Industry at the service of talent
Elective affinities: the know-how of Molteni and the mark of its designers. From Aldo Rossi to Ron Gilad
The purpose of design is to improve our daily life and change certain ways of living. And it has definitely changed the course of a company like Molteni forever. Combined with artisanal skill, know-how regarding the materials, technological progress and a meticulous attention to the finishes, it has projected the Italian group into the exclusive spheres of high-end production, securing an ever more sophisticated, international clientele for home furniture, modern kitchens and office furniture.
An important milestone. With its strong commitment, Molteni has transformed the word design into a range of products, tracing a pathway of progress which is still developing today, sowing a heritage of ideas and designs considered the cultural legacy of everyone.
80 years after its foundation, the company continues promoting design by working extremely closely with some of the most prestigious contemporary creative minds. In a mix that generates and juxtaposes important re-releases such as that of the furniture of Gio Ponti and brand new collections like those by Ron Gilad.
On one hand, then, there is the project embarked upon with the heirs of Ponti, involving the creation of several pieces of furniture designed for private residences between the 1930s and 1970s, now managed with an outlook that pursues evolution, rather than nostalgia, under the artistic direction of Studio Cerri&Associati. On the other hand, there are the seductive and poetic contemporary icons conceived by an Israeli designer known for his original approach and contaminations with the world of art.
And these are only two examples of the phenomenon in question. Indeed, over the decades many other legendary figures have featured in the company’s history books: names such as Aldo Rossi, Luca Meda, Afra and Tobia Scarpa have added identities that have helped to internationalise the various brands, designing furniture with the same expressive impact as that of micro architectures. Jean Nouvel, Alvaro Siza, Foster+Partners, Pierluigi Cerri, Dante Bonuccelli, Rodolfo Dordoni, Ferruccio Laviani, Patricia Urquiola, Ron Gilad, Constance Guisset, are only some of the creative geniuses who have been called upon to interpret the Molteni philosophy, continuing the tradition started by the masters of the past.
A past that is still very much present in the company today, especially in terms of traditions and values, constantly interpreted and updated by introducing new technologies, new materials, new solutions, new partnerships and new forms of communication.
This is the philosophy of the Molteni production, entrusted as always to designers who are capable of capturing the latest trends, or even anticipating them, of expressing the company’s DNA, rather than their own personal mark.
Whether the objects in question are bookcases, tables, sofas or containers is of no importance. Most of the products are destined to become an icon, a cult piece created as the fruit of creative and technical ideas that interpret the new frontiers of home design.
The lightweight feel of the bookcase by Jean Nouvel, the soft welcoming embrace of the upholstered products by Patricia Urquiola, and the simple concept of the 45° collection by Ron Gilad, transform useful objects into objects of desire. Beautiful to look at and beautifully made.
