Alessandro Mendini's decoration on the Nativo washbasin by Azzurra Ceramica - Photo by C. Codegoni.

Alessandro Mendini’s decoration on the Nativo washbasin by Azzurra Ceramica – Photo by C. Codegoni.

Design. At this year’s Cersaie, Azzurra Ceramica marked its 40th anniversary by looking both backward and forward. The Italian company chose to celebrate with the re-edition of the Nativo washbasin, reimagined through a 2016 poetic collaboration with Alessandro Mendini. Known for his eclectic spirit and refusal to be boxed into definitions, the late Milanese architect, artist and designer brought his distinctive touch to Nativo with a decoration that feels as timeless as the night sky.

Alessandro Mendini's decoration on the Nativo washbasin by Azzurra Ceramica - Photo by C. Codegoni.

Drawing from the company’s heritage and guided by the expertise of Azzurra’s artisans, Mendini — together with his niece Claudia Mendini — gave new life to the suspended washbasin originally designed by Giovanni Levanti. Compact yet sculptural, its tree-trunk–inspired form became the canvas for Atmosfera, an abstract, pulviscular motif that sparkles with energy. “Atmosfera overlays certain strategic areas of the basin’s body with a constellation of tiny dots — polychrome, or in shades of blue or black,” explained Mendini.

The project reflects the designer’s lifelong curiosity for reinterpreting objects. “I am fascinated by Azzurra’s culture, so virtuous in its techniques, forms, and colours when creating its bathroom pieces. Together we decided to design hand-painted decorations for an object originally conceived by another author, with a re-design approach that is very much part of my work’s tradition.”

Alessandro Mendini's decoration on the Nativo washbasin by Azzurra Ceramica - Photo by C. Codegoni.

Executed with remarkable craftsmanship, each Nativo basin is hand-painted and fired only once at extremely high temperatures. Claudia Mendini recalls the process with joy: “It was a beautiful experience to follow step by step the process of making the basin. Working alongside Azzurra’s master ceramists, creating bespoke colours and brushes for the dotted decoration in their magnificent workshop gave the whole creative process an almost alchemical flavour.”

With Nativo reborn, Azzurra proves that revisiting the past can create something just as visionary for the present.

Alessandro Mendini's decoration on the Nativo washbasin by Azzurra Ceramica - Photo by C. Codegoni.

All photos are by C. Codegoni – courtesy of Ceramica Azzurra.

Alessandro Mendini's decoration on the Nativo washbasin by Azzurra Ceramica - Photo by C. Codegoni.