Here is the second part of Roman’s interview. They detail their white paper project and where their decoration and storage inspirations come from.
When people ask you what you do for a living, what do you answer?
Pax - I say I make Pegboards and I pitch. People say, “What is a Pegboard?” I answer playfully, “You don’t know the Pegboard? It’s a flat, vertical surface with lots of holes where you can put accessories to organize while decorating.” Then, I try to sell a Pegboard *laughs*.
Roman - Generally, I say I make wooden furniture because I don’t want to pitch. But people always ask me what kind of furniture I work on. I talk about Pegboards and end up selling Pegboards *laughs*.
So to summarize, Pegboards are modular decorative furniture. Can you tell us more about this principle of modularity?
Roman - Thanks to modularity, the client defines their use, in decoration, in storage, they also define their design and shape. It’s a tool; the client creates their world with it. They create their layout, the storage they need and that suits them. It’s a tool that adapts to all layout needs.
Pax - During the first lockdown, we realized that we were in a world that would change very quickly and constantly. Therefore, modular furniture is perfect to constantly adapt to everyday changes and decoration tastes.
Do you have a project or a dream that you want to achieve one day?
Roman - I would like to create a school where learning is more about doing than just talking. Aire could share its means of production, create natural spaces, etc...
I heard that you are working on a white paper. How does this white paper explain that decoration can lead to well-being?
Pax - When I entered the furniture field with Aire, I began to question the need for furniture. But I realized, by talking with people around me or professionals in the sector, that everyone was talking about underlying well-being. During the lockdown, everyone was going a bit crazy at home. Many people started changing their interior decoration to recreate an environment that was more pleasant for them.
Decoration is a powerful daily lever to feel good. Of course, feeling good involves many things; decoration is not the solution. It echoes our state of mind and our way of thinking about things, for example. The discipline we impose on ourselves daily, our way of tidying up, our lifestyle—all of this reveals our worldview.
The goal with this white paper is to share with as many people as possible the idea that decoration is accessible and does not require particularly deep knowledge. Decoration will transcend our daily lives. That is to say, by choosing the placement of objects in your home, you organize your daily life and your life. But by asking ourselves a series of simple questions, we will be able to transcend our interior and improve its quality of life through this series of questions.
See this post on Instagram
Roman - "I think everyone has experienced entering a place that is well-lit and nicely decorated with plants. When I enter a florist's shop and when I enter an appliance store, I don't feel the same things. Everyone can experience it. For example, our environment influences our state of mind, our mood, and much more than we think. Maybe the search for an environment that makes us feel good should be taught in school. When we don't feel well, we go to the doctor. We're told to take antidepressants, but no one ever asks us, 'Do you have enough light at home? Have you bought a green plant?'"
When you think about it, it's obvious that there are places where you feel really good. Even the smells have a huge impact, the temperature, the presence of certain lighting or plants, for example. Everyone has experienced it, but we only think about it at certain times when we should think about it every day.
Pax - We can’t deny the impact of our environment on who we are. Not questioning the quality of your light when you spend your day at a desk with poor lighting is absurd.
Roman - For example, today we talk a lot about eating well. That makes sense, but it’s not something people talked about 50 years ago. Maybe in 50 years, people will talk much more about surrounding yourself well and organizing your space properly.
What are your sources of inspiration?
Pax - I really enjoy listening to music; I find many sources of inspiration there. I revisit all the bands that shaped my youth. Then, I listen to podcasts. So I find it’s a way to explore worlds and discover people we wouldn’t have had the chance to meet otherwise. I have to say, though, that Roman is a big YouTuber. He’s a major figure in that field! *laughs*
Roman - Regarding my inspirations, it’s about 50/50. On one hand, industry. All the shapes found there are generally very utilitarian. That’s why at Aire, we use ground steel pins that come from industry, rather than wooden pins. I’m quite fascinated by the industrial world and its hyper-functionality. Yet, it’s very minimalist. In industry, all objects are functional; the idea of making something pretty doesn’t exist. So I’m quite obsessed with everything industrial system-related, it was my original training. On the other hand, something deeply antithetical: nature. I’m a fan and lover of nature. Everything found in nature is a source of inspiration for me. It’s the duality between these two fields that fuels my inspiration.
So this is the end of our interview, I hope you enjoyed it. To follow up on Pierre-Axel’s passion for podcasts, a podcast in partnership with Podcastersmedia will be released soon on all platforms!
Interview conducted by Clara Didier
Formatted by Coralie Mottu
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