FRAMEWORK STUDIO IS A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY DESIGN STUDIO WITH A FOCUS ON INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN OF HIGH-END RESIDENTIAL, HOSPITALITY AND RETAIL ENVIRONMENTS.
As founder and creative director, Thomas Geerlings looks at interiors with a layered context-driven approach, balancing timeless craftsmanship with a contemporary eye. At the heart of Framework’s philosophy lie three guiding principles: the client, the geographical location and the trend or zeitgeist. “Every project we take on is shaped by those three pillars,” Thomas explains. Framework embraces a distinctive approach and embarks each new project with a fresh perspective and a commitment to honouring the unique context and history of the space.
In a design world increasingly shaped by algorithms and where digital tools continue to evolve, Thomas is more interested in the tactile, artisan quality of materials and believes that is where you will see long-term relevance. “Craftsmanship will be the most important driver of design in the years ahead,” he says. At the heart of their design ethos lies a profound appreciation for craftsmanship and art, ultimately to create spaces that are imbued with a signature sense of identity. “Especially with the rise of AI and so much being driven by automation right now, the real craftsmanship and artisanal value of materials for the next few years is key.”
That appreciation for authenticity carries over into how Framework works with materials and lies at the foundation of their practice. “Physical material exploration is everything for us”, Thomas says. “It is the only thing that we do, sampling, samples of detailing, sampling materials, is the most important thing in our business.” Currently Framework is experimenting with artisanal glass themselves. It’s a material category the studio hadn’t explored in depth until recently. “Before we’d work with fluted, rigid or cathedral glass. But suddenly, we are into artisanal glass and we’re discovering handmade, irregular glass with texture and variation. Which has brought a new perspective to our work.”
For Thomas, innovation is never about chasing trends. "It’s about movement, innovation is progress and standing still isn’t an option for us”. Right now, mainland Europe is where he sees the most interesting thinking happening in how interiors are being designed and how materials are used. “There are some studios I really admire, like Holtrop. They’re doing brilliant work on craftsmanship and glass techniques.”
During Framework's visit to this year's Trends & Innovation Market, Thomas discovered a few new interesting suppliers. “We work in this field 24/7 so to find something genuinely new is rare,” he adds. “The way materials are positioned alongside different applications gives you an overview and new insights into what is happening in the industry. We found three new suppliers we contacted immediately for current projects.” One discovery stood out for him. “We came across a company called Polywave which works with polyester surfaces. Really interesting material and strong in terms of reuse. For us that was a revolutionary discovery.”
