As more research emerges around the importance of bringing the natural world indoors, the design industry is taking note by embracing biophilic design – an approach that integrates natural forms, textures, and materials into our living environments to enhance wellbeing. The Botanica rug collection by Bodo Sperlein for GAN is a compelling interpretation utilizing organic elements and a natural color scheme to create harmony between the natural world and our built environment. Botanica features layer upon layer of organic patterned material, embodying flower and fungi alike, marrying craft and organicism in a visually striking and tactile way.
Botanica marks Sperlein’s first collaboration with GAN, the Spanish brand noted for artisan-made textiles. Known for his sensual, detail-driven aesthetic, Sperlein draws inspiration from the intricate structures of flora and fungi. “The design of Botanica is inspired by the organic forms and textures found in nature, particularly in flora and fungi,” says Sperlein. “Their intricate structures, soft curves, and layered elements are the basis of the design of this collection, with which I have tried to reflect the beauty and complexity of the natural world.” The result is a series of rugs that are both expressive and grounded, with layered patterns and subtle tonal shifts that suggest movement and dimensionality. Available in three colorways – Green, Gray, and Yellow – Botanica invites a sense of warmth and vitality into a space while echoing nature’s own palette.
Seemingly growing up from the floor, Botanica can blur the line between object and art, its sculptural presence enhanced by a combination of hand-tufting and carving techniques. Varying pile heights and precisely rendered gradients give each piece depth and fluidity, mimicking the soft undulations and delicate layering found in botanical forms.
Sperlein’s attention to detail and materiality is evident in the rugs’ textured compositions. Expert shearing creates smooth transitions between elevations, softening the surface while reinforcing the organic inspiration. Available in two sizes – including a generous elongated format – the rugs can adapt to a range of environments, from contemporary homes to boutique hotels and creative studios.
Bodo Sperlein is a German designer based in London, focused on the all-encompassing notion of craftsmanship. An expertly wrought balance of tradition and modernity, Sperlein’s works leave the world of throwaway culture in the dust for a lasting look at what can happen when materiality and execution exist in harmony.
GAN, the rug-focused branch of Gandia Blasco, is committed to the ideal that handmade is the ultimate luxury. Pieces with a human touch intrinsically have the designer’s creativity in mind, focused on a humanist take within a sea of planned obsolescence. A respectful relationship with the skilled craftspeople in India ensures economic development within the area, and preserving a design history that dates back millennia. These artisans use sustainably sourced natural fibers, such as wool and jute, adding recycled content into their weaves as well. This elegantly underlines GAN’s commitment to responsibility at every stage of the design process.
To learn more about the Botanica collection by Bodo Sperlein for GAN, please visit gan-rugs.com.
Creative direction by Alejandra Gandia-Blasco.
Art direction by GAN studio.
Photography by ángelsegurafoto and Hector Campos, courtesy of GAN
