Maison&Objet Designer of the Year: Raphael Navot

For the January 2023 edition of Maison&Objet, Raphael Navot was named the prestigious recipient of the Designer of the Year Award. This award is intended to recognise and honour a designer who excels in the fields of design and decoration around the world.

Roche Bobois partnered  with Raphael Navot at Maison&Objet 2023

Raphael Navot, a multidisciplinary interior designer, presented “The Apothem Lounge” throughout the trade show. This immersive project aimed to “portray a visual emotion” by curating an open space that captivated viewers with light and texture. The concept centred around a large circular hall which invited visitors to experience the interiors regardless of their functionality or context. Just like the stage of a theatre, the visitors become the actors.

More about Raphael Navot

Raphael Navot was born in Jerusalem, Israel, in 1977. In 2003, he moved to Paris to study interior architecture and design after graduating from Design Academy Eindhoven with a Bachelor’s degree in Conceptual Design. He has a diverse portfolio of multidisciplinary projects, ranging from hospitality interiors to bespoke and commercial product design, all of which highlight French craftsmanship and talent. His work ranges from examples of hospitality interiors to both bespoke and commercial product design.

Furthermore, he worked with David Lynch on the Parisian nightclub Silencio (2011), collaborated on the production of a highly technical line of end-grain flooring for Oscar Ono (2016), and created a collection of 12 families of furniture – from sofas and tables to rugs and lamps – for Roche Bobois (2018).

However, it is his work on the Hôtel National des Arts et Métiers (2017) that has possibly been the most significant endeavour for the designer so far. He unveiled a continuation of his furniture collaboration with Loro Piana, “A Portrait of Comfort” at the Salone del Mobile in Milan and a 50 rooms, 10 private apartments hotel in Cannes, Hotel Belle Plage.

Through “On the Same Subject”, a work for Friedman Benda in New York, he followed his ongoing collaboration with the gallery and the dialogue between handcraft and the natural landscape. Dame des Arts is Raphael Navot’s second hotel located in the heart of Paris.

Sharing about his work

In an interview with Maison&Objet, Raphael Navot had the following to say about his work and aesthetic…

“I am not sure there is a visual manner that can describe my aesthetics, although all of the projects derive from similar values and hopefully establish a uniform style. Natural materials and traditional craft are always present, often bespoke for each project and with certain attributes of organic forms. I often opt to achieve an experience that is somewhat timeless. Timelessness for me is a non-decorative quality that does not refer to trends or certain motives that are associated with a specific period. I often think that good interiors seems SEEM as if they have always been there. I try to avoid using materials that are industrial or simple paints and wallpaper or anything literally superficial as I believe that massive materials age better. I often find my colours in the materials themselves, for example, blues and green can be oxidised copper and bronze, or ochres would be brass and gold. Aside from that, I am convinced that hand-work is indispensable and is very much present in the final result.”

Left: Nicolas Roche Right : Raphael Navot

Roche Bobois participated at Maison and Objet 2023. Some our seating ranges like The Dot Armchair and the Parrot pouf, from the Nativ collection appeared in the Apothem Lounge. Created in 2018 – Nativ is a collection of natural and organic lines: a dialogue between nature and culture crossed with geometric mastery and spontaneous forms. With the Dot armchair, Raphael Navot proposed his interpretation of the ball chair: an enveloping and immediately comforting sphere. Read more about the collaboration and collection  here

Discover more about Maison&Objet online HERE.