Flickering tables and pink shelves: an interview with Patricia Urquela

On the eve of the exhibition iSaloni Moscow 2015 (14-17October), we recall all the most interesting, shown at the same exhibition in Milan. Especially for the readers of etk-fashion.com, the editor-in-chief of the portal Oksana Kashenko interviewed the famous designer Patricia Urquiola, who created an unusual collection of glass furniture for Glas Italia and initiated a new trend of the season - translucent pink furniture. named her collection for Glas Italia Patricia Urquiola. Tables, consoles and shelves change color like a chameleon, depending on the lighting and the position of the viewer. Refracted light rays create dozens of shades and half-tones. As a result, objects seem to be weightless and transparent, then dense and brightly colored. An unusual technical find is complemented by a laconic modern design p. The novelty became real in Milan, although Patricia Urqueola herself admitted to the editor-in-chief of etk-fashion.com Oksana Kashenko that the decision to cooperate with Glas Italia was not easy: until now she considered glass an uncomfortable material. Patricia Urqueola, designer and architect Spanish by birth and Italian in spirit, Patricia Urqueola is one of the most sought-after professionals in Milan, the city of her choice to live and work. Patricia inherited her love for Italy from the famous teacher, renowned Italian architect Achille Castiglioni, who is considered the “father” of modern Italian design and from whom Patricia defended her diploma at the Polytechnic of Madrid in the late 1980s. In the 90s she worked for De Padova and, together with Vico Magistretti, created designer furniture: Flower, Loom sofa, Chaise and Chaise Longue. After the furniture came the period of architectural design - the decoration of showrooms and restaurants. In 1996 Patricia Urqueola became the head of the Lissoni Associati design group, working for Alessi, Cassina, Kartell and other well-known brands. Patricia Urqueola's artwork was selected for the 2001 Italian Design Exhibition and the Intenational Design Yearbook in 1999 and 2001. In 2001, Patricia Urqueola was chairman of the jury for the 19th CDIM Design Award and lectured at the Domus Academy. Urqueola currently works in his own studio in Milan and creates both industrial design and private apartments. We found Patricia in her Santoni shoe boutique. patriciaurquiola.com , boutique Santoni, Milan , boutique Santoni, Milan , Santoni boutique, Milan - - Patricia, Santoni boutiquehas become one of the symbols of modern Italian design, and in many respects thanks to your design. Tell us a little about this space. - This is one of my favorite projects. It is really very Italian in spirit, because I wanted to convey my pride in traditional craftsmanship and the highest quality, which at the same time looks to the future. On the one hand, it was necessary to make the hall innovative and interesting, on the other hand, to meet the needs of the people who will work in it every day, to exhibit their wonderful shoes, and so on. That is, the space had to be exhibition and comfortable at the same time. And one more thing: Santoni started out as a brand of high-end men's shoes, so their company still has a very masculine spirit. And I also wanted to keep it as a feature, the style of the company. And from here came the openness and transparency of the interior, to which I added a little of my favorite geometry - by arranging vintage pieces of furniture, my own items, carpets and, most importantly, clear lines of light shelves and shelves that are mounted on a modular brass mesh. In fact, the task was not that difficult - it turned out that Santoni and I have very similar tastes. , boutique Santoni, Milan , Santoni boutique, Milan - - Everyone knows what you havevast experience in designing furniture items. But in this exhibition you have surpassed yourself. Your collection for Glas Italia has caught everyone's attention. She is comfortable, unusual and very beautiful. Is it really glass? - Yes, it's glass. But at first the idea was not obvious to me. The thing is that I belong to that category of people who do not like to work with glass as a material - it is uncomfortable for me. Collection Shimmer, Glas Italia Shimmer Collection, Glas Italia - - Toocold? - No, it's too transparent. Too fragile. You see, I don't like the very idea of using glass or clear plastic in private spaces. Firstly, it is too ephemeral - this is a minus, in my opinion. And secondly, I am annoyed by the tables through which you can see the shoes of those sitting. But Glas Italia experts convinced me that glass can be made to be anything, including overcoming its natural disadvantages. It is very interesting to work with these people, because when you set them unrealistic tasks, they do not say that this is impossible, but leave to think about how to make your idea possible and even simple to implement. This is the real Italian approach, the approach of the Renaissance masters. So we came up with such objects, the shape and manufacturing technology of which would allow preserving all the advantages of glass: lightness, grace, reflections and glare - but at the same time would eliminate the shortcomings. Technologically, these objects are created from laminated glass assembled in intersecting planes - they both make the light flicker and create amazing color effects. In addition, the topcoat reflects different colors on its own and ... does not allow you to see your feet when you are sitting at the table. Collection Shimmer, Glas Italia Collection Shimmer, Glas Italia Shimmer Collection, Glas Italia - - They say you havevery unusual house. What room do you like the most there? - My house? O! There are practically no rooms in my house as such. It took me a long time to come to this decision - the most open studio. But when I reached harmony with myself, I was very pleased. My home is my fortress, my creative workshop, and a space for relaxation, but there are no boundaries between these zones. I do not have a separate time for rest, separate for the family and separate for work. All in one. So, by and large, my room is the boundaries of my carpet, on which my desk is and my ipad lies. But the most favorite place is probably the garden. It's on my roof - there is a very small flat space with a piece of covered veranda. There were few options. And I made something like a nice patio there. This is where I spend all the sunny and clear seasons. There are a lot of such days in Milan! House of Patricia Urquiola in Milan House of Patricia Urquiola in Milan