I was born in Casablanca, Morocco, where I spent most of my childhood. After that, I lived in the Mediterranean region of France and Turkey for 14 years. I have been based in Munich, Germany, for several years now.

Selma Lazrak
Selma Lazrak is a Moroccan architect and product designer based in Munich whose multidisciplinary practice explores the relationship between design, identity, and territory. Drawing on a life shaped by Morocco and the Mediterranean cultures of France and Turkey, she creates collectible furniture and sculptural objects that reinterpret cultural heritage through a contemporary lens. Guided by a strong architectural sensibility, her work balances sculptural form with material experimentation, creating pieces that are both timeless and deeply personal.
Working across collectible design, interiors, and architecture, Lazrak collaborates with skilled artisans from the MENA region, combining advanced fabrication technologies with meticulous hand-finishing. Through the use of noble materials and traditional craftsmanship, her practice celebrates the dialogue between memory, materiality, and place, resulting in expressive works distinguished by their refined geometry, tactile richness, and sculptural presence.
Interview
My journey into art began at home. My mom, a painter and jewellery designer, was my childhood inspiration; observing her immersed in her art was fascinating. My house had an atelier, and I naturally started drawing and experimenting with things at a young age. Adjacent to our house was my uncle’s architecture studio. After school, I loved visiting him and recall being amazed by his perspective drawings, books, and material collection. I believe those memories have had a significant influence on me.
After graduating from an Architecture school in France, I spent the last 10 years working for architecture offices around the world. My experience has been diverse, spanning projects in architecture, interior design, and restoration. This journey has been incredibly enriching, especially because I had the chance to work across different countries and on diverse projects.
I’ve always been drawn to design, but it took me some time to find my own creative voice. I believe this journey began early as I engaged in design workshops during my university years. Then, I decided to join a product design class during my master’s studies. During this period, I tried to explore the essence of objects and forge a connection with them. My passion was ignited when I had the chance to oversee a project right down to the finest details or create bespoke furniture for a client. These experiences led me to further explore design creation.
I am strongly influenced by African art, which emphasizes the importance for an artist to be in a certain state before creating, an approach deeply rooted in spirituality. I strive to cultivate inspiration before opening my sketchbook. This involves immersing myself in art books, capturing photographs, and extensively writing to document my evolution and weave a narrative. The rest of my time is devoted to working on technical elements, digital modeling, and production.
As a mother, my day typically begins by accompanying my son to kindergarten and dedicating all my attention to him. Afterward, I dive into work, managing projects, handling emails and calls, overseeing production, or drawing the upcoming pieces. However, as my primary production occurs abroad, my schedule often varies. I travel frequently, working closely with artisans. Additionally, I’m actively involved in missions through various entities like the World Design Organization (WDO), contributing to initiatives that focus on international design and its diffusion. My role revolves around navigating the transcultural aspects of design. I view this engagement as a fundamental aspect of my work.
I choose materials that lend themselves to carving or sculpting, aligning with my aesthetic vision while conveying a sense of steadiness. I work with natural materials that embody both strength and expressive potential but also evoke a sensory response, like the warmth of solid wood or the reflective allure of marble stone.
My pieces emerge from extensive manipulation, transformation, and a dedication to experimentation. Working mostly with artisans from Morocco and Turkey, I try to fuse traditional hand techniques with modern material approaches.
Don’t hesitate to be bold and authentic.
I prefer not to confine my work to a single design movement, as it encompasses various influences. However, I find a deep resonance with elements from the brutalist and minimalist movements.
Mies van der Rohe, Gio Ponti, Charlotte Perriand, Zanine Caldas, Isamu Noguchi, George Nakashima, and Jean Michel Frank.
The list is long! I have an inclination for pieces that engage with me on an emotional level, designers blurring the lines between art and design, such as Tokujin Yoshioka or Max Lamb.
Constantin Brancusi, Richard Serra, Iannis Xenakis, El Anatsui, Pierre Soulages, Edward Burtynsky, Thaddeus Mosley.
Sculptural.
Thank you for inviting me and for extending your platform to a diverse and rich international scene.
“Don’t hesitate to be bold and authentic.”
The Questions
(The Proust Questionnaire is a set of questions answered by the French writer Marcel Proust.
Other historical figures who have answered confession albums are Oscar Wilde,
Karl Marx, Arthur Conan Doyle, Stéphane Mallarmé, Paul Cézanne…)
Harmony
The loss of a loved one
Melancholy
Arrogance
My Mother
Travelling the world
Reflective
Optimism
Kindness
Kindness
Thank you
Diplomacy
Dreaminess
Motherhood
A bird always dreaming of other skies
On an island in the Mediterranean Sea
My music instruments
Losing all sense of purpose
Creating
Resilience
Integrity
Franz Kafka, Amin Maalouf, Milan Kundera, Tahar Benjelloun, Orhan Pamuk
Antigone
Ziryab
Altruists
Uncommon names
Discrimination
Untold things
Peacefully
Living with intention
“I strive to cultivate inspiration before opening my sketchbook.”
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