The Atelier Editions is an evolving platform initiated by Atelier Bowy C.D. within Henzel Studio, bringing together architects, designers and artists to engage the hand-knotted rug as a medium for spatial and material investigation.

Drawing on Henzel Studio’s long-standing expertise in textile production and hand-knotted construction, the initiative establishes a framework in which invited collaborators approach the woven surface as a field for experimentation. Rather than positioning the rug solely as a decorative or functional element within the interior, each project considers the medium as a constructed surface where architectural thinking, visual language and material structure intersect.

Participants are invited to translate ideas originating in their own disciplines into textile form. Architects may approach the rug through spatial systems, structural rhythm and proportion, while artists and designers may draw on image-making, landscape, symbolism, digital environments or process-driven explorations. Through this interdisciplinary approach, the rug becomes both image and structure — a surface where conceptual intention and material behavior remain closely linked.

Within this context, the rug is treated as a spatial element capable of influencing its surroundings. Variations in knot density, relief carving and surface articulation introduce subtle shifts in depth and tactility, allowing the woven plane to register light, movement and atmosphere within the room. Rather than remaining purely visual, the rug becomes a tactile presence that participates in shaping how a space is experienced.

Material investigation plays a central role throughout the platform. Traditional fibers such as wool and silk are combined with carefully considered weaving structures that allow tonal variation, surface detail and sculptural depth to emerge through the hand-knotted technique. Differences in pile height, fiber composition and knot density create surfaces that absorb or reflect light in nuanced ways, producing gradual transitions across the woven field.

Equally important is the dialogue between collaborator and workshop. Concepts developed within the design process are translated through close engagement with Henzel Studio’s technical knowledge, where weaving structures, carving techniques and finishing methods are carefully calibrated to support the original idea. This exchange between conceptual direction and material expertise allows ambitious proposals to be realized while preserving the integrity of the hand-knotted process.

Throughout each work, the presence of the handmade remains visible. Small irregularities introduced through manual knotting preserve the relationship between craft, time and human decision-making, reinforcing the dialogue between contemporary design practice and long-standing textile traditions. These subtle variations ensure that each piece carries the traces of its making.

The Atelier Editions continues to develop through an expanding group of contributors whose perspectives reflect diverse cultural and disciplinary backgrounds. With each collaboration, the platform broadens its exploration of what the hand-knotted rug can become when approached as a medium rather than a predefined object.

Through this evolving body of work, Atelier Bowy C.D. and Henzel Studio position the hand-knotted rug within a wider cultural conversation — as a material surface capable of carrying ideas, shaping space, and participating in ongoing exchanges between art, architecture and contemporary design.

Image: Portrait of Fernando Mastrangelo