Emmanuel Babled, the designer of French origin born in 1967, is a river of words, international, polyglot, when he talks about his work and the new challenges awaiting him. After 25 years of success in all places, where he has always nurtured the potential of collaboration with crafts and industry, he has moved to Lisbon, about a year ago, creating Babled Design. This is much more than a design studio in the traditional sense of the term. As he tells us in this exclusive interview.
What were the reasons behind this choice of Lisbon as a base, after Paris, Milan and Amsterdam?
I think it is a stimulating city that represents the right balance for me: a European capital but a small one, open, progressive, not violent. With an established crafts tradition, a strong history and culture, exceptional nature and a mild climate. Like a window on the courtyard, it has absorbed the integration of different peoples, habits, customs, always regenerating. In terms of character, the Portuguese are more British than the Mediterraneans, and work at a less Milanese pace. In our hyperconnected world, dialogue and exchange on a human scale are still possible here.
So you have found this corner building in the historical center of the city?
Yes, about seven years ago, when Lisbon was not yet going through the renewal that is happening now. I saw it and it looked like a postcard: its architecture in the Baixa part and the Avenidad, with a Haussmann-like atmosphere, the streetcars going by, the constant flow of tourists. There was a large open space of 220 square meters, an entire floor, with 10 windows bringing infinite light, and an L-shaped layout. The third level, of the same size but subdivided into multiple spaces, was also available. I could immediately see the potential.
What did you do with it?
I began by renovating the first floor, from top to bottom, conserving the original identity, the sequence of open spaces with metal girders, fine wood floors. I improved the place, especially in terms of the overall physical plant and the service zone. It was ideal for a creative hub, a place of energy and concentration, surrounded by my objects. A few months later we began to work on the other level, the third floor, divided into rooms decorated with the typical blue azulejos: this is a place in which to formulate the concept of a creative hub that encourages fluid, circular communication of ideas, in a rigorous layout of six independent offices combined with the gathering places of large shared areas. The result is a place for co-working, research and initiatives related to the crafts industry. I call it “The Third Floor” and I have intentionally left it almost empty (with the exception of some essential furnishings supplied by Magis), for easy reconfiguration to meet the needs of temporary events. An island with large tables we have designed for every room, ceiling fans and wallwasher lighting fixtures, spaces that communicate with each other thanks to large doors.
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