Anaïs Youssefi is a Swiss-French interior architect whose work delves into a sensitive approach to architecture, drawing inspiration primarily from nature.
She started her academic journey by completing the Bachelor of Interior Architecture program at HEAD – Genève in 2016. During her studies, she embarked on a year-long Erasmus exchange program at Kyoto Institute of Technology and Kyoto University of Arts, where she had the opportunity to specialize in handcrafted woodworking with a Kyoto-based artisan. Immersed in the rich architectural heritage of Japan, particularly in ancient temples and tea houses, Anaïs found profound inspiration in the raw beauty of old materials and the integration of natural elements into architectural compositions. Upon returning to Switzerland, Anaïs continued to explore questions related to heritage, conservation, and traditional craftsmanship, always challenging the role of architecture as a means to bridge the gap between humanity and nature.
Diploma Project
Reliquats
The project Reliquats explores the concept of ‘what remains,’ evoking the waste or remnants of raw materials during their transformation. Wood is a living material, inhabited by a multitude of human and non-human species. By collaborating with Geneva’s sole sawmill, which revitalizes felled trees for firewood, this project utilizes their discarded wood, the ‘imperfect’ trees, thus perpetuating their sustainability approach. In architecture, this endeavor transcends mere materiality to offer a tangible experience through a wood ceremony. By infusing tea with lime wood essence and engaging with the wood through the five senses, its significance becomes tangible.
Each wooden element carries a distinct narrative, encouraging us to embrace our role as guardians of this interconnected world. It fosters exploration of forests, imparts wisdom, and encourages contemplation on broader environmental connections. This project aims to bring the forest to humans and, ultimately, to bring humans back to the forest.
