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September 14, 2014

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Home » Sunday » Home and Design

Internationalism is goal of globe-trotting designer

WHO is he?

Danish designer Johannes Torpe runs his own design studios in Copenhagen and has partner studios in Beijing, Hong Kong and Padova, Italy. Through the past 20 years he has built a design company that specializes in concept, branded, retail and interior design spaces. Besides running his studios, Torpe is creative director at luxury electronics brand Bang & Olufsen.

Tell us some of your works, and the name of one you are most proud of.

It has to be some of our most recent work with Bang & Olufsen, their new store concept. We had to think this one into a global context, yet it should be able to fit into all countries, cultural aspects and needs worldwide. We created a showroom/store, which lets the brand ambassadors show the customer how they can interact with the products. Creating a design that makes the spectators feel that something is truly special is the type of design I enjoy the most.

Are you currently involved with any project?

Many of our projects are still being kept a secret due to where we are in the design phases. At the moment we are working with a wide range of clients within product design, food and beverage, entire hotel concepts, entertainment and restaurants, private houses and even custom-designed offices. In our business with the timing and the long construction phases we often have periods with a lot of secrecy before the big revelations. So I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you!

Describe your design style.

Every object plays a significant part in communicating the overall story of the design so you can say that my design style is first and foremost recognized in the concepts that we make. They’re always 360 degrees, holistic in the sense that I make sure to put my fingerprint on every surface and piece of furniture. This makes design detail fundamental in the creation of a Johannes Torpe Studios-branded space.

Where are you most creative?

With a cup of coffee at my favorite Copenhagen breakfast café!

What does your home mean to you?

Home is all over the world. Early on when I first came to China, I learned of the word guanxi (relationships) and it made me understand that with these new acquaintances my home could be anywhere as long as I make sure to create good guanxi.

I have a great base in Copenhagen and this is also the headquarters of our design studio, but I travel so much that I find home in many places. I have one jia (family) with my Chinese friends and other meaningful relationships in Padova with my Italian familia.

What do you collect?

Drums, cars and crazy people.

Where would you like to go most in Shanghai?

In Shanghai I always stay at the Puli Hotel, as its location is spot on, and the team and management work perfectly together. It creates flow and that makes me feel at home. Then I love the former French concession area with all its hidden gems and mix of the old Shanghai and the modern life of a big city. The English did also make an architectural impression in the Bund area, which has made Shanghai into the vibrant world city it is today. As my friends in Shanghai are all Chinese, the most important is to spend time with them.

What will be the next big design trend?

Experience-based design is where I’d put my money. Consumers are increasingly aware of the branding companies are carrying out. This makes them harder to impress, so where I believe the brands can put in the extra effort is with the experience. Whether it is the customer service, the shop in itself or in the restaurant, being part of the experience is what the customers will crave, and the brands that manage to include them and engage them will have the upper hand.




 

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