Romain Luppi

Atelier Insolite

Furniture maker

©Lionel Nemeth

©Createur de films

©Lionel Nemeth

©Createur de films

A Swiss take on wooden furniture design

Romain makes wooden furniture using digital tools
He is a pioneer of using resin to enhance his designs
His past as a professionnel athlete inspires him

Born into a family of craftspeople and entrepreneurs, Romain Luppi has been used to creating since his childhood. Wood quickly became his favourite material, with its warmth and sturdiness. His professional life has been a mixture of different paths, with a career as an athlete for years alongside a persistent love for furniture making and cabinetmaking. The core values of Romain's studio, Atelier Insolite, are doing things with greater awareness, and creating objects for individual people. He describes himself as a sensitive person and through his work focuses on an emotional and human connection. His signature technique is the pioneering fusion of wood and resin, which allows him to make unique pieces and explore possibilities in his design and creations.

Interview

©Benoit Jeannet

©Lionel Nemeth

What is your professional background?: I was a professional athlete for eight years in kitesurfing and snowkiting. I travelled a lot during that time, and now I am fully into cabinetmaking and my atelier. I still spend two months a year in the mountains and another two months on the water!
Could you describe your particular resin technique?: I was one of the first to incorporate resin into wooden furniture. Coming from a skiing, snowboarding and mountain background, I am used to objects made of wood, fibre and resin, such as very thin, flexible and resistant skis that have always fascinated me.
What is an aspect of your work that people do not suspect?: Time is often a surprising aspect. There have been several occasions when I have suggested to people that they only do part of the process with me to cut costs, which also allows them to see the amount of work involved in achieving a finished piece.
Do you have a memorable moment you could share?: I was recently given carte blanche to make furniture for a house in Florence. It is easy to hide behind made-to-measure furniture because you do not put a lot of yourself into it, but doing something more creative and free makes you evolve artistically. It is a real challenge!

Romain Luppi is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2015