My favourite materials for timeless interior architecture

A love of materials, a precious heritage

It was at Dupin 1820 that I learned to touch, to feel, to understand materials. Seven years working alongside exceptional craftsmen, cabinet-makers with secrets passed down through generations, marble workers with millimetre-precise gestures. Seven years handling noble materials, discovering their quirks and their wonders.

This sensitivity to materials has become the heart of my practice. Because a timeless interior is, above all, about materials that age well, that develop a patina with elegance, that gain character over the years.

Marble: king of stones

My favourites

Calacatta Oro
This Italian marble, with its golden veins on a white background, possesses absolute elegance. I use it sparingly - a worktop, a bathroom, an entrance floor - to create moments of grace within the space.

Vert Alpi
Bolder, this marble with white veins on a deep green background brings a touch of unmatched character. Perfect for a kitchen island or a vanity unit in a contemporary bathroom.

Travertine
Less precious but equally noble, travertine offers incomparable softness. Its warm tones, natural variations, and living texture make it a precious ally for Mediterranean atmospheres.

Care and durability

Marble does require care, it's true. But this fragility is part of its charm. With the right treatments and proper maintenance, it crosses decades beautifully.

Precious woods

Solid oak

Timeless, warm, versatile. Oak is the pillar of many projects. In herringbone parquet, panelling, or bespoke furniture, it brings that quiet nobility that characterises beautiful interiors.

I favour European oaks, preferably French or Swiss, for their quality and traceability. The provenance of materials matters as much as their beauty.

Walnut

Darker, more sophisticated, walnut adds a touch of refinement. I particularly love it for bespoke wardrobes, desks, and the cabinetry details that make all the difference.

Teak

Reserved for wet areas or terraces, teak is irreplaceable. Its natural water resistance, its colour that evolves over time, its softness to the touch make it an exceptional material.

Noble metals

Brass

It's my favourite. Brass brings a warmth that steel cannot deliver. In door handles, light fixtures, and joinery details, it signs an interior with elegance.

I love it patinated, slightly aged, to avoid the "brand new" effect that can seem garish. The natural patina of brass is a wonder - you just need the patience to wait for it.

Bronze

Rarer, more precious, bronze is reserved for the noblest details. A sculpture, a table leg, an exceptional handle. Every bronze piece is a small work of art.

Copper

In a kitchen, copper is magnificent. A hammered copper sink, a splashback, displayed utensils… It requires maintenance, certainly, but what character!

Local natural stone

Why bring from the other side of the world what Switzerland offers so generously? Local stones - Jura limestone, Ticino granite - possess a sober and lasting beauty.

Using local materials also means reducing the carbon footprint of our projects. A concern that is close to my heart.

Exceptional textiles

An interior doesn't live by stone and wood alone. Textiles bring softness, comfort, colour.

Linen
Natural, breathable, timeless. Linen ages wonderfully, creases with grace, and brings a relaxed elegance.

Velvet
For an unapologetic touch of luxury. A sage green velvet sofa, heavy-falling curtains… Velvet creates enveloping atmospheres.

Silk
Reserved for details - a cushion, a lampshade, a headboard - silk adds that ultimate touch of refinement.

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