Vintage remake for beloved heritage rug selected by Rudolf Olgiati

In the mountainous landscapes of the Swiss Alps stands an idyllic home designed by Swiss Architect Rudolf Olgiati, and within it lies a very special rug. This was in fact the last house Olgaiti built which is in his hometown of Flims. His career was nothing short of extraordinary, spanning several decades and redefining modern residential design.

When Anne approached us she and her partner Urs (their family now use the house as a holiday home) were on a mission to recreate a very special rug selected by Olgiati himself.

‘He was very specific about the interiors of his buildings regarding curtains, rugs and furniture. Urs's father agreed to have everything done as Olgiati proposed. The building itself is white, with carrara marble floors and built in elements, like anecdotes of greek columns’ Anne.

Olgiati was a master of interiors as well as architecture, and this house showcases his signature touch. The furnishings are an extension of the architecture, carefully selected to complement the overall design. His interiors are minimalist yet inviting, filled with handpicked pieces that offer both comfort and elegance.

Each room flows effortlessly into the next, a hallmark of Olgiati's style. The living areas are designed for both relaxation and entertaining, with adaptable spaces that cater to the needs of modern life. But it’s the little details that truly set his work apart, like the custom-built shelving and intricately designed lighting fixtures that add character and charm.

Anne and Urs brought the rug into our East London showroom and it became instantly apparent the adoration they had for the piece. Where sections had worn over time, there had been efforts made to patch up the rug. Unfortunately it had become past the point of repair with the yarns fading and entire sections of the rug where the weft of the rug was the only textile visible. A complete remake was necessary but luckily we have the original to use as the direct translation to keep the authenticity of a rug selected by such an architect and passed down generations.

Replicating a design is generally something that we don’t do, but in this unique story, given the importance of the authenticity of the original as well as its fragile condition, we felt that this would be the only way to allow the design to live on for generations.

With a background in textile design, Anne sent us a mapped out template of the remake, detailing the intricacies of each section of the design in order to create a precise remake. We were also provided with a colour chart of the fibers from the original rug which we were then able to colour match and send to the manufacturer based in Afghanistan.

The rug was replicated in Ghazni wool known for its slightly curled structure giving a granular texture. The rug was hand knotted using wool dyed in batches, amounts specific to the rug to avoid wastage. After careful construction the rug went through some final finishing being washed and shaved. This beautiful, timeless rug was sent to Anne and Uris and laid in the monumental home. A full 360 moment.