Name: Reda Amalou and Stéphanie Ledoux
Company: AW²
Position within company: Partners and Architects
Website: aw2.com
Tell us a little about your background in design (education, experience, etc)
Reda Amalou is a French architect who graduated from the University of East London in the UK. After several years in London architectural agencies working on various projects in Europe, he returned to France and joined Thurnhauer Architects. In 1997, Reda opened his own agency in Paris: AW² Architecture Workshop. From the outset, Reda built the studio’s identity on a contextual approach to design. In 2013, Reda founded his own furniture and accessories collection, presented under the brand Reda Amalou Design (https://www.redaamalou.com/)
Born in France, Stéphanie Ledoux trained as an architect at the École Spéciale d’Architecture in Paris, where she won the Best Diploma Award in 1999. Part of her studies were conducted in the United States at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Stéphanie worked at various Parisian agencies before joining AW² in 2000 and becoming partner and co-manager in 2003. With increasing projects both in France and abroad, Stéphanie worked with Reda to develop the practice into a multidisciplinary design team capable of responding to all aspects of a project, from the scale of an urban plan to bespoke furniture and fittings.
Stéphanie and Reda have been working together for more than 20 years. Their experience and collaborative design approach are applied to each AW² project to produce award-winning architecture.
Answers by Reda Amalou and Stéphanie Ledoux:
How would you describe your personal interior design style?
It is not so much a style as a contemporary interpretation of context and architecture. Our style is linked to the context, each project is different and unique. Indeed, we could say that our approach to design is more an open working process rather than a strict theoretical or stylistic framework by which we abide.
Where does your design inspiration come from?
We travel all the time and we are inspired by our experiences from around the world – sometimes vernarcular style, sometimes urban. We are inspired by the cultures we visit. We bring to the table the experience we have gained from working in 40 different countries, applying relevant techniques and solutions. Our architecture is tailored to its location. It is an architecture of fusion that is the product of a conversation, a dialogue between several parameters.
In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?
Today we are moving towards an international design approach whereby architects and designers from all over the world are in contact and crossing paths creating a global design culture. At the same time, design has to be meaningful and we believe it should male sense of the environment and context, that is why we focus on a contextual approach to design.
Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2020 and beyond.
Culture, context, meaning, environment, emotion.
If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to design schemes, what would it be?
Don’t overdo it – you can overkill a design by over design!
How important are The International Hotel & Property Awards as recognition of talent and achievement?
It is an honour being shortlisted for The International Hotel & Property Awards – we are pleased that Silversands Grenada and Kasiiya Papagayo have been recognised as some of the most important projects in their fields.
What projects are you currently working on?
We are working on several hotel projects in various locations around the world. Some closer to home like Six Senses Crans-Montana in Switzerland, others further afield. We are also working on private residences, a winery and a restaurant project for a 2-star Michelin chef, we can’t say yet who it is…
What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
We want to continue creating projects that are a symbiosis between site, architecture and interiors, expressing space in the purest way.
Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself and your daily inspirations:
Your most treasured possession? Life
Your favourite holiday destination? Mediterranean, Greece…
Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar? Mercer Hotel New York; Yen Paris; Hotel des Arts Saigon roof top bar.
Your favourite book, film & song? L’Etranger by Camus; Sunset Boulevard; Life on Mars by David Bowie
Your favourite food and drink? Japanese for Reda, Italian for Stéphanie; favourite drink: pisco sour!
Your favourite way to spend an afternoon? On the airplane home when there is no wifi available to work!
If you weren’t a designer, what would you be? Impossible to imagine, maybe an artist…
AW² have been Shortlisted for Hotel Under 50 Rooms – Global Award and Hotel Under 50 Rooms – Americas/Caribbean Award in The International Hotel and Property Awards 2020.
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