1. Tell us about your very first memory related to art.

Julien Sebban: My first memory of art is probably a mix of very sensory images: places, colors, textures. What I remember most is being fascinated from an early age by the ability of certain spaces or objects to create an immediate emotion. It wasn’t necessarily in museums; it could have been a stage set, a display window, or a slightly strange interior. Very young, I realized that art could transform our perception of reality, and that idea left a deep mark on me.

2. What is your relationship with art today? How important is art in your life and in your work as an architect?

Julien Sebban: Art is completely intertwined with the way I think about architecture. For me, architecture isn’t just a technical or functional discipline; it’s also an artistic medium. Art helps me stay free, preventing me from confining a project to purely rational logic. In my work, I always try to bring a sensitive, almost narrative dimension, as if each space could tell a story or evoke an emotion. Art nourishes this perspective.

3. How would you describe your work? What makes your universe recognizable at first glance?



Julien Sebban: I would say my work explores a form of emotional and immersive architecture. At Uchronia, we aim to create spaces with a strong identity, often colorful, expressive, and almost dreamlike. There’s a taste for surprise, contrasts, and unexpected materials. Perhaps what defines our universe most is the desire to transform a place into an experience, creating something almost cinematic.

4. If you had to introduce your work to someone who doesn’t know you yet through a single project, which one would it be and why?

Julien Sebban: I would probably choose a project where you truly feel the immersive dimension, where the space becomes almost a living set. Some of our restaurant or hospitality projects are very representative because they combine architecture, design, color, light, and storytelling. These are projects where you immediately understand our approach: creating a fully-fledged universe that transports visitors elsewhere. I would probably point to one of the first coffee shops we designed in Paris, Café Nuances.

5. What inspires you? Where do you find your ideas?



Julien Sebban: Inspiration can come from anywhere: cinema, fashion, nature, a found object, an old architectural detail, a travel memory. I also enjoy observing past eras, forgotten styles, or artistic movements that left a mark. I strongly believe in combining very different references to create something new.

6. Which artists do you admire? Which ones move you, and why?

Julien Sebban: I’m moved by artists with a very strong, almost radical vision—artists who invent worlds. This can range from contemporary art to more historical figures. What interests me is when a work creates an experience, when it transports us or changes our perception of space, color, or time. These are often the artists who inspire the way I think about architecture. Some names I would mention are Go Segawa, Vasarely, Dali, and Nellie Marks Nakalmarra.

7. Finally, what are your latest news and upcoming projects?

Julien Sebban: At Uchronia, we’re fortunate to work on a wide range of projects: restaurants, hotels, boutiques, as well as more experimental installations. Right now, we’re developing several projects in France and internationally, always with the desire to explore new aesthetic territories. The goal remains the same: to continue imagining singular places, spaces that leave a mark and provide a true experience for those who inhabit or visit them.

Their favorite artworks