L'Observatoire International: What first led you to pursue a career in lighting design, and how did your path develop from there?

Solenn Borchers: Lighting design initially came to me through my appreciation of sunlight in nature. Light influences how we feel, how much time we spend in a space and how we remember it. As an architect, I wanted to deepen my understanding of light and explore how it could reveal the beauty and essence of each project. Through my work as an architect in Switzerland, particularly on a renovation of a cloister and a church, where lighting played an important role, I realised that I wanted to explore this subject more deeply.

LOI: When did you join L’Observatoire International, and what drew you to the studio?

SB: I joined L’Observatoire International in 2011, after meeting Hervé Descottes in Paris and discovering a portfolio of outstanding international projects. It marked the beginning of a defining chapter in my career as a lighting designer, during which I built a team in Paris and started leading several ambitious projects.

LOI: How would you describe your design philosophy? Are there guiding principles or a particular sensibility that characterizes your approach?

SB: The architecture and its underlying concept are always my starting point. Lighting develops around them, revealing the essence of the project. I seek to find the right scale and rhythm of light, in response to the architecture and its requirements, creating a beautiful atmosphere through carefully integrated light sources.

LOI: Is there a field in which you consider yourself specialized, or a type of project you find particularly rewarding?

SB: The development of bespoke lighting fixtures has become an important part of my work as lighting designer, as standard fixtures rarely meet all the requirements of a project. Custom solutions allow for precise architectural integration, high-quality LEDs, good glare control and low energy consumption, making each project unique, down to the very last detail. The moment the initial lighting concept of a project becomes visible during the final focusing at the very end, is always a special moment.

LOI: Among the projects you’ve worked on, such as the Philharmonie de Paris, the Fondation Louis Vuitton, Luma Arles, the Fondation Cartier and many others, is there one you’re particularly proud of?

SB: Each of these outstanding projects required great attention to detail and the development of new lighting solutions. They have all been very unique experiences, both professionally and personally, and have left me with lasting memories. Lighting 'La Grande Salle' at la Philharmonie de Paris was an unforgettable experience, as well as lighting the moving platforms of la Fondation Cartier and developing very small and well-integrated fixtures to light galleries with different ceiling heights.

LOI: You’ve worked alongside some of the most celebrated architects in the world. Which collaboration taught you the most?

SB: Gaining insight into how some of the world’s most known architects develop their projects has been immensely enriching, particularly given my own background in architecture. The collaborative process of developing lighting that is fully integrated into the architecture continues to be a rewarding experience. There are several project reviews I will never forget, including those with Jean Nouvel and Sylvain Dubuisson. However, the collaboration that taught me the most was my work with Hervé Descottes on la Fondation Louis Vuitton, particularly during the final focusing of the facade lighting. It was the moment when light and shadow brought Frank Gehry's architecture to life in a truly remarkable way.

LOI: Could you tell us about the project you are currently developing?

SB: We are currently completing the new buildings at Château Haut-Brion with Annabelle Selldorf, a unique project. The LVMH Project ATP, designed by Frank Gehry, is also due for completion next year, following ten years of work. Alongside these, we are working on restaurant and residential projects, a scale of work I appreciate just as much. Working across projects of different scales keeps my work interesting and varied. Each new project represents a fresh start, an opportunity to develop new solution and ideas, in collaboration with Hervé Descottes, the clients and architects.