buddha, walking around the buildings there, you know, just the detail in the carved wood and the painting. It’s so rich and so beautiful.
(Left to right) Olivier Sogno, Vice President of AXOR; Edward Barber, Co-founder of Barber Osgerby; Suthipa Svasti-Xuto, Director of Crystal Home and Napaporn Thongphul, Director of Crystal Home | Photo: Sukit Sudnan