2/27/15

trends | geometric patterns | gio ponti

i keep noticing geometric patterns that remind me of the blue and white ceramic tile that italian architect *gio ponti (1891-1979) designed for the parco dei prinicipi hotel in sorrento, italy.


hall | parco dei principi hotel | sorrento, italy
gio ponti | laurel pattern blue and white ceramic tile | 1962
photo credits royal group and dwell


 bar | parco dei principi hotel | sorrento, italy
gio ponti | starburst pattern blue and white ceramic tile | 1962
photo credits royal group and dwell

the parco dei principi hotel, which opened in 1962, is considered one of gio ponti's  masterpieces.  the hotel was restored from 1999-2004, and is now a listed building.

gio ponti designed not only the architecture, but also the interiors of the 96 room hotel.  so, the parco dei principi could be considered a mid-century modern precursor of 21st century design hotels.

for the interiors, which have a blue and white design scheme, ponti designed 30 patterns of 20 x 20 cm (7.87 x 7.87 in) ceramic tile.  the maiolica tile, which was originally manufactured by d'agostino in salerno, italy, has now been re-issued by la riggiola.


by rotating the tiles, ponti created four different patterns from this design
photo credits royal group and dwell


junior suite | parco dei principi hotel | sorrento, italy
gio ponti | pinwheel pattern blue and white ceramic tile | 1962
photo credits royal group and dwell

'shortlist' | world of interiors magazine | march 2015 | page 45
rockman & rockman | cube 6 side table
photo credits world of interiors



rockman & rockman | cube 1, cube 6, and cube 7 side tables
photo credits rockman & rockman

prada | fall/winter 2015 fashion show
photo credit the sartorialist


classic room | parco dei principi hotel | sorrento, italy
gio ponti | tetrahedron pattern blue and white ceramic tile | 1962
photo credits royal group and dwell

'antennae roundup' | world of interiors magazine | march 2015 | page 19
beija flor | tetrahedron pattern printed vinyl PVC floor covering
photo credits world of interiors
 
 alexandra champalimaud for the rug company | gaelic yellow and gaelic brown rugs
inspired by carved stones found while traveling in india
photo credits the rug company and the rug company

 


pentreath & hall | tetrahedron pattern wrapping paper
based on stone floor and marble patterns by 18th century designer, batty langley
photo credits pentreath & hall


dining room | parco dei principi hotel | sorrento, italy
gio ponti | losenge pattern blue and white ceramic tile | 1962
photo credits j p moser and dwell



christian louboutin | sole print panettone wallets
photo credits christian louboutin

deluxe sea view room | parco dei principi hotel | sorrento, italy
gio ponti | circular pattern blue and white ceramic tile | 1962
photo credit royal group

'all-star lineup' | elle decor magazine | march 2015 | page 134
amethyst artisan | eclipse cement tile
photo credits elle decor and martyn thompson

 

amethyst artisan | eclipse cement tile
photo credits amethyst artisan

my husband, bob, and i stayed at the parco dei principi hotel when we visited the amalfi coast.  like the interiors and the architecture, the location is spectacular!  

the hotel is built on a cliff, overlooking the bay of naples.  


parco dei principi hotel | sorrento, italy
rendering | parco dei principi hotel | sorrento, italy
photo credits royal group

the beach, where we relaxed every evening before dinner, is located at the bottom of the cliff.

beach | parco dei principi hotel | sorrento, italy
photo credit royal group

'blue sky,
blue sea,
blue islands,
blue maiolicas...'
-gio ponti
 
*giovanni (gio) ponti (1891-1979)
italian architect gio ponti could be considered one of the most influential 20th century designers.  his most famous building is probably the pirelli tower in milan, italy. 

 gio ponti | pirelli tower | milan, italy | 1958
photo credit gioponti.com

gio ponti was also an industrial designer.  he designed porcelain for richard ginori, lighting for artemide, fontana arte, and venini, as well as furniture for domus nova.  the superleggera chair no. 699, produced by cassina since 1957, is probably his most famous furniture design. 

gio ponti | superleggera chair no. 699 | parco dei principi hotel | sorrento, italy
photo credit dwell 

ponti, who established domus architecture, art, and design magazine, was also a writer, an editor, and a publisher.

