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INDUSTRIAL DESIGN Q&A Marketa Rypacek, Managing Director, Industville Ltd 1. WHAT IS INDUSTRIAL DESIGN IN INTERIOR DESIGN? Industrial style decor comprises of stripped back architectural details, including the use of exposed brick, concrete, raw metal and wood, as well as salvaged materials. Industrial design takes inspiration from the lofty look of warehouses and factories, creating the perfect juxtaposition of rustic and modern, rough and homely. In terms of interior design, it is all about achieving a raw edgy style that looks unfinished, yet cohesive and unique.
2. WHERE DID THE AESTHETIC COME FROM? WAS IT A REACTION TO SOMETHING? ANY IDEA WHAT YEAR IT BECAME PROMINENT OR WHEN IT WAS POPULAR? It was back in the 1970s when the now infamous industrial style really took hold. At that point, many warehouses, mills and factories were turned into homes for people to live in and rather than concealing the raw elements such as the rough bricks, exposed metals and pipework, Interiors Designers decided to embrace them. People loved this new honest, authentic look with its clean lines and open spaces, and 50 years on it remains as popular as ever. In today’s busy, frantic world, this pared back, simplistic and 74
unfussy style provides a much-needed calm feel to our homes, something we all welcome at the end of a hectic day. Searches for ‘Industrial Décor’ have doubled in the past 5 years alone, proving the look is certainly standing the test of time – another feature which makes it so appealing.
3. WERE THERE ANY FOUNDING FIGURES OF THE STYLE? Although it’s very difficult to pinpoint, many people often consider the first industrial designer to be architect Peter Behrens, who was noted for his influential role in the development of modern architecture in Germany. Beginning in 1907, Behrens was the artistic adviser for AEG, for which he designed not only industrial buildings but also small electrical appliances. Another influential figure is considered to be Albert Kahn. He led a change in industrial design that brought factories, warehouses, and industrial spaces more in line with what we know them to be today. In the earlier days of manufacturing, different operations were often housed in different buildings. Kahn called for more efficiency and used new building materials to create massive structures that could house all operations under one roof.
