59 INMA AND MORITZ: COUNTRY CHICOS

She’s a Spanish designer. He’s a German architect. Passion and projects without borders. Nature called her and he followed to the countryside of Valencia. Here they create prototypes, grow vegetables and await a special creation – their first born

At the home of Inma Bermúdez and Moritz Krefter, fairy-tales are the order of the day. «We try to be outdoors as much as possible. It’s our idea of sustainable living », explained Krefter. «In the winter, as soon as we get up, we go down to the garden to collect oranges for breakfast». «Summer here starts in April», Bermúdez echoed. «For six months out of the year, we only feel the need to go inside the house to sleep». An enviable routine, and a love story straight out of a romantic comedy. Bermúdez, Spanish, and Krefter, German, met eight years ago on the campus of Boisbuchet, in France. Bermúdez, a designer, had worked there for a few years and stopped by to say hello. Krefter, an architect, was holding a workshop. Two weeks after they first met, Krefter was ready to pack his bags and follow Bermúdez to her homeland of Valencia. «From that moment on, we never stopped working on projects - together or separately», they stated. The most famous of their collaborative creations, beside their project for Ikea, is Follow Me. A small lamp (though a large version will be presented at the Salone del Mobile in Milan) designed for Marset, it’s wireless, rechargeable, meant to be carried around the house, from one room to the next, even out on the balcony or in the garden. Then there’s their solo work. Bermúdez is one of the creators of the new direction taken by Lladrò, the historic Spanish porcelain figurine brand. As for Krefter, he teaches product design at two universities and also keeps busy with “problem solving” in general. Their atelier, Inma Bermudez Studio, is found in the hinterland of Valencia: «Living in direct contact with nature has always been my mother’s dream», explained Bermúdez. «I discovered the countryside during an Erasmus programme in southern Germany. There I understood that it was also my dream. When I came back to Spain, I immediately began working on this project for life». Two neighbouring houses, one for her and one for her mother. Krefter preferred not to take a leading role. Salvador Gillabert of the Bioce studio was chosen as the architect, while Krefter only collaborated. «Taking on the responsibility by myself