Tempini Timișoara
Building a showroom for finish materials and sanitary ware alongside Timothy Oulton furniture and lighting fixtures was not easy. I had to search and approach new construction rules. It can thus be admitted that there is no longer a clear notion of time and space. If the notion of time and space is no longer clear, it means that everything can overlap (an ideea inspired by quantum physics). I illustrated time by building a time course going through history.
Statement of the jury
The successful integration of refinement materials and sanitary ceramics in an environment dominated by furniture and lighting demonstrates a keen sense of space and time. The »Tempini Showroom« transcends traditional concepts, creating a seamless connection between past and present.
Area of site | 1400 m2 |
Date | 2021-2023 |
Status of the project | Complete |
Tools used | SketchUp |
This award means to me the recognition of artistic expression and personal way of approaching design projects. Expressiveness is found in every gesture we made in the design of this Design Gallery. When you receive such a theme you have a responsibility towards all that means values and benchmarks in design. Working with the Tempini team created a perfect framework that allowed me to be truly free to express myself. We are taught to follow rules of construction and composition. They form our thinking patterns that guide us and often limit us. I forced myself to let go of the rules and kept only one – in design there are no rules – it's just you. When you accumulate information you must have the power to see beyond it and let the playful world of the imaginary manifest itself.
Designing the Tempini showroom in Timișoara was an exciting opportunity to merge British and Italian design cultures in Romania. Timothy Oulton’s philosophy, rooted in blending past and present, required a radical departure from traditional showroom layouts. His furniture, rich in historical detail yet modern in aesthetics, set the tone for the design.
I wanted to bridge British and Italian styles, with the latter being more delicate. The challenge was integrating these two worlds while presenting furniture, finishes, and sanitary products in a way that had never been done before. I abandoned traditional boxed spaces for showcasing products and instead explored new architectural concepts inspired by Oulton’s approach to combining the past and present. I embraced the idea that time and space are fluid—an idea influenced by quantum physics—allowing styles to overlap and coexist.
The space was designed as a journey through time, featuring fluid transitions between different design periods. Each area represents a different aesthetic direction, such as romantic, rustic, historic, minimalist, or neo-baroque. As visitors move through the showroom, they experience a shifting narrative, much like stepping through different eras. This non-traditional presentation makes it easier for customers to identify their personal style and understand what they need.
The bathroom design exemplifies this sensory experience. Breaking away from expectations, the entry is hidden behind two doors integrated into the decor, adding a sense of surprise. The lighting shifts to evoke chiaroscuro effects, while the scent changes as visitors step into the bathroom. Most notably, the use of sound absorption distorts the acoustic environment, creating a sensation of being in a different space. The alterations to light, scent, and sound are subtle but create a memorable experience, ensuring that visitors feel pampered without being aware of the changes.
Tempini Timișoara is more than just a furniture showroom; it is a design gallery that challenges norms and enhances product presentation. By engaging all the senses, we have created an environment where visitors are not just seeing products, but experiencing them. As Timothy Oulton said, "A man can forget an object, but he will never forget how he felt in that place."
