A lesson in restraint

After 15 years of international design work, the studio has just recently published a book entitled Soft Minimalism, in which they unveil their creative process. At the core of their practice is the well-being of the recipient and balance between warm, careful restraint and domesticated complexity, where each object has its place. Regardless of whether Norm Architects approach a project for a building, interior, or furniture design, their ethos of Soft Minimalism has an equal impact on the mind, body, and soul, proving that they can be equally beautiful and prioritise one’s well-being. With each accomplished project, the studioproves that its ethos remained unchanged since the very beginning and the guiding principle is still the universality and durability of its designs.

Home is a broad and fluid term. It can describe the physical four walls, or have nothing to do with a tan - gible space. What is your definition of a home where one can feel at ease?

The sense of safety, comfort, and meeting basic needs such as hygiene, sleep, and meal preparation. For us, there is another essential com ponent – nature. The undisputable human yearning to connect with nature is reflected in everyday life. The feeling of deep relaxation one experiences when surrounded by greenery, the positive bodily reaction when surrounded by organic materials and natural light. Nature brings us calm and stillness. Therefore, when placing human needs at the center of our practice, we consciously work with nature, not against it. It is nature that provides a framework for how we proceed as architects supporting holistic well-being. Inviting nature into our homes positively impacts the quality of life, especially in the rapidly urbanising and chaotic world.Transparency in our practice allows us to invite nature inside. We design large, open windows, spanning from the floor to the ceiling. The walls act as a canvas for the shadow play of the sunlight. For us, the act of designing is an act of restraint. Creating a simple and inviting interior might appear pleasant and easy, especially when judged by the final result. However, the thought process happening behind the scenes in the heads of architects and interior designers is far from effortless. It is a constant exercise in forefronting the essence of oftentimes very complex interactions.

What is the most important element of a space you inhabit or work in, one without which you cannot function?

Light! It is essential not only for our practice and architectural design but in everyday life. Without it, it is impossible to speak about space or form. Working with both natural and artificial light and taming their mutual interactions is one of the most important, and essential, parts of our job.

We like to surround ourselves with objects, we collect them throughout our lives – from necessary objects to status signifiers. What is your relationship with material objects?

In everything we do, we aspire to simplicity and minimalism. Discovering what is important for us in life is a balancing act between the joy things can give and the freedom when we can get rid of them. Essentialism is a natural part of our selection process, but we are aware that it is not a simple task. In this day and age, we are often faced with a surplus, hence our belief that one has to continuously practice the art of restraint and choice – what can be an addition and what a burden. We must find out for ourselves what is really necessary and what only distracts us from pursuing happiness and well-being.

Has your personal style been always reflected by your architectural aesthetics?

Yes, you can say so. Our approach to architecture and design is based on the principle of utility as opposed to purely visual artistic expression – we describe it as Soft Minimalism. We are constantly studying and analyzing the levels of well-being, as well as parameters that make a space pleasant and durable. Taking the human experience as the starting point is grounded in our belief that the primary role of an architect is to create habitable spaces. The quality of life is constantly re-evaluated, which is why the soft and textural design supports the search for a good life experience. Soft Minimalism is not a revolutionary movement. For us, it is a very subtle form of rebellion against the dominating trends. Instead of chasing innovation, our practice is very selective, traditional almost. Slow and careful changes are only introduced to meet the needs of the contemporary customer.

What influenced you when creating spaces at PURO? What is your approach to designing an experience?

The trips taken to Warsaw enabled us to unveil the history of a city nearly fully erased and destroyed during the Second World War. Our attention was captured by the architecture of the rebuilt Old City. We studied the plans and materials, which have been allowed to age, without the pressure of keeping them pristine and trendy. Instead of replicating past trends or continuing a never-ending re-design project, we want to propose solutions, which will age gracefully, both in terms of style and function. The city centre has been dominated by the aggressive skyscrapers built in the 90s, with no attention paid to the human scale. In contrast, we propose an inviting and open design, a hotel enmeshed in the existing cityscape, yet relevant for future architectural developments. The Focus is not only on the visual experience. An architect’s greatest power is the ability to envision emotions and experiences, which requires integrating other senses. Only when all our senses are engaged, can we fully understand our surroundings? We identified five elements shaping the hotel experience: light, nature, materials, colour, and a sense of community. 

Light

The new building will have a glass facade to maximise the exposure to natural light, resulting in an ever-changing ambiance, reflective of the time of day and the position of the sun. Penumbra and dim light are reserved for spaces deserved for relaxation, such as the spa.

Nature

The hotel interior can be perceived as an extension of the public sphere, a liminal space between the city, streets, and the hotel. This tendency will be especially visible on the ground floor and the terraces. Inviting nature inside will bring a sense of life and activity, with the lush greenery changing according to the seasons.

Materials

The natural materials will be a celebration of craftsmanship and tradition, engaging the sense of touch and memory. The numerous spaces in the hotel, from the guest rooms, restaurants, hall, and spa are designed using harmonious materials, without compromising the unique features of each of those spaces.

Colour

It has the unique ability to influence and change one’s mood. Which is why the subtlety of tones will be paramount. While colour invites associations with paint, in the interiors of PURO, the colour will also have its texture, changing with the time of day. The materials, artworks, natural light, and even the temperature will have an impact on how colour is perceived.

Sense of community

Our design for the new PURO Hotel should be universally inviting. We aim for it to be a space, where friends can enjoy a dinner or a morning coffee, where companies can host workshops and conferences, and where tourists can get immersed in the atmosphere of Warsaw. Design should enable interpersonal interactions, especially nowadays. It will be an open, inviting space, a second home in the heart of the busy financial district

It is a cliché to describe collaboration as a form of dialogue. How do you approach working on a project as a team?

We strongly believe in a sense of connectedness and a community between soulmates. We enjoy being challenger by meeting new people and their perspectives, stemming from different backgrounds, ideologies, and aesthetics. As a creative collective, we constantly dispute with one another, test ideas and openly talk about details, no matter how small, which might cause us difficul - ties. We are not afraid of being vulnerable and seek to find workplace solutions where everyone feels encouraged to share their ideas and ask for help. In our experience, the most successful projects are the ones accomplished with shared effort and assistance.

Margaret Atwood was once asked in an interview whether contemporary writers feel obliged to write about today’s world. She responded: “No, it is my task as a citizen. As a writer, I feel obliged to convince my readers to turn the page.” What is the role of architects and designers today?

Careful listening and conveying the stories which have been shared with us. We are in tune with human needs, respond to the struggles of daily life, and develop tchem into tales of a happy life. We want our projects to remain immune to trends and technological innovations. We support the highest levels of craftsmanship, attention to detail, and increasing the longevity of objects we are surrounded by, for your designs to remain timeless. We celebrate craft and the ideas and memories it carries – those become the elements requiring an emotional response. Our task is to become immersed in the essence of things, to strive for a simple and natural effect, which ultimately brings us closer to harmony, happiness, and beauty.