Nube. Comfort and style
Brianza-based Nube unveiled its latest upholstered furniture collections, spearheaded by Fabio Fantolino. The focus? Elegant comfort and quintessential Made in Italy craftsmanship.
One thing I know, is that that is not my way of working. I don't have a fixed approach; I enter each project very freely and open-minded. I have been lucky to succeed in building up a certain credibility toward companies, which is something that helps enormously to work well and on interesting projects, and maintain durable relationships with them. My rapport with Patrizia Moroso is emblematic in this sense. For Moroso we will be presenting a chair made in moulded plastic that was almost ready least year. Then there are many other projects under development, and until the last moment, we don't know when they'll be presented. I really enjoy the relationship I have with Patrizia, because many projects overlap, each with its own timeframe.
You focus a lot on the texture of the upholstery, besides the form, naturally.
Upholstered furniture has a covering, and that is an important part of the project; it is the very face of its presence. When working on covered chairs, the choice of the textures is an integral part of the project. That is something I learned from Magistretti, and from looking at Scarpa's work, too. In recent months, we have been working on a chair that was very fun, a bit '50s, à la Richard Neutra. It is geometrical, quite strict, with a vintage line to it, but balanced. We wanted the armrests to have exposed iron; we used wood, but not where you would expect it. We concentrated more on the proportions than on the covering. It will most likely turn into a family of chairs. There is another chair we have been working on for a long time, with very soft lines, made in wood. We revisited an armchair with generous forms, very peaceful.
It's easy to see that this way of working with Patrizia is closely related to the harmony you two have built up over time.
It's a free and easy relationship. I work that way with B&B too. This year, we will be presenting the fruit of our research on a very beautiful sofa, also mature from a technological and production standpoint. I am working on lamps, but they're not ready for the Fair yet. There will be a job I did on a BMW series 5, in partnership with Flos and Kvadrat. It will be shown in the courtyard that connects the showrooms of these two companies.
How much of yourself were you able to put into the car?
They asked me just for some styling, but I like to work in a more in-depth way. We focused on travel: the things you need in an automobile while you're underway. We developed an interior that spills out to the outside. I like to give a personal interpretation to the briefing I receive. Like the hotel I'm designing in Puerto Rico, where I have succeeded in obtaining great creative freedom.
On what other projects are you working?
A chair for Kartell and a project for Mutina ceramics, a young and perceptive company for whom I have been working for 4 years now. I am conducting a re-interpretation of bas-reliefs, also to be used as flooring. The tiles will be made using a new moulding technique. I am also working on the set design for an opera, which needs to be finished by May. I really like to alternate the kind of projects I work on; it is part of my personality. The hotel, for example is full of artistic work that my office made especially. We used different woods, unusual objects such as electrified batteries, everything I could think of. Working on the hotel was a good way for me to get my mind off the projects for the Furniture Fair, which was a useful break. Another thing that gets me ready mentally for the Furniture week is helping Patrizia design the stand for Moroso. That's what relaxes me most.
Tailored furniture shapes an apartment in Cremona
For a design that focuses on both functionality and aesthetic care, the furniture created with Caccaro systems can meet all needs and define new concepts of space.