Axel Hein likes to blur the lines between fashion and interior design. The former model worked as an image consultant for 20 years, developing runway scenography for brands such as Gucci and Burberry, before embarking on a career in interior design. “Being immersed in the world of fine craftsmanship for a long time has helped me understand the importance of skilled craftsmanship and the transformative power of a space,” he tells Business of Home.
Axel Huin-François Rousseau
The Brooklyn-based designer was raised in Paris and grew up with an appreciation for design. His mother is a fashion designer and couturier who taught him the ABCs of pattern making and sewing from an early age. “As a child, I would often find myself sketching textile patterns or chair outlines while sitting with my mother,” says Huynh.
At a young age, she was discovered by Jean Paul Gaultier and began modeling as a fashion designer throughout the late 1990s before being hired as the company’s in-house artistic director. In 2001, he started his own creative agency, Crazybaby!, helping big brands like Elizabeth Arden and Fendi Casa create everything from photo sets to major marketing campaigns. “These experiences not only deepened my understanding of craftsmanship, but also fueled my passion for creating lasting pieces that resonate with a sense of artistry and human connection.” he says.
At Art Basel Miami Beach 2016, Huynh was commissioned to create the first furniture collection exclusively for Maison Montaigne Gallery. This leads to a chance encounter with an A-list actress that would ultimately change the entire trajectory of his career. “I met Hilary Swank, who deeply resonated with my work and subsequently commissioned me to design the interior of her Parisian apartment,” he explains. “This pivotal moment ushered in a wave of media exposure, including a prominent feature in Architectural Digest magazine. This was really the starting point for it all.”
Inside Studio Gohard’s Spaceless Gallery – a curated Brooklyn showroom Genevieve Galuppo
After collaborating with trendsetters such as actress Filipino Leroy-Beaulieu of Emily on bespoke designs at the Paris and Cannes Film Festivals over the past few years, Huynh founded the New York-based 60-year-old Appointed creative director of design studio Studio Gohardt. Atelier Goal, factory and craftsmanship company – May 2024. There, he worked with a team of 150 skilled craftsmen to create fashion-forward furniture, including a 22-foot-long wabi-sabi marquetry table and hands for luxury watchmaker Richard Mille. Masu. – Wall sculpture carved from precious wood for the Burberry flagship store in Ibiza. “We specialize in decorative painting, art glass, woodwork and plasterwork,” he says. “Our goal is to create an interior that combines French artistry with contemporary sophistication.”
Gold-plated 5-screen panel and stucco wall panel by Studio Gohard Genevieve Garruppo
All of Huynh’s designs start as sketches, which become digital renderings and finally prototypes. From there, he works with a number of technically trained artists to bring each piece to life, a process that can take weeks and dozens of hands to complete. For example, five recently unveiled screen panels showcase a variety of artful details, from gold leaf accents to etched plaster finishes. “This work embodies Studio Gohard’s ethos of pushing the boundaries of art,” he says. “This work invites viewers to explore beyond the surface and discover the hidden beauty and stories that enrich our work.”
Currently hard at work on a variety of fresh designs that will soon be on display at Studio Gohardt’s art gallery-like showroom in Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood, Huynh is excited to see what the future holds. . “For me, design and decoration is about emotion and feeling,” he says. “My mission is to strike the perfect balance between avant-garde and effortless elegance.”
To learn more about Axel Huynh, visit Studio Gohard’s website or Instagram.
