Heart Mind Soul
58Pages

Heart Mind Soul

Mattiazzi’s journey over the past ten years includes some startling contributions to the vernacular of chair design. Konstantin Grcic’s Primo is a study in reductive formalism; Leon Ransmeier’s Chiaro displays a fluidity conceived from economic constraints; and Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec’s Quindici presents a graphical expression of a resting lounger’s promised repose. These, along with many notable others, are born from the designers’ minds, fortified by the heart and soul of Mattiazzi’s production. Early design collaborations introduced furniture that championed Mattiazzi’s commitment to...

Mattiazzi designers are aware that the mind is more powerful than any digital programming, and that Mattiazzi’s knowledge of hand-craftsmanship can be maintained, combined and even elevated. New technology is but a part of Mattiazzi’s skill. At their core, they remain dedicated to responsibility in the selection of lumber and manufacturing processes. They understand all of the certification requirements demanded by industry – including sustainability and carbon footprint. And they can finish wood to a consistent, fine quality, which few factories could ever replicate at an accessible price. It...

Jasper Morrison

»Their charm and character are irresistible though they couldn’t be more direct and everyday« Jasper Morriso

KIM: Hello Jasper. When you have a chance, could you answer some questions about Zampa? JASPER: Thanks for the questions. Answers below. KIM: I know that ‘everyday’ things are important to you in what you collect, what you document and also what you often exhibit. How does Zampa fit with your interest in ‘everyday’ objects? JASPER: I noticed some old country stools, handmade with curved stick legs and roughly connected to circular solid wood seats, and this design is a reminder of this very direct solution to having something to sit on. Their charm and character are irresistible though they...

JASPER: It’s unopinionated! KIM: Is there anything else you want to say about Zampa? JASPER: No. KIM: What can you say about why Zampa is right for Mattiazzi, right now – in other words what about Mattiazzi makes it realisable or possible, or makes it what it is? JASPER: Quite often when designing, one’s sense of a brand takes over and you do something that feels right for who you’re designing it for. That’s the case here. It just suggested itself as a Mattiazzi p

»The stool and chair are complementary but at the same time quite different as individuals«

SAM: Kim, do you have time to talk about Fronda? Conversation is part of our working process, so let’s discuss how we got here. KIM: Sure. It’s a bit hazy, only because I seem to remember you putting a few threads of thought together and then challenging me on them. Something to do with the economics of comfort? SAM: Yes, that’s it. I had this idea that if the majority of comfort is about the seat, if we could produce this part to feel good in metal with the rest in wood, it could make for a more economical proposition for Mattiazzi without sacrificing the experience of quality. Metal and...

KIM: Seeing it being developed in the factory, I realised it’s right for the stool to have a big sibling. They’re complementary but at the same time quite different as individuals. I like how they sit next to each other and how the wider plank legs give the right space between people. SAM: The metal seat takes Mattiazzi to a new place too – a new experiment that has some of the qualities of those beautiful Japanese copper and cypress washing buckets. I guess what’s next is to see how and where Fronda can live. While imagination can be played out in its finishes and colours, its application...

Konstantin Grcic

»The idea is to make an object that is open for interpretation, not given a function from the outset, that finds its use and its place over time« Konstantin Grcic

KIM: Hi Konstantin. Do you have a moment to talk? KONSTANTIN: Hello. Yes, of course. KIM: I’d like to hear your thinking about Cugino and also about Mattiazzi, having worked with them over many years. So, I’ll start with a few questions. Cugino is quite a solid piece – you might say it plays with a volume of both wood material and void, but it has a small footprint overall. Can you tell me about the tension in its geometry? KONSTANTIN: Cugino is the result of many tries; it happened over time, with wanting it to be an object that we don’t already know, but also something that is maybe a...

KONSTANTIN: To me, Mattiazzi is not a craft shop; they are an industry. They are manufacturers who have their own factory and great expertise. Working with them is very direct because they have machines, skills and knowledge that is theirs. When I work with Mattiazzi, I work with experts. We have a very personal relationship and I respect what they have done with this small group of designers over ten years – each piece special. I have a history in wood-work, and therefore enjoy the great opportunity to work with Mattiazzi. But also I am not looking at wood for organic shapes, even though...

»Many manufacturers just assemble and outsource but Mattiazzi is thoroughly responsible. They have a sustainable model that everybody should look to«

Brrrrrring brrrrrrring... ANON: Good morning, Foster and Partners KIM: Hello. Mike Holland, please. ANON: One moment... MIKE: Hello, this is Mike. KIM: Hi Mike. I’d like to ask some quick questions about Leva. Your answers can be very brief and informal. MIKE: OK, I’ll try for that. KIM: Leva seems to be about finessing a very simple round wooden dowel that widens and flattens to become the chair’s backrest. What is the reason for this? MIKE: The chair started with the idea of a simple line – we weren’t really consciously designing it. We created an ergonomic rig where we could keep...