Imagery courtesy of molo; forest green softwall, flexible walls, cantilever table
Stephanie Forsythe and Todd MacAllen met in architecture school and began studying flexible architecture, with projects in Colombia and Gambia in 1995. They established their Vancouver studio in 2000 and further developed their exploration into flexible architecture through a series of international competitions, beginning in 2001. This research led to the launch of molo in 2004, which combines art, design, architecture and technology. Over the past 20 years, the partners have continued to refine their ideas for building lightly, flexibly and sustainably. Their products are in the permanent collections of several key institutions, such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Die Neue Sammlung and many others. In this interview with the Vancouver-based designers, they explain how space can be created and adapted with the help of sound, touch, shadow and light.
Portrait by Alana Peterson; Stephanie Forsythe and Todd MacAllen – designers, artists and founders of molo
OnOffice: How do you shape the mood and feeling of a space – not just its appearance, but its atmosphere?
molo: At molo, we approach light, texture and colour not as surface details, but as tools for tuning atmosphere. For instance, cloud softlight creates a comforting sense of enclosure and quiet, and softwall can interact with light, shadow and sound. Each piece contributes to the physical and emotive experience of a space.
From the colour of light to the softness of sound, we are constantly creating ambient conditions that affect how we feel and think. A canopy strung across a courtyard, the muted acoustics created by cloud mobiles, the way that sheer materials diffuse morning light – these gestures aren’t just decorative; they’re atmospheric tools that alter perception and emotion. We are attuned to the subtle ways that environments can speak to us.
An atmosphere is not just a simple backdrop, but rather an active, sensory field that brings into focus how we move and connect to the world. We design elements that support the creation of atmosphere: space partitions that encircle or layer the boundaries of a room, cloud-like lights that cast an ambient glow, structures that absorb sound, and textures that stimulate the sense of touch, engaging with light and interacting with colour.
On its own, softwall gently divides and cocoons both space and sound depending on how it’s arranged. When stretched open, it can become a gentle barrier to sequester particular areas, wrapping around tables, desks and objects to create mini-atmospheres within a space.
Imagery courtesy of molo; forest green softwall, cantilever table
OO: And what happens when you introduce colour?
molo: With colour, something incredible is added: emotion and sensation. An environment with petal pink softwall might suddenly become more joyful and playful, whereas a softwall printed in forest green textile brings the quiet richness and calm of a forest understory. When paired with the flexibility of the soft collection, mood and atmosphere can be spontaneously influenced and adapted.
Imagery courtesy of molo; petal pink softwall
OO: Beyond space partitions, what else has molo been working on?
molo: softwall + softblock are one part of a larger building system. The soft collection comprises furniture and lighting elements that harmonise with one another through their shared visual language, flexible forms and unified materiality. cloud softlight provides a canopy of light that defines space without enclosing it. When suspended individually, gathered in groups, or used alongside other elements of the soft collection, these sculptural pendants and mobiles create gentle transitions not only visually, but acoustically and atmospherically.
Acting as suspended acoustic ceiling panels, our cloud pendants and mobiles absorb 45 per cent of the sound that comes in contact with their surfaces, reducing reflected noise. They are particularly effective with higher frequencies, which tend to be more irritating. The result is a quieter atmosphere where conversations are clear and minds are at ease.
Imagery courtesy of molo; cloud softlight pendant
Find out more via molo’s website here.
