«A piece of Sky»
for Sky-Frame
by Stephan Hürlemann

Interview with architect and designer
Stephan Hürlemann

With "A Piece of Sky" Sky-Frame brings a piece of the sky itself down to the surface of the earth and puts it in the context of Milano.

How long have you worked in cooperation with Sky-Frame and in what capacity? The collaboration began in 2012 with the design of the installation Night of the Full Moon. Subsequently, my studio designed all the exhibition-stand and point-of-sale concepts for Sky-Frame and I was closely involved in the development of the new headquarters in Switzerland.

What was Sky-Frame’s design brief?Sky-Frame didn’t give me any guidelines. The only thing that was clear was that the installation should tell a story related to the company’s identity. My aim was to create an experience to remember. For the visitor, it should be a beautiful encounter with the brand. At the same time, I wanted to lay a foundation for a story that could be told over a longer period. A Piece of Sky was first shown at the Clerkenwell Design Week 2018 in London. With Milan, I extended the experience.

What was your inspiration behind A Piece of Sky?Sky-Frame’s claim “A view, not a window.” is the affirmation that connects the installation with the company. A Piece of Sky plays strongly with the duality of inside and outside – in principle, it is exactly what Sky-Frame does with its frameless windows. In Milan, we take the whole thing to the next level and we virtually catapult the visitors out into space.

And how exactly does that work?A Piece of Sky is an exploration of different dimensions, perspectives and spaces. The name of the installation, combined with the experience it offers, conjures up images of the sky, the universe, the earth and its very creation. It is like this Sky-Frame installation is giving visitors a different and poetic view of their own existence. The audial dimension also plays an important role. It’s the sound of the earth, recorded in space. NASA has transformed the radio waves generated by the earth’s rotation into audible sounds. Just listening to it, knowing what it is, is overwhelming.

What message are you hoping to convey through this installation?I would like the installation to transport people away from their hectic everyday lives for a few seconds. And I hope it offers to them a beautiful experience that gets stuck.

What other projects are you working on?I am currently working on many exciting projects. In the field of architecture, my studio and I are involved in the redesign of the UBS headquarters. We are also developing a totally flexible office for various customers. In this context I am currently developing a product family with one of the most important office furniture manufacturers worldwide. Further projects in the design area are bathroom fittings for Sanitas Trösch. And I have finished the “Appenzell” door latch collection for Glutz and the new generation of premium loudspeakers for Piega.

Which other brands are you closely aligned with?I am fortunate to have many longstanding clients. I have been working with the Swiss loudspeaker producer Piega for a long time, who have made me their external Art Director. Over the last eight years I have made products, trade fair stands and installations for Bauwerk Parkett. And since 2002 I have been collaborating very successfully with horgenglarus, Switzerland’s oldest chair and table manufacturer, with whom I just presented the installation Giant with Dwarf at Milan Design Week 2018.

Where you do you get your inspirations from?I have the best ideas while running although I do not go often enough so I have to think a lot in the office or in the car!

Did you always want to be a designer?No. I became a designer by chance. I studied architecture, was a professional musician and was manager of a band for three years. Fortunately, today, I love my job as a designer.

Where did you train as a designer?I joined the studio of the well-known designer Hannes Wettstein in 2002 as an architect and managing director. In 2006 he made me a partner. Before Hannes passed away in 2008, he asked me to continue the studio. Initially, I was primarily concerned with the architectural designs. However, in 2011, realising that the design department was weak, I started to draft the design myself. My concepts were successful, and by default discovered my passion for design.

Can you tell me a little about your career history, before you set up on your own?About Stephan Huerlemann

Is there one item that you would like to design but have yet to do so?Offices for Apple and a contemporary throne for Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II.