Founded by Oskar Kohnen in 2011 and based in London, Oskar Kohnen Studio is an interior architecture studio driven by design experimentation, seeking to push the traditional boundaries of architecture and interior design in new directions. Through a multidisciplinary approach, including architecture, interior design and furniture design, the studio combines craft and theory to give a qualitative lift to everyday life. Their design attempts to conceptualize space in a way that rearranges every element of life and is reborn through aesthetic design concepts.

Yinjispace：You have projects in places of the world. Does this change of environment bring many differences to every project?

Oskar Kohnen Studio：Yes, we work all over the world, and I am always very amazed by how close the world grew together. I often think back to my parent's generation, where Design Studios had to pay expensive transatlantic overseas phone bills and send drawings via Fax and overnight courier. There are differences, but actually, I wish they were stronger. Through social media and the massive proliferation of image content taste and style have become very global, and I sometimes wish for more individual taste. 

Yinjispace：What architects, designers or artists do you like? What do you feel or learn from them?

Oskar Kohnen Studio：I always look to the past, with a major influence for me being Adolf Loos, and his pragmatic yet theoretical work. I also believe that his architectural work truly celebrates the interior, understanding the human scale, and not being shy about extravagant solutions. I am also very interested in sculpture, and artistic positions such as Giuseppe Penone, Mario Merz, Jannis Kounellis - the entire Arte Povera movement. Working with throwaway materials, reusing and recycling resources, and ideas that were ahead of their time. Now everything is supersize, the art world has become so wasteful, flying enormous scultupturs around the world just to exhibit them for 1 week in Miami, and then next week in London. What you can learn is to work very creatively with little, being humble, not just throwing around Calacatta marble. Less is more.

Yinjispace：How do you think the growing preference of Minimalism and sustainable idea?

Oskar Kohnen Studio：I think minimalism always existed. A good example for me is Fra Angelico's decoration of the Convent of San Marco in the Early Renaissance in Italy. Where there is splendor and Maximalism, there will also always be Minimalism. The ancient concept of totally restrained Monasterial life will always survive, as not everyone can live with the flood of images and material goods in our modern world. Sustainability will eventually become the norm. As a designer, for me the most beautiful creation comes from nature, so we have to protect it. I really believe that good design is sustainable as people will care for it, and won’t want to replace it. 

Yinjispace：How do you deal with the natural and artificial light of a space? Have you ever cooperated with professional light companies?

Oskar Kohnen Studio：Light is life, a medium that can transform spaces. It’s very important for me. Artificial light has become so good, through all the new technologies. I am obsessed with creating the perfect lit immersive interior, having worked in Film I early on understood the importance and its abilities. Natural light can be your friend and enemy, working recently in Ibiza we celebrated the beautiful Mediterranean sunlight, but you quickly become aware of how the power of our closest dying star can break materials and fabrics within no time. 

Yinjispace：What would you do before you start to design a brand's commercial space?

Oskar Kohnen Studio：I try to understand as much as possible about them. Behind each brand is a group of people, and I want to know as much as possible about each one of them, to understand the DNA of their brand.

Yinjispace：What are the core parts of a commercial space? How to present them?

Oskar Kohnen Studio：That’s a very wide question. It’s specific to each project and each space. 

Yinjispace：Would you pay attention to design trend? How do you think the commercial space design in the future?

Oskar Kohnen Studio：Yes, I pay attention to trends and fashion. I am not a dogmatist, to me trend does not naturally need to have a negative connotation. There are many good trends and equally many bad trends. For me, the idea of a form of self-expression and autonomy at a particular period and place and in a specific context is important. With the rise of the internet, physical commercial spaces have become very important, as people need a brick-and- mortar experience. Its future is bright, I just hope that global cities like London, New York, and other capitals find a way to supply affordable real estate to innovators and young people, to achieve a better mix and a more interesting landscape of commercial spaces.