Interior Designer’s Studio

Lázaro Rosa-Violán describes himself as an ‘urban archaeologist’ and ‘style hunter’. Although he studied the Fine Arts, his ability to conceive interiors is instinctual. His first project (a restaurant) was carried out in the Balearic Island of Ibiza in 1990 and in 2003 he established Contemporain, on the premise that very few bars and restaurants were executed whereby interior design, lighting, ambiance and food worked together to make a coherent whole. “The interior designer is an actor“, he has stated. “He must dress up and change roles, understand new identities and integrate them with his own.”

His studio has been published a few times, but every time I see his work, I am stopped dead in my tracks. The studio, Contemporain, consists of Lázaro and his team of eight interior, industrial, and graphic designers. Housed in a former cotton warehouse, the atelier is chock full of interesting design prototypes, custom furniture pieces, objet d’art, and various paintings (by his own hand). Current projects range from hotels in Costa Brava and Buenos Aires, to restaurants in Mallorca and Morocco.

Barcelona is such an insanely beautiful city, and after having been reacquainted with this designer’s work, I just may need to plan a trip there sometime soon! Enjoy the slideshow, and take a look at his portfolio as well.

The bronze from from 1900 was once a ceiling decoration while the chandelier was designed by Paco Rabanne.

The leather Chesterfield sofas are from Belgium and the coffee table the white leather chairs were custom dsigned by Contemporain Studio.

Stucco rosettes look like sculptures on Chinese console tables.

The leather and chrome chairs in the meeting area are from the 1960’s and sit around a prototype table from Contemporain. The upholstered “waiting canape” is from an old hotel in Marseilles.

The artwork is by Lázaro Rosa-Violán.

I don’t know many designers who would hang Chinese screens in a kitchen but they look amazing.

Lázaro Rosa-Violán has a great eye for chairs. These are Swedish office chairs from the 1960’s.

The wood paneling in the bathroom came from a textiles warehouse and headquarters. The tub is by Philippe Starck and the stool Sempre. The entire place is the epitome of chic but if worked here, I would definitely hold every meeting outdoors. Now, wasn’t that worth looking at again?!