Architectures ranging from the scale of a city to that of a paperclip. Otto Felix’s design world is like a creative laboratory that blurs the boundaries between disciplines. His multi-layered background, spanning from DJ booths to photography studios, helicopter cockpits to architecture offices, enables him to view architecture not merely as a building art but as an emotional experience. The journey he began in 2005 with Studio Felix has now evolved into Studio Otto Felix, an architectural language that embraces both function and emotion in every project. For Felix, every design begins with finding the right question and providing an emotionally charged answer to that question.
You have a multifaceted background; from being a DJ to photography, piloting, music production, and more. How have these different disciplines contributed to your architectural practice?
Architecture is a multidisciplinary profession; the broader the knowledge and perspective, the better we design. A photographer’s eye for composition is very balanced and sensitive; a pilot’s spatial relationship is different; looking at things from above is a very different way of seeing life, something that is very important for an architect. Music brings a different sensation and an experimental relationship. It’s a process similar to that of an architect: of trying things out, of experimenting to see if it works. Everything I’ve studied and done in my life has a profound influence on my practice.
You founded Studio Felix in 2005. How would you describe the studio’s journey and the most important milestones since then?
Starting an architecture studio in Brazil was very difficult. There were few projects, and very small ones. At that time, the studio was building projects to increase revenue. Early on, I felt the need to study business administration and marketing because I understood I would be an entrepreneur.
In 2008, I completed my MBA and, with a broader vision, hired a marketing agency to develop a strategy and rebrand our studio.
I consider this the most important step in our history.
After that, I began implementing the strategy, which included hiring a press office and organizing an exhibition. Our first exhibition was in 2011, and we won our first award.
After that, the projects began to improve, and today we are designing very large buildings and projects.
You define architecture as both an art and a technique. How do you balance these two aspects in your projects?
I think architecture is a solution to a problem; it’s function, organization, and flow. The architect has the power to arrange this artistically, in a way that creates sensations. For me, this is the architect’s power: being able to sense what the space they are designing will evoke in people, before it’s finished.
When deciding to use natural stone in a project, what criteria do you take into consideration?
When deciding which stone to use, I always consider the sensation that texture and color will evoke.
Different types of stone (marble, travertine, granite, etc.) play different roles in design. In your projects, how do these materials stand out?
Your question is very good. I always think about what role I want a natural stone to play within a project. It could be a discreet role, simply to bring lightness. On other occasions, we can use the stone as the main actor, to highlight an important element, such as a countertop, if it is an artistic object within the project.
For our readers in Turkey, we would like to ask: In your view, what is the role of natural stone in architecture, and how do you position this material in your projects?
I’m fascinated by natural materials. Stepping on natural stone brings a wonderful feeling. Seeing the formation of each layer of each vein connects you with nature and God.
Which project in your portfolio do you consider to be the most striking example of natural stone use?
We’ve photographed two projects featuring a lot of stone: the Pauferro house, made entirely of travertine, and the AU house, made entirely of moledo stone.
What advice would you give to young architects who want to work with such a strong and characterful material as stone?
Know the material’s limits, use it in different ways and in different places. Remember that natural materials bring authentic sensations.
+90 532 585 51 95
+90 532 585 51 95