Opening photo: CAPOTAVOLA IS A TABLE DESIGNED FOR MOLTENI&C IN 1989 BY LUCA MEDA, WHO ALSO CREATED THE BANCO AND NUVOLA KITCHENS FOR DADA, AND THE MISURA FURNITURE SYSTEMS FOR UNIFOR
IN THE 1990S, THANKS TO UNIFOR, ONE OF THE BRANDS IN THE MOLTENI GROUP WHICH IS SPECIALISED IN SOLUTIONS FOR THE OFFICE ENVIRONMENT, THE BRAND BEGAN TO FORGE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT NAMES IN INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE. THE PARIGI ARMCHAIR IS THE WORK OF ALDO ROSSI (PHOTO MARIO CARRIERI)
LUCA MEDA, WHO WORKED WITH ALDO ROSSI AND LATER OPENED A STUDIO WITH HIM, MADE HIS DEBUT IN THE WORLD OF DESIGN AND SERIAL PRODUCTION IN THE LATE SEVENTIES. HE HAS WORKED EXTENSIVELY FOR THE MOLTENI GROUP, PRODUCING PIECES THAT RANGE FROM FURNITURE TO KITCHENS AND OFFICE SYSTEMS
THE GRADUATE SYSTEM IS A VIRTUOSIC HANGING STRUCTURE, ANCHORED BY A SINGLE SHELF ATTACHED TO THE WALL OR CEILING: A BRILLIANT IDEA BY JEAN NOUVEL FOR REVOLUTIONISING THE IMAGE OF THE BOOKCASE BY MOLTENI&C
PORTRAIT OF JEAN NOUVEL. HE HAS DESIGNED OFFICE SYSTEMS FOR UNIFOR AND TABLES, SOFAS AND BOOKCASES FOR MOLTENI&C
THE TECHNOLOGICAL AND PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY OF MOLTENI&C WAS BOUND TO WIN OVER PATRICIA URQUIOLA, A FIRM BELIEVER IN THE SYNERGY BETWEEN PRODUCER COMPANIES AND DESIGNERS AND CREATOR, IN 2009, OF NIGHT&DAY, A SEATING SYSTEM THAT COMBINES STYLISH DESIGN AND STRONG PERSONALITY
PORTRAIT OF PATRICIA URQUIOLA. THE SPANISH DESIGNER HAS CREATED TABLES, BEDS, WARDROBES AND CHAIRS FOR MOLTENI&C, ALL INSPIRED BY DREAMS, CREATIVITY AND 360° FUNCTIONALITY (PHOTO RUYTEIXEIRA)
RON GILAD’S INTEREST IN THE SIMPLICITY OF FORM TAKES SHAPE IN THE GRAPHIC IMPRINT OF THE GRADO COLLECTION DESIGNED IN 2011 FOR MOLTENI&C. A TRUE CHALLENGE FOR THE COMPANY, WHICH HAS SUCCEEDED IN TRANSFORMING THE FREE SPIRIT AND ABSTRACT VISION OF THE ISRAELI DESIGNER INTO A RANGE OF EXCELLENT PRODUCTS
THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN RON GILAD AND MOLTENI&C HAS CONVERTED THE ARTISTIC SPIRIT AND VISIONARY CREATIVITY OF THE ISRAELI DESIGNER INTO SERIAL PRODUCTION. (PHOTO COURTESY OF GABRIELE SALVATORI)
IN 2012, MOLTENI&C RE-RELEASES A SERIES OF FURNITURE AND FURNISHINGS DESIGNED BY GIO PONTI, THE GRAND MASTER OF THE 1900S. THE COLLECTION, CREATED UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF STUDIO CERRI&ASSOCIATI, INCLUDES AN ALUMINIUM CHAIR FROM 1935, SEVERAL PIECES FROM THE 1950S DESIGNED FOR THE HOUSE IN VIA DEZZA IN MILAN AND THE APTA CHAIRS PRESENTED IN 1970 AT THE EURODOMUS 3 EVENT
PORTRAIT OF GIO PONTI, TO WHOM MOLTENI&C HAS DEDICATED THE PONTI/MOLTENI&C COLLECTION, BASED ON RE-RELEASES OF FURNITURE DESIGNED BY THE GREAT MASTER
REVERSI’14 IS A REINTERPRETATION OF THE REVERSI’14 SOFA DESIGNED BY STUDIO HANNES WETTSTEIN FOR MOLTENI&C. WITH RE-CALIBRATED PROPORTIONS AND CUSHIONS, IT COMBINES COMFORT, FUNCTIONALITY, FLEXIBILITY AND INFORMAL ELEGANCE
WITH FOSTER+PARTNERS, THE MOLTENI&C PRODUCTION VEERS TOWARDS STYLES THAT CONTAMINATE ARCHITECTURE AND SCULPTURE. EXAMPLES OF THIS ARE THE ARC AND TESO SMALL TABLES, AND THE STILL SOFA
RODOLFO DORDONI HAS WORKED EXTENSIVELY FOR MOLTENI&C. HIS MOST EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS INCLUDE FILIGREE, AN ULTRA-THIN, ELEGANT TABLE WHICH CAN BE EXTENDED BY WAY OF ITS INVISIBLE LATERAL TELESCOPIC SYSTEM (PHOTO RAMAK FAZEL)
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