"It’s about being more conscious. There’s already enough of everything, so the question is what is worth making. Limitation is key for us: focusing on unique pieces and small editions, and on things that last."
Born out of a car-repair workshop in the village of Birkendorf, on Germany's border with Switzerland, Eichkorn designs and produces collectible furniture, bespoke surfaces and sculptural objects in bronze, stone, wood and brass. Founded by Felix Eichkorn and Ruben Rebmann, the studio holds to a demanding premise: that making is only justified by what endures. We spoke with them following their presentation at THEMA about reduction as a formal discipline, the ethics of scarcity, and what touch reveals that sight cannot.
Black is the dominant colour in your creations. What does it evoke for you?
I don’t really see black as a colour. It’s a way to reduce things: to remove distraction and let material and texture come forward. It creates calm, but also a certain depth.
You are based in the Black Forest, a particularly wild and remote region in southwest Germany. How has this landscape shaped your practice?
The Black Forest has a quiet, dense presence. I sometimes think of it as a kind of Japan in Europe: the dark timber houses, the forests, the strong craft culture. That atmosphere shapes how we work: slower, more focused, closer to the essence.
Bronze, solid wood, brass, and stone recur throughout your work. What is your relationship to these materials?
We're drawn to materials that are honest and that evolve over time. They don’t stay perfect: they change, they carry use. We work with that, rather than against it.
What are your intentions when creating bespoke surfaces and objects, and how do you envision them within someone's living space?
We value the personal aspect of it. A living space is something very intimate, and being trusted to create for it is always meaningful. With that trust, we bring in our understanding of material, light, weight and texture: always aiming for a fine balance within the space.
Your commitment to working with the finest materials and creating enduring, honest designs is deeply compelling. What does it mean to design and make today?
It’s about being more conscious. There’s already enough of everything, so the question is what is worth making. Limitation is key for us: focusing on unique pieces and small editions, and on things that last.
What do you take away from this edition of THEMA?
That people instinctively recognise honesty. Many wanted to touch the work, to feel it. That direct, physical connection is exactly what we aim for.
