Ten years in which aluminium applied to furnishings has become as expressive as fabrics. This has been the lesson in design from the brand Altreforme, the brand founded and coordinated by Valentina Fontana. Following seasons of collaborations and international recognition, it reflects on the past during the Fuorisalone with “Raw&Rainbow”. A collection which celebrates a decade of research on form and decoration applied to aluminium, interpreted by five Italian designers: Serena Confalonieri, Antonio Aricò, Marcantonio Raimondi Malerba, Alessandro Zambelli and Zanellato/Bortotto. Each had a precise task of designing two objects with opposing sensibilities, both however faithful to the nature of the material: the first raw and essential, through a more minimalist approach, and the second fun and colourful, through passion and creativity. The results, ten objects exhibited at the Rossana Orlandi Gallery, have all the essence of instant classics which is typical of Altreforme, a blend of pop irreverence and industrial technology applied to fantasy.

Ten intense years, which have gone by so quickly. How exactly did the brand emerge, and why?
Altreforme was born as an idea of diversification of my family’s business, which for over sixty years has been operating in the automotive sector, creating aluminium bodywork for supercars. Every Ferrari or Rolls Royce in the world “wears” creations made in our manufacturing plant. I thought: if Fontana Group is able to satisfy clients from the motoring world with extremely high-quality products, why can’t it also be done with design and architecture. This was the beginning of an adventure which, over time, has become a company in its own right. One which I love profoundly.

What were the most exciting moments in these ten years?
Most certainly the collaborations with important names. For example, Moschino, which not only entrusted us with its first home collection, but also the creation of the Rue Faubourg Saint Honorè boutique in Paris. Working with the brand was an experience which, for someone like me, who also loves the world of fashion, was indescribable. It was the same situation with the Perfetti Van Melle group, for the collaboration with Chupa Chups. These are proposals which make all of the sacrifice and hardship worthwhile. Not to mention the collaborations with international architecture studios. In Taipei, we managed to furnish every floor of a skyscraper with the Altreforme style. Then we have our retail outlets, and it is wonderful to think that in Beijing, there are immense commercial spaces which display all of our products.

Is there an object of which you are particularly fond?
Obviously, new items are always the most exciting. But looking back, I find it impossible to choose a favourite. Each item is the result of much devotion and passion. “It's the time you spent on your rose that makes your rose so important”, and so I couldn’t name one in particular. I love them all.

What can we expect from Altreforme in the future?
I want to continue with what I started, adding new products and collections, as always carefully choosing designers who are capable of best interpreting the company’s materials and philosophy. I want to create cross-sector collaborations and transform Altreforme into a life style which goes beyond furnishing. We are already working in this direction.

In the decoration of interiors, are there applications in which aluminium could offer better performance than other materials?
Certainly. Wherever lightness is required, it is second to none. Also, when shine and material quality is needed, because aluminium can be varnished like any other product, but it also offers infinite possibilities for surface finishing which no other material can boast. These are finishes which exalt the material and its purity, characteristics which we have sought to represent with the new collection “Raw&Rainbow”, exhibited by Rossana Orlandi. Lastly, one cannot ignore the environmental aspect of Altreforme. Aluminium is always present in sustainable projects, as it is completely recyclable.