We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative studio INTEGRATE ("SI").
studio INTEGRATE is an architecture and design studio. Founded in 2011 by Mehran Gharleghi and Amin Sadeghy, it is interested in designing new spaces and products through a methodology that integrates aesthetics and performance. studio INTEGRATE has transformed a historical mathematical and geometrical design approach through a contemporary use of materials and digital design techniques and production tools. studio INTEGRATE focuses on finding a unique answer to each project through a method that is informed by research. They aim to create buildings and products that are innovative and culturally rooted.
studio INTEGRATE Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by studio INTEGRATE.
Designer Interview of studio INTEGRATE:
DI: What is "design" for you?
SI : Design for us is finding an elegant answer to a question.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
SI : We would like to be involved with design briefs that lead to creating a physical object or structure that leave an impact on the viewer or the user. Our ideal projects are designed to improve the quality of life.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
SI : My most favorite design is our design for Chitgar tower. It is an iconic mixed use tower. It is a proposal that engages with the city, learns from its context and history, yet doesn't imitate it directly. It maximizes the quality of light and space. It responds to its surrounding environment and uses the materials wisely.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
SI : Every material is suitable for certain situations. We do not have any preference in materials. Instead we try to understand their qualities, strengths and weaknesses to be able work with them creatively. So far we have been investigating in inflatables, fiber reinforced concrete, Wood, Hi-Mac, dense foam and fabrics.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
SI : When feeling inspired and light.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
SI : We try to investigate in a design method which integrate many different aspects of criteria together. This is a challenging a process and cannot be achieved without computational methods. Depending on the design brief we assigned different priority to various elements of the design. However, the visual success of the final outcome is very important for us.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
SI : Mehran: If I feel the design is developing in the right direction I am filled with light and joy. Amin:
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
SI : If they are successful a deep smile. I believe those are the moments that help us keep going.
DI: What makes a design successful?
SI : Its functionality and its appearance. One remembers a successful design after the first glance and will never get tired of living with it and looking at it.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
SI : Its materiality, performance and visual appeal.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
SI : Design needs to improve the quality of life. It needs to solve questions, bring comfort and pleasure. traditional designers and architects in the Middle East were aware of all of these rules. Their designs were visually and brought joy and comfort to peoples lives.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
SI : Emerging design and fabrication possibilities will reduce the gap between the designer and manufacturer. Master craftsmen and builder in architecture and product design will be once again possible.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
SI : It was in Brighton, faculty of Art and it's called Mobility of the Line. It was held from From March 7th to April 10. The exhibition piece was designed and fabricated by our team.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
SI : Our design is mainly influenced by where we are from. We have grown up and seen architecture and design master pieces. As we grow up we understand more and more of their complexities and beauties. We are now continuously researching in various aspects of traditional Iranian and Middle Eastern art and architecture to evolve them in our designs were those principals are relevant.