Headergrafik | Anna Heringer

Afghanistan room. Photos: Stefano Mori

Upcycled chairs from Lebensarbeit Kreativwerkstatt - hilfsdienstleistungen

Ecuador room. Photos: Stefano Mori

Mexico and Ghana rooms. Photos: Stefano Mori

Mud-wall (Tanzania). Photo: Stefano Mori

Tanzania room. Photo: Stefano Mori

Omicron relaxing spaces

Design: Studio Anna Heringer and Martin Rauch. 


In general the attention of interior design seems to be focused mostly on the functional and aesthetical issues: plenty of products and materials are selected without inquiring much over the ethical and ecological issues behind their production. 

How can the know-how, from places and cultures distant from ours, be combined in a harmonious and beautiful way with the local one? How can the profit generated from a project support first of all the craftsmen, who make it and not marketing or sales industries? 

Trough this project we decided to take up such challenge: 5 rooms, each with a different theme - Afghanistan, Ecuador, Mexico, Ghana and Tanzania - are designed with the aim of engaging both craftsmen from Vorarlberg and the ones from developing communities (12 social organization have been involved). Combining them together in a unique design, we aimed to achieve ethical, sustainable yet beautiful results. 

Each room contains as well a specific mud wall artwork. The mud, besides strengthening the individual character of the space from an aesthetical point of view, contributes also to a better indoor air quality. All materials and surfaces were chosen to make sure that a healthy indoor climate is guaranteed. 

Construction: February 2015 

Client: Omicron Electronics 

Site: Klaus, Voralberg, Autria. 

Design team: Studio Anna Heringer, Lehm Ton Erde (Martin Rauch) 

Local collaborators: Susanne Menzel, Berle Manfred Raumausstattung, Gerold UlrichBruno Matt

Some of the Fairtrade companies and NGOs which has worked with us: GuldusiLittle FlowerPET LampCarvieira HandicraftsLebensarbeit Kreativwerkstatt hilfsdienstleistungen, Frank Appiah Kubi (Ghana), Dipshikha HandicraftsEl Camino de los AltosAgnes Kunze Society, Eine Weltgruppe Schlins-Rons, GLOBO Fair Trade Partner GmbH.