Parisian studio Uchronia has been named emerging interior designer of the year at the Dezeen Awards 2023 ceremony.
The Designers of the Year category rewards the best emerging and established talent across architecture, interiors and design. It recognises those whose innovative work has made a notable impact on the industry.
Uchronia founder Julien Sebban picked up the prize at the Dezeen Awards 2023 party last week, which was hosted in partnership with Bentley.
Uchronia was named emerging interior designer at Dezeen Awards 2023
Uchronia is a Paris-based multidisciplinary design collective founded by architect Sebban. The studio's work is characterised by a dynamic interplay of vibrant colours, undulating shapes and playfully eclectic designs.
It took its name from Uchronia, a term coined by 19th-century French philosopher Charles Renouvier that stands for an idealised or fictional representation of time.
The studio's choice of name was intended to mirror its work, which it says embodies the "contemplation of fictional and ephemeral time."
Uchronia specialises in transforming spaces into immersive and experiential environments and provides a range of services encompassing architecture, interior design and visual identity.
It has worked on an array of projects including restaurants, apartments and fashion shows.
Sebban took home the award at the Dezeen Awards 2023 ceremony last week, which was held at Shoreditch Electric Light Station in London and was attended by shortlisted studios along with past and present judges.
"This studio has made a strong impact in the four years since it was set up," the judges said. "Its projects have a strong sense of identity, confidently mixing a contemporary design language with welcome retro touches."
"Sebban has consistently applied a playful and energetic repertoire of bold colours, striking patterns, amorphous forms and undulating lines to notable restaurant projects, as well as residential and retail spaces," they continued.
Uchronia's projects include Forest Marseille, a seafront restaurant that was designed to encapsulate the "warmth and authenticity" of the south of France.
The restaurant is steeped in a rich palette of clay, ochre and terracotta hues and is adorned with lime-dipped decor, glazed bricks, olive wood formwork and starfish-shaped wall lights.
The studio also designed a series of coffee shops for Parisian coffee roaster Café Nuances, which are characterised by their vibrant, retro-futuristic interiors.
Each coffee shop has its own distinct identity, but all share characteristics such as saturated colours, striated shapes, lacquered shelving and stainless steel counters to create a "dreamlike" ambience.
During Paris Design Week 2023, Uchronia took over the orangery and garden of Hôtel de Sully for its Think Pink installation, which showcased a collection of colourful outdoor furniture with playful silhouettes.
Uchronia was up against four other shortlisted studios in the emerging interior designer of the year category, including London studio Sella Concept and Australian interiors practice YSG.
The Designers of the Year were nominated and shortlisted by Dezeen Awards judges and Dezeen's editorial team. A total of 31 studios, spanning 14 countries including South Africa, India, Nigeria and Mexico, were shortlisted for awards in six distinct Designers of the Year categories.
Each category's winner will be showcased in an exclusive video produced by Dezeen and sponsored by Bentley. The videos will be unveiled on Dezeen from November 30 to December 7.
Dezeen Awards 2023
Dezeen Awards celebrates the world's best architecture, interiors and design. Now in its sixth year, it has become the ultimate accolade for architects and designers across the globe. The annual awards are in partnership with Bentley Motors, as part of a wider collaboration that will see the brand work with Dezeen to support and inspire the next generation of design talent.