Francesc Rifé: “Fabrics bring a human touch to contract projects”
Francesc Rifé is an industrial designer and interior designer, and one of the most recognized figures in contemporary Spanish design.
Founder of the studio that bears his name, based in Barcelona with international reach, his work ranges from residential and commercial projects to furniture design and ephemeral architecture.
His style is characterized by a refined, almost minimalist aesthetic, where every decision is made with a clear intention: to create serene, functional, and timeless spaces. He has received awards such as the Contract World Awards, ICFF Editors Awards, and Red Dot Design Awards, and his work has been published in leading media outlets worldwide.
At Güell Lamadrid, we feel a special affinity with his approach to design. Rifé shares with us a vision based on the quality of materials and the search for essence in every project. He is a professional we regularly collaborate with, whose aesthetic and conceptual sensitivity is very much aligned with the spirit of our brand.
Your style is known for avoiding extravagance. It’s refined, clean, elegant. Would you say the hardest thing in design is precisely making complexity look simple?
Behind simplicity, there is often a great deal of work—from proportions to the smallest detail. But I believe that complexity should never be noticed. What matters is that the result feels natural.
What role do fabrics play in contract design?
Fabrics are essential in a contract project. They soften, bring warmth, and help humanize a technical space.
“Textiles have the ability to transform something cold into something inviting. It’s not just an aesthetic matter: it’s what allows a space to be experienced in a different way.”
What space in your own home best reflects your approach to interior design?
I’d say the whole house. It’s wrapped in wood, which says a lot about me: order, warmth… Every corner, from the kitchen to the living room, breathes the same idea.
If you weren’t an interior designer, what would you be doing?
Probably something related to gastronomy or a craft rooted in materials. I’m drawn to anything that is born from emotion and shaped by hand.
Whose house would you like to design?
I don’t think of anyone famous or well-known. I’m interested in working for people who value natural materials, the passage of time, and things well made.
Plain or patterned fabric?
I like plain fabrics, but with texture. Texture is already a form of drawing, and it adds character.
“For me, texture is the most subtle language of textiles: it speaks without the need for extravagance.”
What is the most fun or unexpected thing that has happened to you while working with a client?
At the Caro Hotel in Valencia, a 2nd-century BC mosaic appeared. The best decision was to incorporate it naturally, without fanfare. Often, the most powerful element is what was already there
