Home » Sunday » Home and Design
Italian designer takes ‘complete approach’
Print Edition
WHO is he?
Piero Lissoni is an award-winning architect, designer and art director based in Milan, Italy. He is the art director for major brands such as Boffi, De Padova, Alpi, Living Divani, Lema, lualdi and Porro, and designs products for international names, including Alessi, Baxter, Cappellini, Cassina, Cotto, Flos and others. Lissoni has received widespread international recognition with his contribution to major architectural, art and design events.
Tell us about some of your works, and name the one you are most proud of.
I never think to design something just because I like a shape or a formal solution. I always work first around technological solutions, which afterwards become about the aesthetics. Otherwise we’re just talking about style. I am very proud of Boffi as a whole project. We started working together about 30 years ago. When I am working with Boffi I am an art director, architect, designer and graphic designer all at the same time. I am completely integrated into the process. Personally that’s my goal: to be able to work for 30 years and design everything, from factories to shops to products to graphics. It’s a complete approach.
Are you currently involved in any project?
In Shanghai, I’m currently involved with The Swire Hotel Shanghai, which is part of the mixed-use development Dazhongli in Jing’an District; the scope of the work includes the façade concept and the interior design of all public spaces, guestrooms and mid-stay apartments.
The façade system is conceived as an array of round aluminum louvers, which provides shade and privacy to guestroom windows and a vibrant, textured finish to the wall cladding, identifying the two buildings in the surrounding commercial towers.
The interior design is based on a combination of different expressive forms. Stylistic features typical of the history and culture of local crafts are placed in relation to contemporary elements to generate an attractive spatial equilibrium.
Each room benefits from ample city views and a system of semi-transparent partitions that preserves the sense of space and light, enhanced by light-glowing elements like backlit walls and glazed bathroom partition.
Describe your design style.
It’s a great compliment when people talk about a Piero Lissoni style. For me, if there is one, it’s about two words: simplicity and elegance. It’s impossible to be elegant without taking some risks, in combining materials or in spatial proportions. Sometimes, to achieve this idea, you have to do something that seems a little bit wrong. That’s the secret to being elegant.
What will be the next big design trend?
I have started to be lighter and to use more intelligent materials. I believe that buildings as well as objects should transform into something different. I don’t like this arrogant idea that to be an architect or designer you design something for the future. I design something for today and sometimes or tomorrow. I don’t know what will happen the day after tomorrow. Can you imagine if all we offer the future generations is icons?
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
