Happenings - Zanotta SpA

to think that it has a difference
and people want something
different.
Q. What would you like
Italian designers and furniture
industries would do to
project and produce things
answering to new
requirements and needs for
Australian way of living?
A. To understand the
Australian way of living we
need to give them a brief, but
what is the difference? We are
like all hot climate countries
that live on the coast. We are
mainly casually people, not
sophisticated like central
European people. We have to
appeal to clients that walk into
our showroom in D&G jeans,
sleeveless T-shorts wearing
thongs on the weekend. My
point is, that many of our
customers live in “Billabong”
clothes and live in very
expensive houses. They want
sophisticated products but in
a relaxed way - this relaxed way
should also be considered
with very different fabrics as
well, but more importantly
products that have longevity
and are unique in design. Our
philosophy is “Furniture for
Expressive personalities and
lifestyles”. We are talking more
and more to Italian
designers as our market in
Australia and Asia grows.
Q. How do you feel working
with Italian designers and
architects, such as those who
contributed in your Space’s
adventures? What do you
think is the principal
difference between their
“touch” and the one of other
similar professional figures
in the world?
A. The most admirable
features of the Italian
architects and designers’ work
(like Citterio and Lissoni, for
instance, who have curated
the project of our stores) is
their understanding of the
furniture industry. At this level
of design/architecture, you
must have a great business
brain and actually help the
businesses, not only by the
collections they design, but
also the contribution to
develop the business with
their collection. For example,
they could take their collection
into a hotel project or serviced
apartments and they
understand the way that the
upholstery moulds are
produced and they understand
the research and development
process. They don’t just give a
sketch, they give drawings to
develop the proper prototype
and develop the market. Most
of them are very affluent Art
Directors of major companies.
They understand the image
clearly and where the brand is
driven from. They don’t only
just design a piece of
industrial product.
BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE
More Space as conceived by
Kevin Jarrett is a space to think
about design and to communicate
its evolution processes. It is also
a special shop-window/story
where ideas, images, witnesses
of his favourite artists and
designers are welcome:
Ron Arad, Philippe Starck, Piero
Lissoni, Antonio Citterio (who
has taken care of setting up
the Space Furniture shops
together with John Pawson).
Above, exteriors and interiors
of the Sydney showroom.
Happenings
no.2/06 p.8
«Italian design of fashion,
furniture, interior products is
much more of a way of life»