Meet Patricia Urquiola

© Albarosa Simonetti


Today I was walking in the centre of Milan admiring the various exhibitions of the Fuori Salone (part of the Design Week)  while directed to the magnificent Palazzo Durini, built in 1648 in pure Baroque style. Above is the courtyard inside, facing toward the street.

 
© Albarosa Simonetti




There was an installation I wanted to visit, titled  “Ricognizioni” and organized by Nilufar Gallery.
Up the stairs we went…

© Albarosa Simonetti




First encounter was “Apparita” a sculpture by Andrea Salvetti, quite a contrast with the beautiful floor, affreschi on walls and ceilings and various decorations.

© Albarosa Simonetti




Again a contemporary piece, a console by Studio Nucleo titled “Presenze”

© Albarosa Simonetti

© Albarosa Simonetti

Admiring the frescos on the ceiling a few steps away was a large room with  a lighting installation … and… who did I see coming toward me? No less than the “estrela” or star of design Patricia Urquiola.

© Albarosa Simonetti

She had a room for her fascinating projects:

© Albarosa Simonetti


The vases were created from about 150 other broken ones she made before, the table was designed only for the installation.

© Albarosa Simonetti


The suns on the wall she said were put there to give warmth to the room.

You can’t imagine how thrilled I was to see her and even more of having a chance to talk to her, actually SHE did the talking, being a volcano of ideas but also a very warm, open person, and she started to explain  every single piece in the room.

She was very proud of the large extraordinary project on the wall, made mostly of sequins creating figures, the most intriguing part of which was that touching it you could change the image.
“Waste, no waste” is the theme of her installation and she was happy that many people responded positively to the theme.

© Albarosa Simonetti

Patricia Urquiola and Ross Lovegrove

© Albarosa Simonetti

© Albarosa Simonetti


Really an interactive piece of art, see how you can make words appear or disappear.

© Albarosa Simonetti

© Albarosa Simonetti


These chairs are a prototype, not in production and it is clear that she has great fun working, inventing new things all day (and probably night too).

© Albarosa Simonetti

© Albarosa Simonetti


Urquiola was born in Madrid from a Milanese mother and she decided to finish Architecture in Milan writing the thesis with Achille Castiglioni, who said to her that being a designer is being full of active curiosity, interested in what other people don’t see or even discard. She always looks at daily objects with a desire to change them into something else.

From the brief conversation we had she said that every object created by a designer must also transmit emotions, people need to love that object, and keep it even when it is faded or worned out. Sustainable design is definetely what inspires her lately.
In her free time (does she?) she loves to be with her partner (in life and at work) and the two daughters, week-ends she loves to sleep eight hours (not seven she said!) and she loves food (unfortunately she said!)
Her team is made of 25 young and talented people from all over the world and laughing she said that when she travels she is sure they all say: “Great, she is away for a few days…!” she knows she is a physical person, needing to be with others, to exchange ideas, to work in team, even literally constantly touching the other person (the Spanish side of her personality). When I asked her why she does not even have a website she said “everyone has one, for me is enough to have my contact information and everyone can be in touch with me”.
What can I say? she is unique and she is pure fire, warm and sparkling!

© Albarosa Simonetti


Did I touch the steps going down or was I just flying over them thinking about the lucky encounter?

All images ©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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Bensen…from Vancouver to Milan

If you live in Vancouver you definetely  know the two most beautiful design stores in Gastown, the oldest part of the city, with the name Inform Interiors. They represent the best of international design, and also many Italian companies like Poltrona Frau, Kartell, B&B Italia and more but they also have their own line of furniture: Bensen.
Neils Bendtsen, a Dane with passion for design is the man behind Bensen. I like to mention that an early Bendtsen design, the Ribbon Chair, is included in the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

For the first time Bensen has  a booth at I Saloni in Milan at the Fairground, where they present a series of new products with innovative solutions for contemporary living.

Essential lines, great comfort, touches of colors, beautiful pieces, very sophisticated in their simplicity.

Lotus is a multipurpose lounge chair, big impact, small footprint.

Sleeper is an elegant sofa that easily converts into a bed.

The Edward sofa, highly comfortable with classic proportions.

Note my own carry-on of which I am very proud, with the Logo “50 years young” (I Saloni 2011) and so useful to carry around the fairground brochures, magazines, press releases.

Format is an open bookcase system which could be used as a divider.

Homework is an elegant and versatile work desk.

In the few minutes I was there it was fun to see how many people were interested, some taking pictures, some touching the products or just looking inside while passing by.

Some of the booths from the floor above… believe me the fairground is…huge…!

More about it soon.

Don’t forget Manito Silk giveaway, deadline April 17, 2011, click HERE

All images ©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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Enchanting encounters

Bloggers at the I Saloni

Milan during the Design Week (also called I Saloni) offers enchanting encounters at every corner.

These are some images taken around the city, at the Fairground or at various events.

“Il Giullare” (the Joker) sofa designed  by Gaetano Pesce

Wisteria in full bloom

A different version of the iconic Vespa

Don’t forget Manito Silk giveaway, deadline April 17, 2011, click HERE

All images ©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!

