This week’s Maker, Alexander Purcell Rodrigues, has a knack for designing unique, eclectic pieces that will start a conversation in any space. Drawing inspirations from advanced technology, hand craftsmanship and natural materials, his style can be described as futuristic modern, with a nod to traditional European. Rodrigues’ eclectic and eccentric style leads his process and makes him a go-to for movie set designs as well as TV. Get to know Rodrigues and his work in this week’s Maker Monday.
Andrew Joseph: Describe your design style as if you were explaining it to someone who cannot see.
Alexander Purcell Rodrigues: Driven by my British heritage, being raised in the UK and surrounded with European Design as an architectural student at Cambridge. Following that studying industrial design at Art Center I became inspired but mid-century design and the American streamline moderne aesthetic.
Together these influences create an energetic juxtaposition in my design language, a dynamic sense of modernism with a nod to traditional European ornamentation. Its Tradition Redefined; a moniker on which Atelier Purcell is rooted with the aim of creating heirlooms for the future.
AJ: What is something you hope to see trending in design in the future?
APR: I have always been fascinated with the intersection of innovative technology, hand craftsmanship and natural materials. We actively avoid following trends and focus on silhouette and materiality. When I design a new piece of furniture, I look to both the digital and analog – investigating new manufacturing and form-finding methodologies then combining them with beautiful material pairings such as bronze and eucalyptus and marble. Natural materials all represent a sliver of history, each piece of stone or wood is unique and has taken years to create by nature. Once crafted they should be treasured, their uniqueness and natural patina embraced. Many of our designs are driven by client projects – the ideas are generated through real needs, life habits and functionality of each piece. As trends go out of style and therefore become disposable whereas good design combined with real materials stands the test of the time. This is what creates future heirlooms.
AJ: What’s the weirdest thing a client has ever asked you?
APR: Would you believe if I told you a bum-shaped gold-plated bar stool?
Early in my career I did a lot of bespoke custom furniture pieces for clients. One client wanted solid gold bar stools and wanted them to look like a certain celebrity’s bum. We took the challenge on, flying somewhat by the seat of my pants as this was completely new territory. I managed to locate a professional sculptor who formed the perfect posterior in clay. From there we took a mold in order to repeat the pattern. As I was based in LA at the time found the best fiberglass craftsman with years of experience in set production to replicate the shape mold into the stool seats. Once cured we utilized a special bonding paint used by the movie industry that allows no ferrous materials to be plated. You will have seen this in movies such as Iron Man and Terminator. This allowed us to plate them in real 24K gold.
AJ: What’s something you always travel with?
APR: Tom Ford leather jackets—2-3 at a time – I love the touch and subtle hand of leather. Of course, the detailing and finish of his clothes can always be the source of inspiration. These are my staple pieces they come everywhere with me no matter the weather!
See how Rodrigues utilized Atelier Purcell’s Elysian dining table and Khepera benches for a London home, here.
AJ: What would your dream project or dream client be right now?
APR: My dream projects are those where we have a blank canvas – the ability to design the entire vision from scratch, the architectural interior, along with everything that sits within. I am particularly fond of a project we did in London where the homeowner gave us carte blanch and asked us to create not only the environment but all the furniture, lighting down to the ironmongery and accessories within. That really was the dream client and project so I would always relish more clients like that. I have always loved the water, early on in life I was passionate about rowing and won the Henley rowing regatta in England. This interest in aqua dynamic forms inspired the new Henley which launches this year but the opportunity to design a superyacht would take this passion to the next level and be a dream come true.
AJ: What do you find yourself daydreaming about most these days?
APR: We are moving our production to the US and during these times I think streamlining logistics is on everyone’s mind.
The son of a British graphic designer and a businessman, Purcell Rodrigues was predisposed to creative entrepreneurial pursuits. From the start, it was about the process of creation, the making and formulating of a piece. Purcell studied architecture at Cambridge University and worked for the iconic Richard Rogers Partnership. In 2009 he founded Alexander Purcell Interiors and Architectural practice, setting up shop in London and then expanding to Los Angeles and New York shortly thereafter. He became known for elegantly stylish residences and hotels around the world. Adding furniture design to his portfolio by collaborating on products with Holly Hunt, Promemoria, Link Outdoor, and De Castelli, among other luxury brands.
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