Synonymous with design, Italy is home to many top names in the design scene today. Its legacy and reputation in furniture making will continue well into the future.
The first Italian design can be traced back to ancient Rome, where furniture items were made of bronze, marble and wood. Historians have documented surviving examples of Roman furniture recovered from the volcanic ashes of Pompei. Based on earlier Greek models, the Roman style became the design foundation of the West.
In the early twentieth century, the Italian Art Déco style preceded the industrial design movement and became a worldwide influence. Following WWII, the industrial design took flight. From this point on, Italian furniture exhibits intricate craftsmanship, quality materials, attention to detail, durability and timeless style.
Today, Italian designers still create pieces that maintain a connection between the country’s rich past and the vigor of the present furniture design scene. Matteo Nunziati, for example, designed Domus which refers to a design and architecture magazine introduced in 1928 by Gio Ponti, one of the beacons of Italian design. The essence of Ponti’s philosophy was that architecture, art and design must combine a holistic approach to create an environment capable of offering physical, mental, intellectual and aesthetic well-being.
Seeking Production Partner for New Relation Table by Marco De Masi
In 2022, Marco De Masi the Lilin Collection, a range of premium furniture, specifically tailored to meet the demands of the hospitality industry. The collection features a sofa, armchair, dinner chair, lounge chair, bar stool, table, and coffee table. The three main elements of the Lilin Collection are the tubular structure which provides a modern and lightweight look to the items, the external upholstery and the cushions.
During the same year, he launched other collections and products. For the Clawi collection, he designed a wooden structure joined with plush upholstery. For the bottle holder A Ba’, he conceived a suitably shaped base so it remains stable in an inclined position. The designer is currently seeking a production partner for his new product, the Relation table.
“We carefully designed this piece that is committed to modularity and simplicity, being both functional and beautiful,” Marco de Masi said in an exchange with ArchiExpo e-Magazine.
“The legs of the table are designed to be assembled as two trestles, which are then held together by the tabletop. And as the table ships flat, it is easy to transport and can be assembled quickly and easily – without sacrificing on stability or durability. The table top itself is made of high-quality materials such as crystal or marble, and it will be possible to choose from a variety of high-quality materials and finishes.”
Artisanal Processes with Matteo Nunziati
Architect and designer Matteo Nunziati has planted his aesthetic seeds worldwide. For example, he was involved in the architectural design of the Fraser Suites West Bay, Qatar’s largest five-star hotel, as well as in the interior design of a penthouse in the Bosco Verticale in Milan, a project which won the prestigious Award of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in the category International Excellence in 2018.
Through meticulous decision-making, Matteo Nunziati selects specific materials with reason when he designs products. The Domus collection he designed for Turri, exhibited at the 2022 edition of the Salon del Mobile Milano, for example, features Eucalyptus wood, an environmentally sound choice considering the tree’s fast growth. In the sideboard Domus, for instance, the central storage section appears to be suspended in the air, between the tabletop and the floor, with only the metal legs holding everything together. The tabletop can be made of wood, marble or glass with angled joints, and the doors can be made of wood or glass.
He also created the Net sofa for Turri in 2022. The sofa combines a solid wood structure with a leather finish on the sides using a very ancient Italian leather weaving technique. He unites the contemporary elements found in the seat cushions, backrests and armrests with woven leather. Also in 2022, he designed the double-size bed Gaudí for Flou. The bed’s headboard and footboard are the results of a precious artisanal process involving heartwood.
The Importance of Relationships with Vincenzo Vinci
Furniture designer Vincenzo Vinci has become an expert in developing relationships with emerging markets and in introducing them to Italian tools and techniques. He is among the founders of Grado, a contemporary furniture brand based in Hangzhou (China), and of Collectivo, an international network of designers. In 2009, he founded the Vinci Design Studio in Milan.
Vincenzo believes designers must consider new challenges such as establishing relationships with international clientele and learning to share a common language with the current emergence of new cultures, styles and trends. In addition, he insists that the design process is not only the result of what we already know, but of understanding and envisioning what we don’t yet know, what remains to be discovered.
Designed for the Chinese multi-brand Senchuan in 2022, Vinci Design Studio’s Tiago chair is a single molded piece that combines functionality and good ergonomics and evokes nostalgia. Made of plastic, the chair’s curves support the human body. The vertical openings on the back provide comfort and ventilation. Vincenzo’s contemporary soft curves can also be seen in the elegant and minimal silhouette of the FATA Hen Fon chair, launched in 2020. Inspired by classic mid-century chairs, it is lightweight, practical and made from a blend of veneer and plastic through a meticulous process of injection molding.
