Interview: Haus Otto - A fusion of design, environment, and playfulness -
Haus Otto was founded by Patrick Henry Nagel ( Patrick Henry Nagel) and Nils Kellner ( Körner is a design studio founded by Nils Körner . The two met at the Stuttgart State Academy of Arts in Germany and have continued to collaborate since graduating, working on various projects together. Their work spans the fields of design, objects, installations and spaces, and they work with clients from the industrial and cultural worlds to create transformative and humorous designs.
Tell us about your career so far. How did you end up founding Haus Otto?
We met at the Academy of Arts in Stuttgart and have worked together on many projects since the beginning. The first workspace was an old saddle workshop in the attic of a half-timbered house built in the 1860s that belonged to Nils ' grandfather. We cleared out the room, gathered up some basic tools and started the studio. We named it "Haus Otto" after our grandfather's name, Otto.
Tell us about the project you are currently working on. What do you pay particular attention to?
At the moment we have many different projects going on at the same time, all very diverse and different. We are currently working on a research project on upcycling processes, collaborating with many people from different fields. This exchange and always learning new things is our biggest motivation.
What past project has been particularly memorable for you and why?
The Farm Group Project was the most fun and intensive group project. From 2022 to 2023, we collaborated with various artists, designers and farmers to create outdoor exhibitions and workshops on the farm. We had the opportunity to learn a lot and gain new insights.
What is the design philosophy of Haus Otto? What is your approach to creating your work?
We work in the fields of design, objects, installations and spaces, collaborating with clients from industry and culture, as well as on spontaneous projects. In our work we always explore ways to bridge and fuse different disciplines and practices, and we conceptually explore the environmental and social context of design. Humour and playfulness are a great way to make topics accessible.
What is your source of inspiration? How do new ideas come about?
My inspiration comes from being in nature and everyday conversations with friends, collaborators and strangers.
What is your impression of Japanese art and design?
Although I have never had extensive exposure to Japanese art and design, I have always been interested in it both from a cultural and design perspective, and I find the way tradition is combined with the clean, rational design of modernism extremely fascinating.
Does Japanese culture and traditions influence your work? Do you have any specific examples?
The traditional Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi appears often in our work and we find it fascinating. We are currently planning an exhibition that tackles the theme of wabi-sabi.
