#21 Exclusive Interview - Adrien Dupuy
Interview with Adrien Dupuy, Designer of Awesome Offices for Superheroes
“We make tables that design spaces”—that’s the promise of the startup Plato, founded in 2015 by Adrien Dupuy. Its goal is simple: “To make cool furniture for cool companies”—that is, companies where people enjoy coming to work. This philosophy has already been embraced by Payfit, Artsper, Jam, and LeCab, and continues to inspire others. For Adjamée, the 29-year-old Parisian shared an overview of his interior design preferences.
1- How did you come up with the idea of designing “awesome offices for superheroes”?
I started out as a designer and then continued my education in the field of entrepreneurship. After my first foray into mobile apps, I wanted to return to my first love—design… That’s when I had the idea to combine the two worlds by launching a business in office furniture for startups. At first, it was just a hobby, but thanks to word of mouth, I turned it into my career.
2- What was your main source of inspiration?
Apple manufactures desks tailored to the locations where they design their stores. No two desks in Apple Stores are alike; they customize them to fit the space.
3- What is your ultimate goal?
Buy out Vitra. No, just kidding—my ultimate goal is to become the go-to table for people to work on in the future and achieve automated manufacturing like Tesla. And why not design the tables for Apple Stores around the world? And, above all, make people happy at work, of course.
4- What do the most recent offices you've renovated look like?
Recently, in partnership with Nicolas Vadé, we redesigned the offices of the startup Payfit. Beyond simply furnishing them with tables, we were tasked with an interior design project centered around a very specific theme: the “Tropicool” vibe. To achieve this, we transformed the somewhat formal executive office into a cocktail bar. For example, we installed a bistro-style bench, a beach-inspired reed ceiling, and really played around with accessories, particularly Adjamée cushions. The goal was to create the illusion that we weren’t in a workspace.
5- What is your favorite material to work with?
I work exclusively with melamine-faced Finnish birch plywood. It’s very durable, has a rather elegant look, and goes with everything: colors, black, metal, and patterns. Avoid pairing it with dark wood, though…. In any case, pairing wood with wood is always tricky. It’s not impossible, but I’m not a big fan of mixing different wood species. It looks too much like marquetry.
6- If you could design your dream home, what kind of style or atmosphere would you choose?
Minimalist... I dream of a glass cube lost in the middle of the desert.
7- Could you list your top 3 favorite design spots, regardless of city?
In Paris, the Madeleine et Gustave home decor store in the 10th arrondissement. Or the Hay showroom in Copenhagen, and the Vitra House in Weil am Rhein, near Basel. The architecture of their campus is just incredible.
HAY
Vitra Haus
8- Tell us about the last thing you bought.
I spend more time decluttering my apartment than buying things, but I recently couldn’t resist the “Lutetia” artwork by Plumes de Panache. It’s a wooden frame that encases beautiful fuchsia feathers sandwiched between two sheets of glass. More than just a decorative item, it’s a work of nature right in my home.
9- If you had an unlimited bank account, which piece would you treat yourself to?
I've been dreaming of a Paulistano armchair for years. In fact, it will be the only piece of furniture in my glass cube, next to a Living Divani sofa.
10- If you had to invite three designers to your table, who would they be?
American designer Donald Judd for his straight lines, Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer for his curves, and French designer Charlotte Juillard for her unique style.
DONALD JUDD
OSCAR NIEMEYER
Wood Furniture, 1982
Museum of Contemporary Art in Niterói, Brazil (1996)
CHARLOTTE JUILLARD
Lavastone, 2016
12- Which country or culture fascinates you the most when it comes to design and interior decor?
I was really blown away by Denmark. There are tons of new, up-and-coming brands, like Normann Copenhagen, Hay, and Muuto. The only problem is that it’s not always easy to tell them apart.
13- Three Instagram accounts you recommend we follow right away?
Festen Architecture, because they manage to make the spaces they renovate feel as though they’ve been lived in before. Garnier Linker for their simple forms and high-quality materials. And finally, Atelier Steve, with whom we recently redesigned a pet store for dogs and cats.
FESTEN ARCHITECTURE
Le Pigalle Hotel, Paris
GARNIER & LINKER
Side table with brass leaves, leather top
STEVE'S WORKSHOP
NATIVES Restaurant
