„It’s About Building a Purpose"

Erwan Bouroullec speaks with Detail about two recent projects that illustrate different aspects of his design practice: the conversion of a former farmhouse in Burgundy and the development of the Mynt office chair in collaboration with Vitra. The projects differ in scale and context: one is an architectural renovation in a rural setting, the other an industrially produced chair focused on ergonomics and performance. What they have in common is an approach based on careful observation, a clear understanding of the context, and a focus on functionality. Bouroullec’s design approach prioritizes functionality and context over formal expression, focusing on solutions that respond to their environment and intended use.

Your project of a former farmhouse in Burgundy marks a clear shift in scale and setting compared to your product design work. Could you tell us a little bit about that process? Was it a challenge?
Well, yes it was definitely a challenge, rebuilding this place. It’s a simple story. I was born in the countryside, and many people in my family were farmers. This house in Burgundy it's not where I come from originally but it's an old farming building that has lost its purpose. It hadn’t been completely abandoned, but it had no real function anymore. So, the idea was to find a way to live and work there sometimes and to simply become a good neighbor. To live within a landscape that once had a meaning and to figure out how to respectfully inhabit it again.

Exterior view of the renovated farmhouse in Burgundy. © Charles Petillon

So, was the process more about the architecture, or more about the relationship between the place and the people?
It was mostly about becoming a citizen of the place. I listened a lot to the neighbors, to local makers who had known the house for years. We made simple decisions, like clean the wall, put some concrete and open the walls for some windows. The roof was falling apart, so we fixed it. The kitchen now is where the cows used to be. It wasn’t about some grand architectural gesture. We didn’t even plan the detailing in advance. I watched the masons work, learned from how they did things. Sometimes beautiful things happened by accident, like the way concrete merged with the stone when we made new openings. I told them I loved it, and they were surprised because it wasn’t intentional. But that raw, imperfect quality that’s what made it special. So, it was a wonderful life experience to build this house. Listening to people and trying to be as decent as possible within the landscape and the people around. Over time, we started using the space more often, sometimes for workshops with students and sometimes for design projects. The first person that's been sleeping in my bedroom is a teacher from École, not even me. We cook together, we talk, we sing... I cook for the neighbors too. I love their stories. I love learning from them.

Would you say it’s more about just feeling your way through – listening, being present, getting a sense of the place – than following a strict concept?
It’s about building a purpose. And a purpose, it’s not something that you can ask people to build, or to deliver, or to do. Architecture always goes hand in hand with a life project. Especially when you renovate an old house – so many people already know it, have memories of it. There’s a responsibility that comes with that. It’s about finding your place in the community. That’s what this project taught me, and it feeds directly into the kind of design I do, especially when it comes to creating shared spaces.

Large new windows provide wide views of the Burgundy valley. © Philippe Thibault

Talking about design maybe we can talk a little about your chair “Mynt”. The chair is one of the most explored objects in design history. Was it a challenge for you to give „Mynt“ a signature that felt authentic to your design language?
I sometimes call „Mynt“ a lifetime achievement, and I mean that seriously. We started with the idea of making something ultra-lightweight but also high-performance. Every detail is engineered carefully. When you sit on it, you feel it immediately. Very natural, very intuitive. What fascinated me was the synchronized movement. I’ve experimented with it for years, sent countless prototypes to Vitra. I entered the project with a lot of desire and confidence in a way, because it was a relatively new mechanic. It was a new thing. „Mynt“ is incredibly reduced in volume, but highly functional. Like a bicycle: Clever, but condensed, well designed, and that you could understand it quickly. Every part of it has a reason. It’s the same here. Our eyes recognize efficiency as beauty. It’s not about decoration. It’s about doing just enough but doing it well.

Mynt Plywood Chair, © Vitra, Photo: Robert Rieger

Is reducing materials also about sustainability for you or more of an added benefit?
I always try to do my best within the framework I’m given. With Vitra, we designed Mynt to be easy to disassemble. There is no glue, no permanent joints. Around 90 % of the material is recycled, and recyclability is at 98.5 %. The upholstery is independent and removable. The shell can be changed. The base can be modified. It’s modular, like a child’s bike. You can swap parts easily. And that means the chair can have multiple lives. It's the best method for this kind of object, I think.

Mynt polstered Chair, © Vitra, Photo: Robert Rieger

We only have time for one last question. What lessons from your journey would you pass on to young designers?
What I’ve realized over time is that I’m always learning. I’ve taught myself 3D modeling, stitching, woodwork, even a bit of coding, because I needed it for a project or was curious. That would be my advice: stay curious. Learn by doing things. The world is a jungle you can be afraid of, or you can enjoy it. I enjoy it. And then I was recommended by an amazing person, one book in my life, and it's been changing everything. And this book is “a Pattern Language” by Christopher Alexander. Get this book. Just take a look at the book. It's not a dogmatic book. It's not some lesson. But it's cool to read. It's interesting.

I will! Thank you very much for your time.