Meet Gio Ponti

A famous architect who designed buildings from Hong Kong to Sao Paulo to New York, a founder and editor of Domus, iconic architectural magazine founded in 1928, a University professor and more…I am talking about Gio Ponti (Milan 1891 – Milan 1979).

His native city, Milan, is now presenting two major retrospectives, one on his beautiful ceramics “Il fascino della ceramica” regarding his production for Richard-Ginori in the 1920’s. The exhibition is hosted in the same building designed by him, the tallest building in Milan “Grattacielo Pirelli” built between 1956 and 1960.

“A metaphor on the opening on the city’s horizon” as he said.

Two pictures taken by me from the 31st floor of the Pirellone, the Milanese nickname for the building, where you can have a 360° view of Milan.
At La Triennale (design museum) another exhibition called “Espressioni di Gio Ponti” will show the 70 years of his creativity, from architecture to industrial design, from artisanal production to every aspect of his artistic talent.

Domus magazine

Two chairs, on the right the “Superleggera” a chair designed by Ponti for Cassina, year 1957.

A classic reference.

Year 1950, a chandelier designed for Venini

Almost metaphysical.

 

Cabinet designed by Gio Ponti and decorated by Piero Fornasetti.

Gio Ponti …a timeless talent, always with an eye to the past, and one to the future.

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".

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The Joy of Spring

Roses and Jasmine in full bloom everywhere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

All these images were taken in the gardens of  Palazzo Lantieri in Gorizia.

From Palazzo Lantieri website:
“Palazzo Lantieri is situated in the historic centre of Gorizia in beautiful surroundings: a visit to
this prestigious historical dwelling with its harmonious blend of modernity and tradition is a unique experience. Its spacious and elegant rooms were frequented in the past by royal and stellar literary figures including Goethe, Goldoni and Casanova, and are now open to those who want the experience of being seduced by their timeless charm.
(…)
Palazzo Lantieri has been an important cultural reference point for centuries, not only for Gorizia
and its county, but for Central Europe as well. It was built in the 14th century to guard the south-western entrance to the city. Various alterations were carried out to enlarge and adorn it, resulting in its slow transformation from fortress into the noble dwelling we see today. Its famous guests have included the French royal family, Pope Pius VI, the Archduchess of Austria Maria Theresa and Napoleon, as well as important cultural figures such as Goethe, Schiller, Goldoni, Pietro Metastasio, Casanova and Lorenzo da Ponte, all of whom mention it in their writings.”

Gorizia is a charming city situated in the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, at the borders of Austria and Slovenia.
The whole region is an enchanting area going from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea, at the North East corner of Italy, where my family is from and I have to say...an area not well known even by Italians!

Photography© Albarosa Simonetti

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".

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Philippe Starck!

In my previous post I asked: “Can you guess who he is?”  but I should have guessed that the image related to  the question was way too easy to guess, I guess! Alternatively my dear readers are very knowledgeable about design, in fact almost everyone gave the right answer, but the first to arrive in the comments (please click HERE and scroll to the comments section) was from:

Nancy Bendtsen, of the famous Inform Interiors stores in Vancouver, she actually did not name him but she said that they will be soon selling, among all the treasures of Starck and all the most famous designers, his new chair for Driade.
To be fair the first person to actually “name” Philippe Starck in the comments to my previous post was John Kuharchuk, so I decided to name both readers!

Bravi!

“I like to open the doors to people's brain." - Philippe Starck. This is the first quote you can find on his website .
In Starck’s long career, he has applied his creativity to so many different fields from a waste management center in Paris to international hotels to furniture like this one:

 

 

Miss Less chair by Starck for Kartell, as seen at I Saloni 2011, Milan, a rigorous design, almost an abstract sculpture for an everyday object.

Another iconic design, already present at MoMa, New York...

...is the lemon squeezer by Starck for Alessi.

How can I describe Starck work in a few lines? Almost impossible due to his incredible work but I will try also with the help of some of his famous quotes.  Starck, born to a well–off family remembers his youth  saying "I was completely unable to adapt to society and school, I spent my youth escaping."
But even if shy Starck was soon beginning to blossom socially and the design world welcomed his  enthusiasm for his work. "Good design can and should be part of everyday life. I'm always looking for magic in reality," he told People. "For the same price, you can give a lot more love and respect and service to people." His philosophy has always looked to the masses: good style but manufactured at a low cost.
In another interview on Newsweek he said: "A nice object will never change the life of somebody, but it helps. Everything around us has an influence on our subconscious. It will not bring back the husband, but it can send a sign of intelligence and poetry and humor."

When a journalist asked him what design he was most proud of. "The next one," Starck replied. "Because I am never, ever satisfied with what I've done."
And we are so happy that he is never satisfied, so we can again, and again, be surprised.

like with his famous gnomes, Attila and Napoléon, created for Kartell following the  “Movement for the liberation of the gnomes from gardens”. Thanks to Starck now gnomes can live with us in our houses!

Obviously he is having fun creating and thanks to him we can bring a touch of humor in our home!

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".

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Can you guess who he is?

A Super creative man!

A Super original mind!

He has fun creating and we have fun looking at his projects. He started his career with inflatable objects and he declares that he is not interested in designers or architects. His youngest child was simply called K.

Now it is your turn to write but remember, comments will be published all together, and the first to guess the right name will not win anything…but only have the “privilege” to be named in the follow-up post.

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".
If you receive this post by Email and wish to leave a comment please click HERE and go to the comments section.
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Brillante choice

Mi Ming chair by Philippe Starck, another piece that will become a classic like the Ghost chair.

Available in three colors and easily stackable.

A contemporary chair perfect for any interior decoration, modern or classic,

I can see it around an antique table too.

Photography© Albarosa Simonetti

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".
If you receive this post by Email and wish to leave a comment please click HERE and go to the comments section.
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Can you spot the frog?

No, not the big one on the wall, but the smaller one…when I saw it from the window I smiled and I had to enter the store L’Oro dei Farlocchi, one of my favorites in Milan, in the trendy area of Brera, for the eclectic collection of antiques and unique items from different countries.

 

Another admirer, wandering on the streets of Milan on his bike.

Photography© Albarosa Simonetti

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".
If you receive this post by Email and wish to leave a comment please click HERE and go to the comments section.
I love to hear from you!