Zanotta @ Salone del Mobile 2016 – Photo by Zanotta SPA. Setting by CalviBrambilla, styling by studio Salaris.
Milan 2016 – Inspired by abandoned Villa Muggia in Imola by Italian architecture master Piero Bottoni, studio CalviBrabilla framed Zanotta’s new and re-issued designs in contemporary interiors contoured by vegetation backdrops. The exhibition on show at Salone del Mobile aimed to enhance the strong link between Italian design heritage and today domestic environment. Styling by Studio Salaris.
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The 2016 collection comprises the re-edition of Piero Bottoni’s Fenice table and an homage to Carlo Mollino: an alternative version Reale table that comes now with a marble top. New designs include Niobe minimal coffe-tables with a marble top and by Federica Capitani. Botero sofa and Ruben bed by Damian Williamson feature overlapping horizontal bands. Frank Rettenbacher designed June Nordic-looking chairs and a family of stools for the kitchen and the bar.
Botero Sofa by Frank Rettenbacher, Zanotta 2016 – Photo by Zanotta SPA.
Constructed in reinforced concrete cast with a central leg, the Fenice table was originally designed in 1936 by Piero Bottoni for Villa Muggia. The design is still firmly and dramatically anchored to the floor of the dining room while vegetation is taking over the building that was heavily bombed during World War II. Zanotta put Fenice back into production thanks to the original designs conserved at the Polytechnic University of Milan and rendered available by the Archivio Bottoni.
Fenice table.
Damian Williamson shaped Botero sofa and Ruben bed around the sensation of an enveloping embrace relished in a reaxing situation. Overlapping horizontal bands define the armrests and backrest with a limited utilisation of visible stitching. A gentle inclination indulges the body and provides ample support even without cushions. The generous and slightly ‘puffy’ volumes seem to fluctuate above aluminium alloy legs.
Botero Sofa by Frank Rettenbacher, aside Niobe coffee table by Federica Capitani.
June chair by Frank Rettenbacher bears all the lightness of Nordic design, translated into geometric shapes and softening facets. The material of choice is wood, in varying thickness for the backrest, with the padded nylon covered in fabric or leather. Reinforcing rods in the base of the seating refer to Rettembacher previous designs for Zanotta.
“The greatest challenge was attaching the backrest to the removable padding without using visible screws. After intensive consultation with the technical team, we arrived at a concealed attachment that sees the backrest ‘floating’ above the seat” says the designer.
Jules Chair by Frank Rettenbacher.
Ivo stool and its taller brother Ido feature a slightly convex wooden seating. The technical element of the steel tie-rod contrasting nicely with natural oak or Canaletto walnut, both when coloured or left raw, and encapsulated in a simple triangle that may also become a footrest.
Ivo and Ido stools by Frank Rettenbacher.
Niobe occasional tables by Federica Capitani feature a marble slab positioned on a minimalist structure. Opaque, warm and pleasant to the touch. The slabs in Carrara, Marquinia or Emperador marble have a form that evokes that of a river pebble broken in half, bearing a flat top and a base characterised by a gentle curvature.
Niobe table by Federica Capitani.
Zanotta pays homage to Carlo Mollino with an alternative edition of the iconic Reale table: a bevelled crystal top enriched with the particulars, of the base. With all the care of those deeply familiar with the material, the brand proposes an alternative and contrasting element: marble. The new Reale table is available with the top in Carrara, Marquinia or Emperador.
New edition of Reale Table by Carlo Mollino.
Photos by Zanotta SPA. Setting by CalviBrambila with styling by Studio Salaris.
Ruben bed by Frank Rettenbacher.
