Isern Serra on Design, Light, and the Quiet Power of Space
Isern Serra on Design, Light, and the Quiet Power of Space
Barcelona-based designer Isern Serra shares his approach to light, silence, and materiality, creating spaces that balance restraint and warmth
Photographer:
Salva Lopez
Barcelona-based designer Isern Serra has built a practice where silence, light, and materiality define the atmosphere of space. His interiors and objects move between calm restraint and quiet experimentation, guided by a curiosity that resists trends and seeks timelessness.
From his first personal project, a home that became both a laboratory and a calling card, to collaborations with leading brands and artists, Serra has developed a way of working that is both intimate and expansive. Rooted in Barcelona yet international in outlook, his projects reflect a sensitivity to context, a respect for craft, and a belief in design as a form of well-being.
In this interview, we speak with Serra about his beginnings, his approach to atmosphere, the importance of collaboration, and how Barcelona continues to shape his design philosophy.
VISUAL PLEASURE Magazine: What first drew you to design, and how did your journey begin?
Isern Serra: My father was a professor of Symbolism in Fine Arts at the University of Barcelona, and my mother, a draftswoman, ran a fashion company. The world of art and creation was therefore always very present at home. In addition, both have written numerous books and articles, and they are the directors of ArsGarvis, a research website dedicated to art and symbolism. I am certain that this environment helped me to think and develop my ideas, as well as to give value to storytelling. It also taught me to seek beauty in a more honest, simpler, and purer way.
Your studio’s projects are known for a calm, almost meditative quality. How do you approach creating this sense of atmosphere in your work?
For me, it begins with silence. I try to remove the unnecessary and listen to what the space really needs. Light, proportion, and materiality guide everything. By focusing on the essential and allowing the space to breathe, a sense of calmness appears almost naturally.
I believe there is a part of well-being in the design of space. A place can give you calm and a feeling of shelter, and that is what I am always seeking.
Collaboration seems central to your practice. How do you choose the people and brands you work with?
Totally. I love building synergies with brands, designers, and artists who share our way of understanding design. For example, Fuego Camina Conmigo became the showroom for Sancal, and now we’re working with Omelette, a furniture publisher that is sharing a space with ROOM magazine’s offices in Madrid. The same happened with Actiu and Vibia in Barcelona. We also love collaborating with artists, like the women from Forever Studio at Vasto Gallery, where we curated different pieces for a Sancal exhibition.
Our studio has also turned into a kind of small gallery, where we bring together pieces from brands and artists we admire—a space where we host dinners and presentations.
Many of your interiors combine minimalism with unexpected textures and materials. How do you balance restraint with experimentation?
We are drawn to spaces that are simple yet warm—where nothing is missing and nothing is in excess. Few elements, but powerful ones, shape a unique character in each place. As a studio, we are guided by curiosity and research; in every project, there is always an object, a material, or a form that takes us beyond our comfort zone. It becomes a pretext for experimentation, a way of introducing the unexpected, of giving the space its singular soul. Our work lives in the delicate balance between serenity and exploration.
Is there a project or moment in your career that has been especially meaningful to you?
My first home—my first personal project, where I was both the client and the creator, free to shape a space with everything I loved. Guided by the spirit of Coderch and Manrique, I let their influence accompany me, though the outcome was beautifully unexpected. The house soon took on a life of its own: it was published widely, and design and fashion companies sought it out as a setting for their shoots, giving the studio its first true visibility.
It was an intimate project, one I shared with my partner, Valeria Vasi, and it became the foundation of how I think and how I approach design. From there, clients began to arrive with a conceptual and aesthetic openness that allowed each project to grow richer, more profound, more alive.
How does Barcelona as a city influence your practice and design philosophy?
Barcelona is a city of contrasts: tradition and modernity, vibrancy and calm. The Mediterranean light, the sea, and the city’s rich architectural heritage constantly inspire me. It teaches me to create spaces that are functional and essential, but also filled with life.
“Our work lives in the delicate balance between serenity and exploration.”
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in design. How does this play a role in your projects?
For me, sustainability is closely tied to timelessness. A space that is well designed, that people don’t want to change after a few years, is already sustainable. I also work with local artisans and natural materials, so that projects respect their context and age gracefully.
Outside of design, what inspires you? Art, music, film, travel?
I draw inspiration from many places: my team, led by Aasheen Mittal; my friends; the journeys I take; my clients; fairs; art; the mountains; vernacular architecture; craftsmanship; and the constant search through research. Yet, beyond all of this, the deepest source of inspiration comes from my daughters, Lea and Gaia.
If you could give one piece of advice to young designers starting out, what would it be?
Stay true to your essence. Trends come and go, but your voice and your sensitivity are unique. Be patient, trust the process, and never lose the curiosity to keep learning. And work, work, work—get crazy about what you do.
What upcoming projects are you most excited about, and what makes them special to you?
We are creating a new collectible design gallery, The ORB, in Lisbon, a space that will also embrace a tea house by Ogata Paris. In London, we are shaping a pizza restaurant and cocktail bar, places where encounters and stories will unfold. And on the Costa Brava, a small hotel is taking form—an intimate retreat where design and landscape meet.
“Stay true to your essence. Trends come and go, but your voice and your sensitivity are unique.”
