Interview with Naoki Otake & Sidnei Tada

Naoki Otake & Sidnei Tada ("NO&ST") interviewed on Thursday, 22 March.

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?

NO&ST : I graduated from Universidade Mackenzie, Sao Paulo, in 1981. In 1996 we created Naoki Otake Arquitetura e Design and since then, we have been working with residential, commercial and corporate projects.

How did you become a designer?

NO&ST : My mother used to say, since I was little, that I would like to be an architect. I do not remember that, but I have always been interested in browsing architectural magazines and dreaming. My first house was designed at school when I was still a teenager and the draw was displayed on the walls of the school. I think that it was the first time that I thought to become an architect.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

NO&ST : Every new Project is a new creation process.In this process, I consider as important aspects, research, the perfect understanding of customer needs and fidelity to our design.Faithful to our design, it always means a contemporary design with simple lines and little diversity of materials.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

NO&ST : The demand in each project is always for something new, something we have not done yet, but of course, always within our design convictions. When we achieve this, the satisfaction is enormous, it means that we are not repeating a formula, but actually creating.

What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?

NO&ST : I lived in Japan for 4.5 years, and of these, 3 years I spent in a temple where I learned a lot about Japanese culture and aesthetics.When I returned to Brazil, I was already another architect. I began to look for a design that would ally Japanese aesthetics to my architecture.

What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?

NO&ST : I would like to have more and more refined design in my search for a simple architecture, with natural materials, light and shade, in respect for nature and making use of it in a harmonic and sustainable way.

What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?

NO&ST : Do not worry about the work itself but seek its truth in the project. Certainly, it is difficult, because it is a process of growth. Each one has its own way of life. I had to stop my career for 4 years to find it again in a temple. What you should not do is live your day to day without aspirations, without believing what you do.

You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?

NO&ST : No matter what age or experience you have.We have to constantly be looking for something new and better in terms of design. Every day I see the production of other architects I like and I am not ashamed doing this.

What is your day to day look like?

NO&ST : I try to make the routine something not heavy, I try to merge moments of research, moments of conversation, moments of creation, administrative moments, that is, I do not spend all day on a single subject.It is important to go out, talk, see exhibitions, walk to see the architectural productions in the city, go into stores, see new materials, and finally, make your daily life more fun.

How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?

NO&ST : It is important to be updated with the production of architects around the world, materials and technologies, but I do not like the idea of working with something just because it is a trend, in fact, I do not like this word "trend".

How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?

NO&ST : Good design is visible at first glance. Difficult to explain, but easy to recognize.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

NO&ST : I think the project can always be improved, even during the construction. I am not an architect who does not allow changes to your project during the works. If it is to improve, I do not see any problem.

What is your biggest design work?

NO&ST : I believe it was our first restaurant project. A Japanese restaurant where we were able to put all our concepts about Japanese architecture. From this project, there were several invitations to new projects.

Who is your favourite designer?

NO&ST : There are many references. In Brazil, I really like the residences of a modernist architect, Oswaldo Bratke. The initial phase of Tadao Ando was also very important as a reference. I also like Portuguese architecture.

Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?

NO&ST : I lead a simple life, though often designing luxurious environments. This duality of my life, I take to the project as well. In the same way, I am eclectic in the preferences of music, arts, cuisine. I believe that diversity is a great incentive in my production and in my private life.

What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?

NO&ST : After winning some architectural prizes in Brazil, I understood that it was time to seek an international award and chose the A Design Award.It was a huge surprise, right at our debut, to win the gold medal.This brought greater visibility and prestige to our office, as well as the spectacular awards party in Como.

Naoki Otake & Sidnei Tada Profile