Photo courtesy of Louis Vuitton
In his third trip to the Philippines for Louis Vuitton’s Savoir Rêver, Aebi recalls how tactile experiences, memories, and emotions fuel his design pursuits
Swiss architect and designer Aurel Aebi’s gift for storytelling is shaped by his hands and expressed through his designs through atelier öi, an architecture and design firm he co-founded with designers Armand Louis and Patrick Reymond. Visiting Manila for Louis Vuitton’s Savoir Rêver, Aebi shares his insights into how everyday objects can be transformed into elegant, functional pieces of furniture and décor.
“It’s prototype after prototype. Even what’s thought of as simple to the naked eye can go through many versions,” explains Aebi. In their La Neuveville studio in Switzerland, atelier oï’s “möitel” is a creative workspace, where early concepts and samples come together, drawing from a vast library of 20,000 raw materials they call the “materiothèque.” Aebi also describes their approach as “storytexture,” a design philosophy centered on creating unique textures to tell new stories with each project.
For Objet Nomades, Aebi and his team used Louis Vuitton’s leather as a primary material, highlighting its versatility and tactile appeal. Since 2008, the Swiss-based design studio has worked on 13 projects with the French House, showcasing their savoir-faire, crafting pieces that marry emotion with artisanal work.
A key piece from their collection, “The Hammock,” reimagines a daybed through strips of interwoven Louis Vuitton leather. Secured by 786 engraved rivets, its structure draws inspiration from the texture and form of Italian farfalle pasta. Aebi recalls that tasting the pasta in Italy sparked the concept for the leather hammock: “It’s one thing to feel the pasta, but in tasting it, we found a foundation for its structure.”
Inspired by the fluid movements of traditional dances, the “Serpentine Table” reflects another distinct concept. A beveled glass top rests on crisscrossed walnut legs, held together with blue Louis Vuitton leather straps. Available as a dining or coffee table, the piece embodies balance and elegance, combining function with visual fluidity.
Symbolizing the god of air in pre-Columbian Mexico, atelier öi’s interpretation of the “Quetzal” into a hanging mobile with thirteen twisting leather “feathers” in blue and green, with striking red edges. A central red feather balances the piece, creating a dynamic, color-shifting vision that gracefully mimics the sacred bird in mid-flight.
Additional pieces, including the “Origami Bowls,” “Spiral Lamps,” and “Folding Stool,” were featured at Vogue Talks at Social House in Raffles Makati. Hosted by Vogue Philippines editor-in-chief Bea Valdes, the event allowed Aebi to share insights on his team’s creative process, emphasizing the importance of observation in bringing new concepts to life.
For Aebi, inspiration can stem from material, design, or function, but when working with Louis Vuitton, he reflects, “It’s the material that guides us, showing us the depth we can reach and the structures we can create.”
Designers, architects, and art consultants like Marga Valdes Trinidad, Carlo Calma, Royal Pineda, Sabina Gonzales, Cyndi Fernandez, Lilianna Manahan, and Miguel Rosales had the chance to experience atelier oï’s unique “storytexture” approach firsthand, engaging with designs that invite both interaction and reflection.
The Savoir Rêver is an immersive exhibition by Louis Vuitton celebrating its timeless dedication to artistry and the spirit of travel. In Palacio de Memoria in Manila, the showcase, akin to a labyrinth, features designs from artist collaborations such as Campana Brothers, Marcel Wanders, Tokujin Yoshioka, and Marc Newson.
For more information, visit Louis Vuitton’s official website.
