MOHD interviews: Paola Navone, on the beauty of imperfection and reassuring design
Fresh and ever new aesthetics, the ability to anchor projects to real life and to know how to read the present: these are the talents of , artistic director of Gervasoni and founder of a design studio that collaborates with the most solid companies. A significant experience behind her that does not stifle curiosity and the desire to innovate lead her, also in 2020, to sign a series of amazing projects, in line with a rediscovered collective desire for comfort and beauty, for the home, for public and outdoor spaces. On the cover, ph by Giovanni Gastel.
What are the new projects designed for 2020?
Within the new outdoor catalog, Gervasoni presented in particular a new collection of outdoor furniture in recycled teak called Jeko, and then a collection of extra soft sofas. For Baxter we have designed a new super comfortable leather sofa called Milano, plus the Piombino coffee table. For Casamilano a vis a vis armchair, a sofa called Curvy and the restyling of the iconic sofa called Pillopipe. Natuzzi presents a collection of sofas called Argo, which includes modular sofas and a chaise longue. Derosso launches a collection that pays homage to the Memphis period. A family of limited edition furniture called Meraviglia. In the picture: for .
The outdoor furniture sector has flourished in recent years, has our way of living / understanding the outdoors changed?
My thought is that every outdoor space, even a small one, always deserves to be important. Today even more than ever. Somehow the awareness of how important it is to live in an environment that makes us feel good has also moved to the outdoors. The outdoor furniture is increasingly comfortable, welcoming and responsive to the different styles of living ... just like the interior of the house. Often I find myself bringing out the comfort of indoor furniture and bring the natural beauty of some outdoor materials into the house. In the image, the outdoor collection by .
Following COVID 19, many designers designed "protective" furnishing elements such as screens, sofas with high backs and armrests and other elements of "insulation". In your opinion, in what direction should innovation in design go from now on? Functionality, beauty, privacy, ...?
The idea of a piece of furniture that wraps and protects is a long-established design theme. I am thinking, for example, of the very famous peacock chair or the sofas with parasols typical of the beaches of northern Europe... We had tackled this theme with the Gervasoni Ghost 18 sofas, or with the Jan Sofa sofas by Linteloo, which with the very high backrests, recreate those atmospheres a little. A sofa-screen, a nest sofa in which to feel pleasantly isolated and protected. Today more than ever we need a design that has a positive and reassuring impact on our daily life. In the image the Sofa by .
Companies are dedicating a lot to Contract, what happened to the house?
The home is always the main theme of living, even if today companies are increasingly attracted to contract opportunities, performing and creative. For me there is no real difference in designing furniture for the home or for a hotel. The idea of hospitality that I like to develop in my work contemplates the same comfort and the same enveloping and delicate atmospheres that belong to the house. With something more, which is of course the soul of the place told through materials and objects. Making the guests feel at home and at the same time immersed in the atmosphere of the place can make the experience truly unique and unforgettable. In the image: Vis a vis by .
One aspect that is never overlooked in your projects is beauty, attention to shapes and details: in your opinion, are we still able to appreciate and research beauty or are we too caught up in the immediate function?
In my way of thinking, design, function, form and material are an organic whole. None of these elements prevail over the other but coexist finding an ever-changing balance. Of course, beauty is something essential. My idea of beauty is linked to the imperfection that characterizes natural materials and handmade things. The sense of imperfect beauty is very important in my work. I never give up "provoking" something imperfect even in the perfection of the industrial product and the results are always surprising. In the image: collection for .
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