News from Milan

Kartell event

The Design Week has started and I had no time to blog…today just a glimpse of one of the events.

Kartell and its Transparent Colour

I was unable to go to the event, since I was busy with Fornasetti's one but I was told by Robert Quinnell of Provide, Vancouver, that he and David spotted Philippe Starck there!

For now that is what my time permits to write, much more when I will riemerge for air!

Photography by Edoardo Valle
©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!

Give-away reminder

 

Don’t forget my latest Give-away, to participate please click HERE and the beautiful Mulberry silk robe by Manito Luxury Silk can be yours. Deadline is Midnight PST April 17, 2011.

©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!

Thinking Green

Bamboo Bench

From Milan: two days to the opening of 2011 Design Week

This 50th edition of I Saloni promises to be GREEN, several projects around town will see greenery, trees, flowers installations.
Garden AT Home will present a miriad of gadgets to be able to cultivate even a minuscule space in an apartment, GREEN THINKING will be the leit-motiv in Milan, hopefully continuining long after the Design Week.
Even the department store La Rinascente will have a display of flowers and will offer Ikebana lessons.
At Ventura-Lambrate area, one of the hottest together with Zona Tortona and Brera we’ll see new Green design by International schools of Design as the Bamboo Bench by Gal Ben-Arav from Israel.

In Brera area, Largo Treves, there will be il Grande Giardino di Brera (the big Brera garden) the square will be transformed in a green living room open air where to meet, take lessons of Tai Chi Chuan, learn how to make topiaries, discuss green initiatives.

Giardino di Brera

Near the Cathedral, in Piazza san Fedele an installation called Cuore Bosco will be part of Euroluce 2011 with sincronized lights, sounds and images showing the six major parts of the 24 hours of a day, from dawn to night.   It will recreate the ancient Celtic heart of Milan, where the Celtics had a sacred area (lucus) surrounded by sacred trees more than 2000 years ago, before the Roman Empire.

Cuore Bosco

I will leave you with this image of flowers in simple containers, glass bottles, yogurt containers... to show how easy could be to bring nature in your 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".
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!

A silky give-away for you!

Manito Silk robes

Do you like the feeling of silk on your skin? If you don’t, read no further!

Manito Silk blankets

Could you believe these blanket are made of silk? they are soft, light, incredibly comfortable for warmer nights and there is also a version for Babies, perfect for a special gift to a new mom.

Manito Silk baby blanket

Have you ever slept in a bed with a silk bedding set? The luxurious look, the sensual feeling, the freshness and smoothness, no wrinkles on the bed, no wrinkles on your face, cool in summer, warm in winter! No wonder silk has been revered for more than 5,000 years!  Silk has been one of the first international trade goods in the human history together with spices and it was silk the fine thread linking for centuries Chinese Empires to the Mediterranean area.

Manito Silk

Manito Silk is a family-run business with silk farming and production facilities in Houshan, China, where fine silk production has a long and respected tradition and  offices and a showroom in Vancouver.  Sustainable practices and farmers support make Manito’s standards exceptional. “The silk worms are fed an exclusive diet of mulberry leaves. This results in uniform color and finer silk and it is called Mulberry silk, hand crafted with immaculate stitching and a charmeuse weave finish, you’ll discover luxury, elegance and sensuality like nothing else”.

Manito Silk pillowcase detail

An exquisite detail on the pillowcase, since instead of buttons, Manito uses charming little bows, for their products they use the highest available Momme count (the thickness of the silk, with a higher count meaning higher quality), and precise attention to detail in cutting and stitching.

Thanks to Manito I will  have a giveaway for one lucky reader chosen by a random number generator:

a beautiful Mulberry silk robe for you

will be sent free of charge in the length, size and color of your choice, from chocolate to pastel to champagne. For sizes and colors please click HERE.

Manito Silk short robe

To be entered in the draw to win the gift all you have to do is:
- be a resident of Canada or USA
-  visit Manito website HERE then come back to this blog and leave a comment (at the bottom of this post) saying what particular item you liked most; for Brillante Interiors fans, Twitter and Facebook  followers, or email subscribers, click HERE to leave a comment
- entry deadline is Midnight PST on Sunday, April 17th, 2011
- Winner will be announced on Monday, April 18th
If you don’t already have a link don’t forget to leave a contact in case you are the winner.

Thanks Manito for the giveaway and for being a Brillante Interiors Blog new valued sponsor. 

©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!

I need shoes!

Miu Miu

Milan Design Week is approaching and it will be very exciting but tiring so I need to bring shoes to walk for miles and miles. I need your help, which ones should I put in my luggage?

Missoni

Don’t they look delicious, like a candy?

Being made of rubber they should be more appropriate for a beach resort though.

Emilio Pucci

Beautiful leather and nice details but now I am asking… aren’t  they all too flat?

Then…should I go with these?

Cesare Paciotti

Cesare Paciotti

Both stunning shoes but…do you think I could  even reach the door?

Tod’s

Beautiful color and shape, very comfortable leather but perfect for driving, less for walking looong distances.

Hogan

Ahhh! so comfortable and so beautiful.

What do you think?

©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!