Oct 1

Pietro Franceschini | Architect & Designer

Pietro Franceschini is a name that reflects both the aesthetics of Florence and the energy of New York in his designs. Franceschini, who draws attention with his bold and characterful pieces that combine sculptural forms and minimalism, brings a breath of fresh air to furniture design. We talked to Pietro, who manages to add a strong character to every piece he designs, about his creation process, his understanding of design and his vision that shapes modern life.

Interview: Onur Çoban

Who is Pietro Franceschini? Can you briefly tell us about yourself?

Some people say I am an artist and some others see me as an architect. Reality is that even my own perception of myself really goes in waves. My background however is pure architecture. After growing up in Florence, I started to travel extensively in the never ending process of getting to know my self and building-up my own taste. Lisbon, Egypt, Paris and New York are all places that I have called ‘home’ at a certain point but I am now setting my life in the beautiful Milan.

How would you describe your design philosophy?

Remove, remove and remove again. I see it as a process of cleaning and depurate an object from what is irrelevant to get deep down to its essence. When there’s nothing left to be removed, you’re done.

Lavinia Coffe Table & Magda Chair

What factors do you consider when researching materials or choosing materials for your new projects? Can you tell us a little bit about the material choices in your work?

Materials are the most effective tool to convey a certain vibe to your work. For me it rather can be something sleek to bring-out a more futurist character and let the shape speak for itself or using surprising and sophisticated textures to achieve a different type of visual refinement.

“My favorite material is metal because of its high expressivity and versatility. I’m currently using stainless steel in many new projects. It can be neat and polished rather than patinated speaking very different languages.”

Silo Chair & Unmatched Low Table

Six Variations on Stainless Steel

Which of your works has excited you the most in terms of the design process and the final product?

The current project is always the most exciting, no exceptions. I just designed and produced a pair of two seats ‘Les Incroyables’ for the Parisian home of the eclectic Mauricio Kirschner. That has been a brilliant collaboration that led to an exciting result.

Which important trends and movements do you think will determine the industrial design and furniture design sector in the coming years? What awaits us in areas such as sustainability, digital production techniques and robotic technologies?

I think in the coming years we will get to see if the pendulum will keep moving in the direction of collectible rather then industrial design. I am not really sure about it. Concerning sustainability, I am not a great fan of its usual definition. I would rather look at it in terms of how long an object is able to stay current and keep speaking to a certain public. Digital production techniques have been there for quite sometimes but haven’t yet had a real impact on the industry, maybe that time is coming soon!

Urania & Atlas Fur

Can you tell us a little about the sources of inspiration behind your work? Who are the names you follow with curiosity in this field or in different disciplines?

Inspiration is constantly in motion and reflects each time the research behind my work. During the designing of ‘Olympus Collection’ the question was how to apply a contemporary vocabulary to a classical sensibility. The inspirations were Greek Gods, ancient buildings and infrastructures, mythology.. The current series I am working on ‘Objects of Anger’ finds instead its inspiration in WW2 architectural relics as nuclear silos, Nazi bunkers, sound mirrors.. In terms of references there are many, both contemporary and from the past. Just to name some of them: the great Renaissance masters such as Leon Battista Alberti and Adolf Loos and the Vienna Secession, Mendelson and Bruno Taut among the modernists. Rick Owens, Destroyers Builders, Pedro Reyes are very interesting contemporary names.