Founded in Paris in 2000 by Etienne Gounot and Eric Jähnke, Ozone was born from the shared vision of two engineers who left their established careers to explore the captivating interplay of light, architecture, and geometry. Over the past two decades, the firm has evolved into a revered name in luxury lighting, celebrated for its precision craftsmanship and artistic innovation. Ozone’s designs—distinguished by clean lines, refined finishes, and timeless elegance—have illuminated iconic spaces such as the Château de Versailles and Le Louvre, embodying a seamless blend of architectural and decorative elements.
The company’s enduring legacy is further reflected in collaborations with iconic designers like Pierre Paulin and Michel Boyer, who brought their timeless creations into the present through Ozone’s contemporary lens. A milestone moment arrives on January 15th, 2025, with Ozone’s re-editions being included in the Mobilier National’s permanent collections, solidifying their influence where innovation and heritage intersect.
‘Our light design philosophy is to reproduce moments when we are enveloped by a magical light, unified with the world and ourselves,’ the founders tell designboom. With this ethos, Ozone combines cutting-edge technologies like Dim to Warm with traditional Parisian craftsmanship, creating a unique harmony of modernity and heritage. Designboom spoke with Etienne Gounot and Eric Jähnke to delve deeper into Ozone’s history, creations, and vision for the future. Read on for the full interview.
Ozone’s re-editions are part of Mobilier National’s permanent collections | image © Adrien Dirand for Ozone
interview with Etienne Gounot & Eric Jähnke
designboom (DB): Can you tell us more about Ozone’s history, when was it founded, how did the partnership begin, and how has the company evolved since 2000?
Etienne Gounot & Eric Jähnke (EG & EJ): The friendship began in 1994 when we were working for a large industrial company. In 2000, the idea of starting a company together arose, leading to the creation of Ozone in December 2000. Light, architecture, and geometry were our inspirations to design the first models. Since then, we have developed custom pieces and collections of lighting designed by us or renowned designers and architects.
Ozone’s re-editions are part of Mobilier National’s permanent collections | image © Adrien Dirand for Ozone
DB: What sets Ozone apart in the luxury lighting industry?
EG & EJ: Three elements are very specific to Ozone. First of all, our creations are both architectural and decorative, we would say. In our studio, we work both the product itself in its design, details, and finishes and on the light output when the product is switched on: light quantity and quality, color rendering, temperature, glare etc. Second, our aesthetic is very consistent from one collection to the next, even if the designers are not the same: clean lines, geometry, elegance, presence, and absence. Last but not least, we are very close to the best Parisian craftsmanship and have been constantly working on the renovation of the French heritage: Chateau de Versailles, Notre Dame, Le Louvre. The same hands manufacture the lighting elements, such as the solid onyx parts for the Embrun collection or the careful metal polishing of the Classique collection.
Ozone’s re-editions are part of Mobilier National’s permanent collections | image © Adrien Dirand for Ozone
DB: Ozone’s products are assembled by hand in your Paris workshop. Tell us more about the space—what benefits do you see in having most of the company’s departments under the same roof, and how important are craftsmanship and the human touch in today’s design world for you?
EG & EJ: From the outset, we found it important to have our own workshop to develop mock-ups, prototypes, light and material innovations, and then to control the quality during the manufacturing. We have many partners outside the company, as we mentioned before; nevertheless, we visit them every week to ensure smooth coordination and a high-quality level. The human touch gives a soul to the production of pieces that are today mainly standardized and cost-oriented.
Ozone’s atelier in Paris | image courtesy of Giorgio Marafioti
DB: Ozone’s Dim to Warm technology mimics the natural transition of sunlight. Can you tell us more about this technology, and how the diurnal cycle and other elements found in nature shape your design philosophy?
EG & EJ: The sun, the sky, the clouds with their thousand shades are an endless source of inspiration. Our light design philosophy is to reproduce moments when we are enveloped by a magical light, unified with the world and ourselves. The Dim to Warm technology help creating very warm moods, like during sunrises or sunsets.
