Interview with Marie Laurent

Design has always been part of my education..with my family teaching me the eye for design and architecture since the start, then school and university where i gained knowledge about its history and fonctions, and then with my first internship showed me how to put it together. Today design and architecture is still in my every move and everyplace.

The inspiration usual start with a image i see...a line or a color scheme that juts please the eye. I then blend it with the final function of the objet to design and always put it first together on a paper with a pencil...i believe it lets your creativity flow more than digital tools to start with. Once the concept is established and sketched, i can move on to my computer. A final model also often give the right final proportion that are sometimes just " good looking " even if not right.

I love the challenge to put something together from an idea to a function. I am always looking for a " simple " design, " simple " look and " simple " approach . A problem solving process that is a real pleasure from A to Z. it is not that easy to keep it simple.

i would like to think that i am good with people. I am good at understanding and translating what they are expecting . Whether is it for aesthetic or fonction, people ( or pet in case of the Pet project :)) are the final judges. My biggest influence on my design work as been from my family. Painters, architects, designers...everyone has something to say !:)

i enjoy designing new things...and i am always looking forward to a new experience while designing something that i have never done before. And as much as design is everywhere, the list is endless. I would love to see my designs through time...something so simple it should have always been there :)

I have learn this during my internship... they is never enough detail in your design . Very single angle, corner, under , over , around...details make all the difference. A strong team of specialist can also assist you to gain more knowledge and team work can be essential to put you design to reality.

i would always suggest someone to continue working on something they like..it just makes them better at doing it that anyone els. everyone has it strength and this might be the most obvious great starting point.

I like an early start. this is where i have the best ideas and the most productive ones. this is usually when i take the time to check the manufacture and the shop drawings put together. At the end of the day...we i feel i have been productive already, i can let the creativity take place and search about my influences, news and updates. Design is everywhere so i dont really stop doing this :)

I love following the design trends. I think it is fascinating to see how far it can go from timeless and how much people will be attracted / intrigued by it. It can be a great part of my inspiration. However, I would re focus very quickly or a timeless approach where fashion is not relevant. We have been following a long trend of : industrial design " lately... and i can't wait to see the refined one coming back.

I good design has to work. If the fonction is missed ....the the design is a failure. And once this is met, it has to be simply " good looking " . If not pleasing to an eye...the design is not successful nether. A very objective and very subjective critic at the same time .

I think it is ready when it works ( see above question ). My approach is to keep it simple..and if i start adding non necessary lines to a design...i know i missed it already.

it wasn't necessarily the biggest project and far from being the most important client... but it was my own office. I wanted to represent my design approach, walking my clients though designs of my own. From the shell to the core. A commercial design , turned into a residential design in a warehouse.

Jean nouvel just opened the Louvre in Abu Dhabi. A master piece of architecture that stands out so far from all its surrounding. A design based on the country s history, yet representing it s futur vision.

I am very inspired by the current city i m living in. Dubai is a very fast moving city, with good and bad just passing by very quickly, it is a fast forward for any design that you wish timeless.

I strongly believe in team work. As much i i will have the strong view and final aesthetic input on any of my designs, the assistance and knowledge that my team bring on the table allows us to manufacture, build, and turn any idea into a functioning reality. I also like the creativity and energy that a team brings.

I love working on project even if i dont have a client for it yet...I find land when i start designing houses, i started pet project the same way. I like participating to concours to challenge my self and maybe bring an new approach to a project.

I believe that competitions in design are great for creativity and to challenge yourself. I am very proud of having won distinctions from A design awards!

Marie Laurent Architecture llc started in UAE 3 years ago. working on residential and commercial projects. We have been working on small and big projects...always striving for another award winning design! The company believe in " simply- simple", where fashion is irrelevant and the search of talent is adamant.

Design is the pleasure of the eye. I believe architecture should be sure. This gives it character and strength through simplicity. I design simple lines so that you can focus on them only, and give them all the attention they need.

I like designing with nature. Bringing the outside inside. No matter the size of the space you are designing, a window on a enchanting view is enough to design the entire space around it.The challenge of designing, enhancing the view on every angle, brining the natural light, playing with its shadows and creating volumes.

