Practicing What He Preaches — In Conversation With David Thulstrup
Small, but with big ambitions, David Thulstrup’s studio is driven by an unstoppable curiosity and meticulous attention to detail. He leads his tight-knit team of architects and designers by a common notion of “modern simplicity” grounded in enduring Scandinavian values such as honesty and humanism. As the founder and creative director of Studio David Thulstrup, his holistic approach to each aspect of a project results in inclusive spaces that resonate with people — because a central tenet is a concern for how people feel. Designing spaces from the inside out, David considers light, colour, form and materials as architectural elements — all of which feel current but will stand the test of time.
We recently took the time to ask the award-winning architect and designer David Thulstrup some questions about him practicing what he preaches.
Magnus Høst (MH)
David Thulstrup (DT)
Photo by Jean-Francois Jaussaud
Photo by Jean-Francois Jaussaud
MH: Could you please take us back in time and tell us how and when you first became fascinated with architecture?
DT: Being the youngest of five kids, I was always very observant and reflective. I believe this behaviour naturally resulted in being intrigued by spaces and interiors. Spending hours imagining how interiors could be transformed became a more serious interest when I turned ten or eleven years old. From that age, I consciously investigated the potential of interior architecture—whether it was at home or when visiting friends. Noticing every detail and really taking in my surroundings is something that has followed me throughout my entire life, and also plays an important role in my work today.
Photo by Jean-Francois Jaussaud
MH: I have read that you worked abroad for several years under the roof of prominent figures such as Jean Nouvel and Peter Marino. How does that experience influence your work today?
DT: I admire both Jean and Peter a lot. Their talent and work ethos has been a huge inspiration for the way I approach architecture. I was always fascinated by Jean’s unlimited creativity and his ability to maintain a high level of quality for every single project. It’s a rare skill these days, especially because everything seems to only be about budget and limited working hours. But what I learnt from Jean was to continue refining until you are finished and make it the best you can without compromising the overall quality. Peter’s approach is similar but with a commercial aspect in mind. I was thrilled when I found out he was the mastermind behind retail interiors of brands like Louis Vuitton and Chanel; I knew I had to work for him. He taught me how to create functional commercial spaces that are equally inspiring. He also infused me with a passion for materials. My time at his studio made me aware of the different shades and nuances within the same material, and how that can change the expression of a space completely.
Photo by Jean-Francois Jaussaud
MH: Your work, although minimalist, feels warm, playful, and poetic. Is creating emotions something that you aim for?
DT: I am not specifically working with emotions as such. However, I always want to create spaces that people want to be in. It’s probably embedded in my Nordic heritage and upbringing. Spaces need to be pleasant, and I try to achieve that by using tactile elements as well as a play of contrasts that resonates with people.
“No matter the purpose or size of the project, I always strive to create calm environments through vibrant yet harmonious contrasts.” — David Thulstrup
MH: You work with various projects, although you have a history of working with retail interior concepts throughout the years. Can you tell us a little more about your relationship with retail concepts?
DT: It’s true, I am very passionate about retail spaces and the storytelling that is linked to them. Unfolding a brand’s story through architectural interventions and intriguing material choices excites me. And working with many different brands allows me to really dive deep into each story and produce a visual universe that matches their essence. Compared to residential projects, retail spaces allow me to be bolder and more playful, even though the design language still embeds the same core values.
MH: What is "the perfect interior" for you?
DT: The perfect interior inhabits the perfect balance of many individual elements that produce an environment greater than the sum of their parts. No matter the purpose or size of the project, I always strive to create calm environments through vibrant yet harmonious contrasts. Finding the right interplay between natural and artificial light, old and new elements, as well as honest and industrial materials is what makes or breaks the overall atmosphere. Succeeding with these tensions is what I regard as the perfect interior. Combined with interesting gestures, volumes, and furniture pieces—whether custom-built, made by a brand that I love, or vintage—that become architectural elements, any space turns into ideal environments for me.
MH: What would you say has been one of your most significant challenges so far?
DT: Being creative and running a company at the same time has probably been, and always will be, my biggest challenge. Over the years I have learned to grow with it even though I have had to handle a lot of things that are out of my comfort zone, such as bookkeeping or letting things grow organically. Even though these are normal aspects of running a company, I’ve had to come to terms with them.
MH: What principles are essential trademarks of your visual language and aesthetic? And why?
DT: I have been very fortunate to work on projects that are located in amazing places, inhabit a sense of history and have the ability to be transformed into something beautiful. It’s a very intuitive process that has evolved into applying a juxtaposition of the existing mass of elements combined with more minimal, clean, and sharp volumes. The merge of these two worlds is the core element in each project and has been a process that I have refined over the past years. Furthermore, natural palettes, honest materials and simple finishes always come into play—often combined with a dash of colour to contrast my pared-back approach.
MH: You practice what you preach. What do you think makes you a thriving architect?
DT: I don’t have a stop button. I keep pushing for the best result until I feel a project is completed. I never compromise on quality or final output. This mindset is so ingrained in how I approach architecture and design that it feels very natural. Apart from that, I stay away from trends or clutter, which allows me to create timeless yet current spaces. That doesn’t mean that I am not informed of what’s currently deemed trendy in the industry. Quite the opposite actually: instead of being too focused on following trends, I stay true to my vision.
MH: Could you name a few sources of your inspiration sources?
DT: I am inspired by my Nordic peers, especially the old masters such as Sverre Fehn, Halldor Gunnløgssons or Børge Mogensen. Their approach to functionality and simplicity has influenced me heavily. Looking at contemporary artists, architects, and designers, it’s people like Martin Szekely, Donald Judd and John Pawson who strike me with their simplicity and minimalist approach. And lastly, I believe that being introduced to very pared-back architecture from a very young age has had a big impact.
MH: What do you think is the role of an architect in today's society?
DT: There are two types of architects: the ones that inspire, and the ones who build for the mass. I believe we can’t live without one or the other. But moving forward, we must push the boundaries of how we build, live and create spaces that make us feel good. With everybody being focused on building faster, higher, and cheaper, it’s our role to challenge that. After all, it’s about finding a balance between tackling the challenges we face as a society and creating interiors that enable us to live a desirable life.
MH: How would you describe our present time's architecture and design language, and how do you believe people will describe it in the future?
DT: Challenges such as the growing global population or the climate crisis will hopefully inspire architects to rethink current ways of building or designing. As architects, we can’t deny that we carry a certain responsibility. And even though we need to rethink our approach fundamentally and systematically, these challenges might be our rescue after all. I have already seen great initiatives and I hope to see or work on inspiring and innovative solutions soon myself.
All images by Irina Boersma,
unless mentioned otherwise.
Courtesy of Studio David Thulstrup
Special thanks to Monique Schröder
