Christian Halleröd

You started out as a carpenter and moved on to retail. How and why did you decide to make this change?

It’s something that happened over time. I’m very interested in furniture, both in terms of design, but also in terms of how you can solve something in new ways by adding a new detail. But what I like about creating interiors is that you can work with and create a small visual world with great impact. I wish we still did it the old fashioned way—when the architect or designer would design every detail, all the way down to the door handle.

You’ve said that your job is ‘to make the brand three-dimensional, in a way.’ Please elaborate.

It’s very important for me that each project gets its own character, based on the particular brand I’m working with. I don’t like to stick to a specific aesthetic, instead I start by learning as much as possible about the brand and the client, before I start developing a custom made environment. I always work in close dialogue with the client, but I also try to challenge them and push things a bit further.

Using natural materials is very typically Scandinavian, but you often take it to another level, giving stone, wood or concrete the lead role in your design. Where do you gather your ideas and inspiration?

Travelling is my main source of inspiration. I like Japan, Tokyo—everything from the interior to the fashion, the food and so on. Milan, New York or just a vacation to a simple stone house in Greece could also be inspiring.

I buy a lot of books as well, the printed pages still beats the internet. I also talk a lot with my wife Ruxandra—she’s an architect and we started working together earlier this year—about what we see, what details to add and so on. The most important thing is to be open minded, to look around.

Please describe your interest in materials.

I love wood, of course. It’s a material that you can never grow tried of. And I like to try to find new ways of using and working with a material. I like to use different kind of materials, instead of simply adding a colour.

Is it a store or an art gallery? Is this a consistent approach in your design or just a coincidence?

I think that retail in terms of a physical store is changing more and more because of the internet, new markets and new behaviour. In a way, it is a lot easier these days to start a new brand. Many of my clients are quite young and come from backgrounds other than retail. This influences both their approach and their product and of course the physical retail space as well.

I don’t really like the word showroom, but it’s becoming more and more appropriate. A showroom can be anything. It can be an art gallery, someone’s home or a studio. So it’s not a coincidence that the Arigato store in SoHo, London has the feeling of an art gallery. They sell almost everything online, so the client asked for a space where people could see and experience their shoes, but also a place for hosting events and parties.

What’s good retail all about?

It’s about understanding the brand and giving the client a pleasant experience. I like to think that these projects should be so good that they could last for a long time, despite changing trends and preferences. It’s so nice to enter a store that has been there for fifty years or more, while still looking good and feeling innovative.