I am attracted to lighting design.I like how it integrates and stands out in the same time. A minimalist design that takes over, just with light. I embrace natural light in my design and recreate an atmosphere with artificial lights.

an awful design! I had no clue what i was doing, just very enthusiast to start..and listening to the client who wanted more and more and more, no more. Since, I keep it simple!

I would say, the technology of tomorrow in the platform of today to show the materials of yesterday.I like using materials as they are, not to hide them or transform them but show them as they are. natural wood beams or exposed cement slab will bring instant character and soul to the space

I feel creative talking about design, explaining a first thought that leads to another one and so one. Team work is essential to connect all creativities to exponential solutions and options.

After the primary function, i focus on the perspectives. Every angle should be interesting and finished. It is for me essential that thought the layout, you keep discovering places to rest, look, think, appreciate.

I feel very enthusiast of all the possibilities and impatiente do go more and more into details until i see the project alive. I love designing and creating projects, place to work, to meet, to play, to live.

Hopefully satisfied and rested after an exciting design process.

if it makes people happy.

I think a good design would please the eye and then makes you think and makes you want to look at it more. A bad design would be more questionable. what if this was more like this or like that?

As a general rule I believe all designer have the responsibility to present a design to the public that keeps all functions under the strict rules of environmental awareness, quality and safety.And creativity and uniqueness should be the only challenge for each designers

I think the new technologies are making the design evolving, when soon, everything would be wireless and we could design residential houses without any wall electrical sockets, and simplify again and again.

Last exhibition was at Interior Design Exhibition in 2012 - Dubai for the award of Majlis design with our concept " Al Tawash ". I will be part of Interior design Exhibition 2014 as nominated for the award of Interior design of the year for middle east 2014

I am always inspired by a perspective. Ocean, desert, endless corridor, windows, this could take me anywhere.From there, i believe in team work to make is realistic...or not.

my style would be simple? it sounds easy, but the challenge of keeping it this way is what made me explore more about it. My approach to architecture is that it should be beautiful, should be sure, should be simple and should be safe. Fashion is irrelevant, the search of talent and functionality is adamant.

I lived in Dubai for more than 13 years. we have more than 200 nationalities living and working together.This is a complex and sometimes superficial atmosphere where people pass by. Simple and minimalist is still not trendy here. However, the melting pot in Dubai is so unique and rich, all cultures are blending together everyday and this gives a fantastic platform to create without any boundaries.

We usually have private clients and work with companies to built our projects. I have established though years and different projects a strong relationship with companies we work with. We work as a team.

I believe a designer should be the creative part and sometimes try to forget the technical part to keep an unlimited creativity. Designers should be the challenging part for companies (if not the client)

I always start by just being enthusiast and think in every direction. Usually, a small detail will become amusing, interesting, new, challenging, and i will create around this..remain essential:1) to establishing the program with the client2) sketches and perspectives3) construction plans

- a table lamp- the other table lamp- the cat toy , the only small " decorative item" in the house- the coffee machine- the designed pile of books

it is quiet difficult to describe as they are quiet full on! My day goes in every direction, from meetings with clients, to discussion with technical team, few coffee breaks that are more brainstorming sessions where crazy ideas come from, and when i stop...i enjoy family time.

to try not to loose their creativity with experience. Sometimes, a silly idea that seems impossible to realise becomes a challenge for a team and turns into a very unique design. Also not to bend in following the trend, but to create the new trend.

positive: challenging, fulfilling. You can get involved in any design and constantly grow.negative: it is without any doubt hard work to turn a design to reality. You have to love being a designer and enjoy it every day!

architecture should be sure. keep it simple.

to be good with people. to understand their need and to be able to translate in your sketches and final design.

3 pencils, any color, and my moleskin.

an early start!

i would say it never ends until the client takes it from you

what do you think of this?

the design of a private island.

residential design is a very thoughtful process. your are in charge of designing a home for your client.Commercial, retail design are fun. You are designing to entertain the users.

continue, learn more, grow.

team work is essential

we are currently working on a villa in Center of Dubai. A very contemporary approach for this renovation work. The existing villa has been abandoned with design s lines from the 90s.. we are refreshing every part of it.

www.marielaurent.com