Furtiv LP | image courtesy of Ozone
DB: Collections like Furtiv and Untitled show a strong architectural influence. How do you incorporate architectural principles in your lighting designs?
EG & EJ: Light is at the service of architecture. Light reveals a space and makes it alive. The Furtiv and Untitled collections are a tribute to the lines and volumes of modern architecture. They blend seamlessly in it. If in mirror nickel finish, they almost vanish. And, by the magic of pure geometry, they fit perfectly into classical interiors as well.
Untitled S | image courtesy of Ozone
DB: Tell us about the story behind the Brasilia collection. How was your collaboration with French interior designer Michel Boyer? Have you also worked with other designers to reissue iconic designs using Ozone’s unique technologies and know-how?
EG & EJ: We met Michel Boyer in 2006 at the occasion of the renovation of the French Residence in Brasilia. We together developed a new take of the original XL chandelier he designed for it in 1974. He was a really kind and inspiring person.
In 2013, Joseph Dirand asked us to reproduce these chandeliers for his striking project: Monsieur Bleu restaurant in Paris. In that perspective, we collaborated with the heirs of Michel Boyer since Michel Boyer passed away in 2011. The Brasilia collection including three chandeliers, a table lamps, a floor lamps and a wall light were reborn! Since then, we have also worked with Pierre Paulin’s family to reissue the M101 chandelier collection he imagined for the Maison de la Radio in Paris in 1964.
Brasilia pendant lights | image courtesy of Ozone
DB: Some collections, like Embrun, incorporate special materials such as onyx. What guides your material choices, and what is the creative process behind selecting which one to use and when?
EG & EJ: White Onyx is a very special and rare material. Its patterns and textures evoke the fine mist formed by the waves of the ocean. Besides it diffuses light very well. This stone is at the origin of our Embrun collection. With our stone partner Ateliers Saint-Jacques, we love to carve solid block of white onyx, putting to the stone at the center of our creative process.
working with Onyx | image courtesy of Ozone
DB: Each collection, from Tennessee to Line, carries a unique cultural, historical, or artistic influence. What role does storytelling play in your process, and how do you connect a narrative with a final design?
EG & EJ: You are right, we are connected to artistic and cultural influences. Creating and producing in the center of Paris is our main influence. However, our minimalistic design is more silent than narrative. Silence is also a language in our very noisy world. It offers peace and serenity in an interior. Eventually our story is more on how we make objects and how we are at the service of the most beautiful interior design projects.
TennesseeS4 | image courtesy of Ozone
DB: Where do you see Ozone heading in the next decade? Are there new projects or technologies you’re excited about?
EG & EJ: We continue our path made of perseverance, innovation and encounters. More precisely, we are working on new pieces designed by Joseph Dirand and by Gounot&Jähnke for Ozone.
Parisienne Opéra | image courtesy of Ozone
image courtesy of Ozone
Line L | image courtesy of Ozone
Lina C | image courtesy of Ozone
Classique S | image courtesy of Ozone
Ozone’s atelier in Paris | image courtesy of Giorgio Marafioti
Ozone x Pierre Paulin | image courtesy of Ozone
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Ozone’s atelier in Paris | image courtesy of Giorgio Marafioti
Ozone’s atelier in Paris | image courtesy of Giorgio Marafioti
Ozone’s atelier in Paris | image courtesy of Giorgio Marafioti
Ozone x Pierre Paulin | image courtesy of Ozone
Untitled A | image courtesy of Ozone
Gelule S Pendant | image courtesy of Ozone
project info:
firm: Ozone Light | @ozone_light
founders: Etienne Gounot and Eric Jähnke
designers: Régis Botta, Michel Boyer, Joseph Dirand, Gounot & Jähnke, Gaëlle Lauriot-Prévost and Dominique Perrault, Pierre Paulin, Glenn Sestig, Jean-Michel Wilmotte
location: 20 rue Bouvier, 75011 Paris, France
myrto katsikopoulou I designboom
jan 15, 2025
