Architecture Awards 2017

6 BUILD - Architecture Awards 2017 , destilat is an innovative furniture and interior design firmproviding a vast array of innovative products designed for both function and aesthetic beauty. We invited Thomas Neuber to tell us more about the firmand share the secrets behind its success. Driving Innovation in Interior Design destilat develops interior design and furniture for clients around the world. Based in Austria, the firm has a distinct style and approaches each project in a holistic context and provides interior design concepts for the private and public sector. Thomas outlines the full range of services the firm offers and how it works to ensure that clients receive the very highest standards of service which meet their individual needs. “Here at destilat, we undertake a vast array of projects which range from hotels and offices to shops, and trade fair presentations that are all fully planned, down to the last detail. One of destilat’s key focus is corporate architecture and the integration of brands and products into the respective architectural environment. At the same time, we at destilat also provide our clients with support in developing ranges of products in the furniture sector. “Working across such a vast array of projects for such varied clients, we approach every project in a holistic context and provide very detailed and fully developed interior design. We handle all the planning steps, from analysing our clients’ requirements to the project’s final hand-over. We see the design process as a distillation process with a broad range of parameters. The goal is to distil the essence of technical and functional specifications as well as cultural aesthetic influences.” None of this would be possible without a strong core team of dedicated and experienced staff who are committed to achieving excellence in every aspect of their work. destilat has a core team of three partners, and each partner is a specialist in his respective field and has the necessary knowledge and expertise to provide the very highest standards of service to their clients. Thomas holds an MBA degree with a focus on marketing, therefore he is responsible for corporate clients and all of destilat’s business-related tasks. He is destilat’s organisational “heart” and a tireless fighter against the creative chaos that our team may conjure up at times. Alongside Thomas is Henning Weimer, who has years of experience in the furniture retail business. Therefore, he handles private clients as well as the firm’s merchandise sector. He is a great visionary and idea provider. Due to his positive energy he cultivates the firm’s work atmosphere and is indispensable for any kind of client interaction. Thanks to the support and hard work of Thomas and Henning, third partner Harald Hatschenberger can focus completely on his job as destilat’s Head of Creative. As a result, concepts can be developed and realised very quickly in collaboration with the firm’s creative team. As a small company, destilat is able to react flexibly and therefore leverage its status as a small, nimble business to better support its clients. Additionally, the senior team have known each other for years and this level of familiarity and friendship makes working together much easier. This is something that the firm’s clients see in every project they undertake with destilat. They are not dealing with a faceless entity but a flexible team of specialists that thrives on the exchange of ideas and visions, which Thomas is eager to explains. “At destilat, our primary goal is to consistently improve the design quality of our projects. We are driven by our passion for architecture. The more interesting our projects are, the more we enjoy working on them. This kind or joy is in turn the prerequisite to deliver top quality. We consistently invest substantial amounts of energy in marketing to reach this goal, as well as constantly looking for new ideas and new creative inspiration. “When seeking inspiration, we simply try to see the world with open eyes. Travelling is an important source of new ideas and an excellent opportunity to escape the daily grind. This is the time to clear your head and discover something new, to be naturally inspired by anything that comes your way.” Among the firm’s most successful projects to date is the Lingenhel project, which combines a gourmet shop with an urban cheese dairy and a restaurant all under one roof in a listed house in Vienna from the Biedermeier era. This project’s central challenges were to connect the listed building’s 220-year history with 21st century and develop the visual and spatial identity for Johannes Lingenhel’s culinary vision. Overcoming this proved exciting and memorable, as the team at destilat were fortunate enough to learn how to make cheese from buffalo milk, making this not only a successful project, but a memorable one. Looking to the future, Thomas believes that the firm has an exciting and prosperous time ahead as it seeks to build upon its current success. “There are a number of projects coming up which will help us to gain new skills, and as such we are looking forward to the upcoming challenges and opportunities we have in store over the coming months and years ahead.” 1703BU23