From render to luxury travel escape: an interview with Atelier Nomadic
Designing in dialogue with nature
Get to know the studio
Atelier Nomadic is an architecture and landscape design studio with a focus on hospitality. Led by Olav Bruin and Louis Thompson in Rotterdam and Mauritius respectively, the studio specializes in biophilic architecture and regenerative landscape design, boasting an impressive global portfolio of projects. They have been honored with prestigious awards, including the Architecture Master Prize, International Architecture Award, and the UNESCO Prix Versailles.
We sat down with the creative director Olav Bruin and architect Giulia Pastore to discuss the captivating journey of Atelier Nomadic: from Olav meeting Louis in Thailand 15 years ago to establishing and running a successful architectural practice. The team members are dedicated Lumion users, and we were delighted to explore how Lumion fits into their everyday workflow. Keep reading to learn more.
Olav Bruin
Creative Director, Atelier Nomadic
For us, Lumion is the perfect concept design tool, especially when a visual presentation for a client is due.
How did Atelier Nomadic start? And where are you today?
Olav: I met Louis for a project in Thailand 15 years ago. Louis had a hospitality background – so we joined forces and started working through his network. Some of our first projects together were hotels and villas, mainly in the tropical areas around the globe. Today, Louis is based in Mauritius and we are based in Rotterdam. We have ongoing projects in the Caribbean, Mexico, Dominican Republic, and even in New York. One of our exciting designs is going to be built in Zion National Park in the US.
What led you to architecture?
Giulia: I’ve always been a creative person and I thought architecture would give me the chance to have a career that would allow me to channel that creativity.
Olav: I started thinking of what I wanted to do around 16 years old. Since I’d always been inspired by architecture, I went to an open day at Delft University and really enjoyed it – the rest is history.
Let us in on your design process.
Olav: It all starts with the concept phase, for which we use Lumion. For us, Lumion is the perfect concept design tool, especially when a visual presentation for a client is due. It enables us to work very efficiently. Usually, there’s an interior designer involved, and we ourselves focus more on the exterior – that’s where we use Lumion the most.
Giulia: We also try to be flexible, so that everyone in the team can do a little bit of everything.
How many projects do you work on in a year?
Giulia: We work on 3, sometimes 4 projects simultaneously. We also typically have ongoing long-term projects running in the background.
Olav: I’d say the total is 10-12 a year. We work on a lot of projects in their concept stage at the same time. For instance, if someone wants to develop a resort because they have a piece of land, they appoint the concept design to us, only to search for investors afterwards.
How did you start with Lumion?
Olav: A colleague from the landscape office in Mauritius introduced us to Lumion. He made an animation we thought was really cool.
Giulia: We saw how fast he could work in it and the final result, and decided to try it out.
What is it about Lumion that helps you in your process?
Giulia: You can learn really fast because it's intuitive. I didn't know some of the features at first, but you can get Lumion up and running very quickly, even if you don't start out using the full potential of the software. You don't have to look up how to use Lumion because you can intuitively find your way around. Also, our juniors learn to use it within just a day – which is exactly the efficiency we need.
Olav: Our projects always have a lush green environment and we spend most of our time building the landscape. Since our designs are all about nature, the ability to build immersive landscapes is one of the crucial pros of the software. The process used to be really time-consuming before we discovered Lumion.
Giulia Pastore
Architect, Atelier Nomadic
You don't have to look up how to use Lumion because you can intuitively find your way around.
New to Lumion?
No problem—it's easy to get started! Experience all that Lumion Pro has to offer with a free with a 14-day trial.
Where do you find inspiration, and are there specific architects you admire?
Olav: I like architects like Peter Zumthor and Frank Lloyd Wright, thanks to their craftsmanship; the attention to detail is impeccable. Social media, I’d say, is mostly useful for young architects to find inspiration. I do, however, use LinkedIn almost every day to see what people in my network are creating, plus it’s our main channel for finding clients. Louis has a big network on there, so we always get feedback whenever he posts something.
What kind of challenges do you experience throughout the design phase?
Giulia: One of the common challenges is a client’s perception. Let’s say, we produce something for a client – even in sketch or concept phase – the renders are so realistic, that the client assumes that is what the finished product is going to look like. It’s quite difficult to communicate that the render is often merely a concept, not the reality.
Olav: There’s a lot of people involved in a project, so it always comes down to exchanging files. Some of our consultants or designers in other countries work with different CAD software. So, we always have to ensure we export things in a compatible format and take that into account. And when they send files back to us, we sometimes face the same issue – in a nutshell, it's the exchange of files that can sometimes be a challenge. But with Revit and Lumion, the process is much easier, especially using LiveSync.
How do you see the industry evolving in terms of AI and other technologies?
Olav: I’m a little bit intimidated by AI. However, we value intuition the most! When you’re in the beginning of the creative process, you visit the place and instantly feel connected to the site. We really cherish that moment, and often notice that the design process goes smoothly if there’s that sense of instant connection on a human level. This is why we don’t rely on AI and try to always look for local inspiration. For the Taiwanese project, for example, the client wanted to do an onsen, a kind of Japanese spa, so we designed a roofscape from folded triangular surfaces, inspired by the art of origami. We always try to look for a theme that connects to the local cultural or natural theme. AI can’t do that for you.
Giulia: I worked in other companies before that had a less intuitive, more analytical approach. In those offices, AI can be really useful in the beginning. Now, if we want to produce a specific image that communicates our vision for a specific site, we still have to build a real 3D model and create a render. Once we have more control of AI tools, we might start incorporating them – but we still wouldn't use them in the early stages of a concept.
Olav Bruin
Creative Director, Atelier Nomadic
Since our designs are all about nature, the ability to build immersive landscapes is one of the crucial pros of the software. The process used to be really time-consuming before we discovered Lumion.
How do you see your practice evolving in the future?
Olav: I’d like to stay small and continue to be personally involved in the design process of every project. Otherwise, you just end up managing people and not designing. The group of 8 is a nice number, because it gives us the ability to cherry-pick projects and maintain the same number of team members. It’s a nice balance: during higher demand you can turn down some projects, and in lower demand you’re still able to keep everyone on your team.
What is your advice for younger professionals or emerging architects? What should they focus on?
Olav: With some of the newer firms, I’ve noticed that they’re more in tune with their personal ambitions and ideals. For example, they focus on using reclaimed materials and sustainability. I think that's a good direction – people honor their values in what they do, and that lets you create with conviction and eventually become successful. A good approach would also be to specialize in a certain field, just like we do in hospitality.
Giulia: I was thinking the same thing – in order to have a bit more added value and stand out, try to be as authentic as possible. There are so many architects and the competition is really high, so it's quite easy to lose a sense of your craftsmanship. Stay true to yourself.
Follow Atelier Nomadic's journey
Atelier Nomadic’s captivating journey is a fusion of creativity, dedication, and a connection to nature. With Lumion as an important part of their workflow, the studio continues to redefine hospitality in architecture. Discover their mesmerizing projects, and if you’re ready to incorporate Lumion into your own creative process, get a free trial and start rendering your concepts into reality today.
