For fifteen years, this French-Japanese duo has been using anatomy to serve typologies and injecting a sense of nature into the world of industry. All in pursuit of an unspeakable vibration that takes imperfection as a starting point for creating beautiful objects. Extreme gentleness is the result. Since their student days, A+A Cooren has been the most discrete couple on the design scene. Withdrawn and in fusion, their workshop in Paris’ 20th arrondissement looks like an ecosystem with a platform and a protection bubble. “We couldn’t imagine working apart. We do everything together and don’t split up the tasks. The fact that we’re man/woman and French/Japanese gives us a pluralist outlook. Working with another keeps you detached from projects. Our differences force us to forget ourselves, put our egos aside, and let a third person – the project itself – decide. That is what maintains our coherence”.

(Extract from the heading "Portrait", Aki & Arnaud Cooren by Yann Siliec, Intramuros n°166, May/June) www.aplusacooren.com / Get the article