There’s nothing French designer Sacha Lakic cannot create—he crafts unique, multifunctional furnishings from his dreamy studio in Paris. His inspiration? The world of cars. In celebration of Roche Bobois’ “French l’Art de Vivre,” (the “art of French living” for us English speakers), Lakic sat down with us.
How did you initially become interested in design?
My father was a fashion designer, so I grew up in this world of fantastic fabrics and design. Although my very first passion for design came from this attraction I had to cars. My passion for cars began when I was about ten; I saw a Ford Mustang on the street and I was fascinated by this car. This is when I understood the power of design.
What is important in the design of furniture?
When I first started to work with Roche Bobois, they told me, “Sacha, if you want to be successful in our brand, you have to design a product that is visually comfortable.” This is something that I practice all the time. Every time that I start to create, I always have this word in mind: “visual comfort.” You should be attracted by the overall shape and proportion.
A lot of your furniture designs involve movement. Why is movement so important in your designs?
When you see a picture of an athlete or a horse that is running, the picture is frozen, but you can still see the movement. This is what I’m doing with the furniture— multifunctional, frozen movement.
What are you working on now?
I always try to reinvent myself; I am always moving forward and trying to imagine something that could be really cool and useful and that will make people feel good. The BUBBLE sofa is a great example—it came into the market a few years ago, but it is slowly becoming an iconic product at Roche Bobois. The idea was to bring poetry and sensitivity into the home that art can sometimes bring. It’s a playful piece.
What made you decide to sell your products through Roche Bobois?
I met the owner, François Roche, in 1995. Roche saw my work in the field of cars and motorcycles, and he suggested that I start to design furniture. He found something in me that I was not capable to see. If such a man believed in me, I could not disappoint him. Roche Bobois wanting to work with me was just a happy accident. When you come into a Roche Bobois store, you can immediately imagine yourself at home.
What advice do you have for novice design enthusiasts?
You want pieces that are light and do not have busy details. Design should have very simple lines and cuts, as well as nice functions. Do not pollute the space. It is very important to let the space breathe because “emptiness” is a part of the design.
Lakic’s designs are displayed in the Roche Bobois storefront in Dallas.
This interview has been edited. Lauren Kazemba is a D Home editorial intern.
