Ronan and Erwan have gained a worldwide reputation
Le Corbusier, Stark, Ron Arad, the Campana brothers – the list of famous designers has long been limited to a handful of names, and enthusiasm for interior design has remained patchy. But the Bouroullec brothers have changed people’s habits, bringing furniture design firmly to the forefront of public consciousness. Ronan and Erwan first appeared in the catalogues of major design companies in the mid-1990s, and they have since taken the world by storm – or rather the world’s apartments. From Japan to the United States, design enthusiasts are now talking about the Bouroullecs.
Background
This interior space odyssey began with two brothers, Ronan and Erwan, born in Quimper in 1971 and 1976 respectively. Ronan remembers that the turning point for him came at the age of just six, when he attended a series of classes at Quimper Fine Arts School. He was a keen young footballer, but he was already drawing on a daily basis. “I discovered my vocation when I was about 15 years old.” True to his passion, Ronan completed studies at the prestigious École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs (ENSAD) in Paris. Erwan was self-taught, initially working under the mentorship of his brother before becoming a partner in his own right.
En route to greatness
“I was very lucky,” continues the elder brother. “I was never a good student, but the orders soon started coming in. Since the age of 25 I haven’t had to look for work.” This success can be attributed to a style free of all constraints and open to all possibilities. Ever since they presented their “Disintegrated Kitchen” at the Paris Salon du Meuble in 1997, the Bouroullec brothers have made a name for themselves in the design world: Vitra, Cappellini, Kvadrat, Magis, Kartell and a host of other chic furniture companies are falling over themselves to offer the Bouroullecs’ Algues and Cloud modules, their Vegetal chairs and Losange rugs.The two interior designers, whose work has been exhibited across the world – from MoMA in New York to the Château de Versailles – are now firmly established and en route to greatness. Just like their Sérif TV unit designed for Samsung, the Bouroullecs steal the scene – and deservedly so.