cover | domus magazine | january 1931
photo credit gio ponti archives
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2/10/15

trends | interiors magazine panel discussion | design san francisco 2015

new wave:  new design ideas
michael wollaeger, the editorial director of one of my favorite shelter publications, interiors magazine, moderated a panel discussion co-hosted by the de sousa hughes showroom during design san francisco at the san francisco design center (sfdc) from february 4-6, 2015. 


 michael wollaeger | editorial director | interiors magazine
interiors magazine | february/march 2015
photo credits facebook | michael wollaeger and interiors magazine

the panelists, all contemporary furnishings designers, included:

 ted boerner | ted boerner, inc. | san francisco, CA
photo credit sellinginteriordesign.com 

 deirdre jordan | troscan design + furnishings | chicago, IL
photo credit chicagobusiness.com

mark albrecht | mark albrecht studio | new york, NY
photo credit michael appleton | new york times

 james magni | magni home collection | los angeles, CA
photo credit (c) james magni | amazon.com

here's the gist of the conversation...

michael wollaeger:
Q how are you influenced by design trends?

A:  not at all!  

     my furniture designs reflect:
     ted boerner:  my [creative] voice
     deirdre jordan:  authenticity
     mark albrecht:  circumstance and context
     james magni:  my design philosophy

      it's about:
     james magni:  hand craftsmanship and quality
deirdre jordan:  'the story'
clients want to 'meet the maker'
it's like 'farm to table' furniture
mark albrecht:  'handmade' is both branding and marketing

ted boerner | thicket oval coffee table
photo credit de sousa hughes

magni home collection | colette table
photo credit magni home collection

michael wollaeger
Qis design international?

Ayes, and no.

deirdre jordan:  design is about the material, the process, and the craft
like in japan or the nordic countries
mark albrecht:  design is about scale
in paris, i feel like a spot...
in new york, i feel like a speck!
ted boerner:  excitement for design is international
like at the salone internazionale del mobile, [the annual furniture fair] in milan, italy
james magni:  i think that design is regional

troscan | tara coffee table
photo credit troscan design + furnishings

magni home collection | jewel side table
photo credit designawards.wordpress.com

michael wollaeger:
Qis customization important?

Avery important

deirdre jordan:  custom furnishings are design problems to solve
mark albrecht:  custom furnishings combine challenge, context, and editing 
i'm okay leaving my comfort zone
but sometimes, a client's requests are not a good fit [for my design studio]
james magni:  we design interiors, and our product line, plus custom furnishings
ted boerner:  sometimes, custom furnishings become line extensions


troscan | edmund credenza
photo credit troscan design + furnishings


mark albrecht studio | hardwood credenza
photo credit mark albrecht studio

michael wollaeger:
Qhow does culture inform design?

Ait does, and it doesn't.

james magni:  art influences design 
first, art influences architecture
then, fashion
and finally, design
ted boerner:  i look at how people engage with each other
and, how i can enhance their interaction
mark albrecht:  i look at everything!
deirdre jordan:  design is about solving problems
i look at materials and processes [instead of culture]
what a material might or can do
how to bring out the best qualities of a material


mark albrecht studio | lounge chair
photo credit mark albrecht studio

ted boerner | lex club chair
michael wollaeger:
Qhow does the internet, digital media, and social media influence your designs?

Anot very much.

mark albrecht:  it's overwelming!
but, i email cellphone photos
deirdre jordan:  there's too much information
but, i have a [private] pinterest board
james magni:  i'm not very involved
but, my team is involved
ted boerner:  i create my own screens

troscan | helene dining table

mark albrecht studio | wood dining table
photo credit mark albrecht studio

michael wollaeger:
Qwho or what in the design world do you like or dislike?

Awe like innovators.

ted boerneri like [spanish artist-designer] jaime hayon
deirdre jordani like [lighting designer] jonathan browning
mark albrechti like electric cars
james magnii like designers vs. retailers

magni home collection | jewel II dining table
photo credit magni home collection

mark albrecht studio | eclipse light | steel dining table | side chairs
photo credit mark albrecht studio

are you an innovator?
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