Spanish-born, Milan-based designer Patricia Urquiola is one of today’s most prolific design stars, thanks to a skill we can’t get enough of: making old-fashioned things look contemporary and cool again. A few such examples include her use of the classic geometric Vienna straw weave pattern for her now-famous Canesta outdoor range of furniture for B&B Italia; the Comback chair for Kartell, which is a plastic fantastic take on the Windsor chair; even traditional Uzbekistan patterns in the Fergana sofa for Moroso.
Urquiola’s knack for bold design blending influences from around the world can be seen in her work with “Objets Nomades” for French brand Louis Vuitton. Premiered during Design Miami, the exclusive travel line was presented at the recent Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan, where she also launched new furniture for Moroso, fabrics for Kvadrat and patchwork marble designs for Budri. ARTINFO tracked down the designer to find out more about her new work, travels, and inspiration.
Your designs for Louis Vuitton are very much like handbags: the stool folds shut and can be carried like a clutch while the Swing Chair is hung by its handles. Are you interested in designing portable objects?
They have the playful metaphor of a bag, but it’s not about traveling. It’s about the mobility and flexibility of things, like the concept of voyage autour de ma chambre, or “traveling around the room”.
What are they inspired by, then?
One of the ideas came from an object we have had in the studio for a long time — the little fisherman’s stool. For me, this is one of the most interesting items designed by ‘no one’; there’s no father of that product. Normally, the fisherman’s stool is small and light, a delightful piece that to me [embodies] the sense of nomadism.
What does nomadism mean to you?
It’s a dimension of the way that we are living today: of communication, the digital era, the fluidity of the relationship between the concept of space and time — planning a conference call in the afternoon because we’re calling America. Life is more democratic, easy, and social. We are lighter in the way we choose to live and do things.
The works also show off different possibilities of leather working.
The Swing Chair is about handcrafting, and the Stool is an industrial design. We worked on it to make it a more technical, performance piece, with the savoir faire of leather to make it a Louis Vuitton product.
Handcrafting forms a big influence in your work. Where does that passion come from?
I like the memory of craft, which is part of our culture. To introduce this to the industrial world and mix the two concepts — that is something I find interesting.
Apart from the fisherman’s stool, do you collect other objects?
I am a collector of [similar] tools. From my last trip to Singapore, I found in a lovely little shop an old fishing accessory, a handcrafted work that I appreciated a lot. I know that something will come out of it.
What is it about these objects that attract you?
That they are a little bit rough or improbable.
What sparks your desire to redesign something that already exists?
It’s not exactly like that. You are a curious person, and go through the world and sometimes you come back from a place with a concept. The moment you do a project, it comes together inside your mind.
Tell us about your latest work inspired by travel.
I used to travel to Vieques in the Caribbean Islands to design the W Hotels Retreat & Spa. The island was little and poor, with a military airport that was protected by a fence done in the cheapest way. That project was done three years ago and the fence has been in my mind. I proposed that to Patrizia [Moroso] as a design for the Moroso stand [at the Salone del Mobile] this year — I like it because it’s very sustainable and not complicated.
Do you have a favorite object you always travel with?
I have a green military jacket for when I travel. It’s perfect for many conditions: not too cold or too warm; you can dirty it; and it has pockets. It was a lovely gift from an English designer in London and has been with me for more than 10 years.