Introduction and Context

This document provides an in-depth overview of Lago SpA's design philosophy, cultural mission, and manufacturing approach within the "Made in Italy" framework. It reflects on a 2005 workshop discussing the future of Italian products, emphasizing the cultural and social significance of design and production.

Made in Italy: Characteristics and Challenges

The "Made in Italy" label is characterized by luxury, originality, craftsmanship, quality, innovation, and cultural richness. Challenges include standardization, credibility loss, economic pressures, and balancing tradition with modernization. Lago advocates for a modern, modest, responsible, and open approach that respects individuality and fosters creativity and social responsibility.

Workshop "Italy in Persona" (San Servolo, Venice, 2005)

This workshop brought together designers, artists, researchers, and companies like Lago to discuss Italian products' cultural mission. It highlighted collaboration, cultural investment, and the need for values beyond economic gain to address social needs and ensure cultural sustainability.

Lago’s Philosophy and Approach

• Human-Centered Design: Emphasizes the user, treating the factory as a home and fostering a connection between creator and user.
• Design Expression: Products reflect personality and passion, are practical, solid, joyful, and empower customer personalization.
• Accessibility: Quality must be economically accessible; Lago strives to make ideas affordable.

LAGOFABBRICA: The Non-Factory Concept

LAGOFABBRICA is a "non-factory" embodying a social and mental shift in production. Designed by Italo Chiucchini, it features green architecture, human-scale design, noble materials, natural light, air quality control, and transparency to enhance worker well-being, reflecting Lago’s human-centered manufacturing commitment.

Packaging Innovation and Sustainability

Lago innovates by renewing packaging graphics biennially, turning boxes into collectible art that engages children and artists. This extends to product lines like "Ricciolo" stools and "Object de luxe," creatively repurposing packaging into functional objects, promoting sustainability.

Artistic Collaborations and Cultural Engagement

Annual projects such as LagoCalendario invite artists to reinterpret company materials, enhancing brand identity. Collaboration with Cittadellarte during the 51st Venice Biennale included exhibition design and special editions, reinforcing Lago’s cultural role.

Product Innovation: The 36e8 Modular System

The 36e8 system is a modular design based on a 36.8 x 36.8 cm unit, minimalist, functional, and adaptable. It supports various configurations for diverse lifestyles and spaces, offering storage versatility and aesthetic flexibility, embodying Lago’s principles of simplicity, versatility, and user empowerment.

Summary of Critical Information

• Design Philosophy: Human-centered, practical, accessible, expressive.
• Manufacturing Approach: Sustainable, socially responsible, innovative, focused on worker well-being.
• Packaging: Environmentally conscious, artistic, reusable.
• Cultural Mission: Active engagement with art and community to promote Italian design heritage and innovation.
• Product Innovation: Modular, minimalist, adaptable systems enhancing space utility and personalization.

Technical Specifications: Lacquered Storage Units and Materials

1. Colors and Materials

• Colors include "Sole," "Verde Acido," "Verde Bosco," "Mandorla," "Bianco," "Kaki," "Rosso," "Blu Oltremare," "Aragosta," "Grafite," "Nero," "Cognac," and "Grigio."
• Wood types: various oak finishes such as teak stained, light, dark, grey, and cognac oak.
• Glass components: doors and fronts made of 4 mm thick glass, including colored glass, silver leaf, golden foil, sanded, and backlit glass.

2. Dimensions and Configurations

• Lengths range approximately from 184 cm to 515.2 cm; heights from 60 cm (sideboards) up to 222.5 cm; depths from 40.6 cm to 70.6 cm depending on model.
• Units available as wall-mounted (hanging) or floor-standing.
• Configurations include horizontal units with drawers, vertical single/double units, and open libraries.
• Special features: counterbalanced doors, pivoting and top-hung openings, shock absorbers for door closure.

3. Finishes and Details

• Teak stained oak with aluminum connecting profiles.
• Cross-graining on shelves for enhanced aesthetics.
• Combination of colored glass doors with wooden panels.
• Back panels in colored glass such as kaki and silver leaf.

4. Accessories and Functional Elements

• Integrated video-TV holders and stereo-magazine holders.
• "Twist" model columns rotate on their own axis for flexibility.
• Shock absorbers to soften door closing impacts.

5. Opening Mechanisms and Limitations

• Door openings include hinged, pivoting, top-hung (vasistas), and bottom-hung (ribalta).
• Pivoting opening not available for colored glass doors at heights 184 cm and 220.8 cm.
• Framed doors are not available for all sizes and configurations.

6. Key Parameters Summary (Selected Examples)

7. Recommendations and Limitations

• Pivoting doors unavailable for colored glass doors at specified heights.
• Framed doors limited in availability across sizes/configurations.
• Shock absorbers recommended to reduce door closing impact.
• Opening types vary with material and size restrictions.

8. Additional Notes

• Special accessories include video-TV and stereo-magazine holders.
• "Twist" model features rotating columns for enhanced functionality.
• Cross-graining on shelves improves visual appeal.
• Colored glass doors have 4 mm thickness, often paired with wooden panels.

Product Description: Horizontal Storage Unit (36e8 Collection)

This horizontal storage unit features an open compartment with variable depths of 40.6 cm, 56.0 cm, and 70.6 cm, designed for versatile storage solutions within the 36e8 modular furniture system.

Dimensions and Configurations

• Available widths: 73.6 cm, 110.4 cm, 147.2 cm, and 184 cm.
• Some configurations limited to the deepest option (70.6 cm).

Material Finishes

• Oak wood types: Light Oak, Dark Oak, Grey Oak, Cognac Oak, Teak Stained Oak.
• Colored glass options with silver leaf and gold leaf finishes for aesthetic customization.

Customization and Design Flexibility

The 36e8 system promotes unlimited design freedom, allowing customers to create personalized compositions by filling design templates, supporting diverse spatial and stylistic needs.

Product Range and Systems

The catalog includes a broad range of products such as storage units, beds, wardrobes, and complementary modular systems like Amplia, Net, Madia Flap, Morgana, and Tangram, offering integration and modularity.

Additional Information

Graphic design, photography, styling, and text contributions are credited to professionals, with accessory collaborations from various design studios and artists. The document was printed in May 2006 by Lago SpA, Villa del Conte, Padova, Italy.

Critical Information Summary

• Storage depths: 40.6 cm, 56.0 cm, 70.6 cm.
• Widths: 73.6 cm, 110.4 cm, 147.2 cm, 184 cm.
• Material finishes: multiple oak types and colored glass options.
• Customization: unlimited design compositions via 36e8 system.
• Product range includes beds, wardrobes, modular systems.
• Manufactured by Lago SpA with professional design and accessory collaborations.