Nestled between Milan's elegant palazzos and bohemian past, we go inside Piero Lissoni’s humming design studio
The narrow streets and palazzos, art galleries, libraries and gallieries define Brera, the district known for its artists, designers and architects, its renaissance buildings, frescoes and bohemian roots. It is here along Via Gioto where Piero Lissoni’s Milanese studio, Lissoni Associati, shapes furniture, buildings and master plans for clients around the world. We joined Melbourne architect Iva Fuscia and a host of designers, architects and curators from around the world for a tour.
Access to usually off limits studios, palazzos, villas and industrial buildings is Milan’s biggest calling card, along with the sheer scale of the show and what’s on view. For Lissoni, that included collections for B&B Italia, Flos, Glas Italia, Kartell, Knoll, Living Divani, and Porro, along with insights into the machinations behind how the studio works. During Milan's biggest design festival, the studio doors opened to welcome in designers, architects and curators with one of the week’s highly sought after invitations. As the director of Australian architecture studio IF Architecture, Iva Foscia remarked, ‘It tapped into a broader feeling about being in Milan. Connecting with the design community and the international dialogues was an experience that will stay with me.’ Here we chat with Iva Foscia about the highlights and insights from inside Lissoni Associati.
'The studio is at the rear of a palazzo in a typically beautiful Milanese street. You enter through wrought iron gates but what I didn’t expect is the 20th century warehouse. Inside, the interiors are bright and white, a tabula rasa perhaps for the creative process.'
Iva Fuscia, Director, IF Architecture
How would you describe Piero Lissoni’s Brera studio?
It was my first visit so on first impressions, it was a wonderfully creative environment with a range of projects in scale and budget. The studio is at the rear of a palazzo in a typically beautiful Milanese street. You enter through wrought iron gates but what I didn’t expect is the 20th century warehouse. Inside, the interiors are bright and white, a tabula rasa perhaps for the creative process.
With work across all disciplines of design, what was the atmosphere inside?
It felt collaborative and approachable, it would have been very easy to pull up a chair and join in! There are many pin up boards located throughout the different departments with work in progress, similarly there are lots of models and prototypes. We were introduced to the graphics, architecture and interior design teams along with the product and industrial designers.
'I left with a sense of ’simpatico’! The feeling of being part of a bigger design community, one that transcends distance and borders!'
Iva Fuscia, Director, IF Architecture
Any surprises?
For me the highlight was Piero’s office, with its huge windows overlooking a beautiful courtyard, the space is filled to the brim with books and personal effects. There was no computer in sight!
Are there creative crossovers with your studio in Melbourne?
Well, apart from the shear scale, I like to think there is a likemindedness in our approach to design thinking and problem solving as well as the capability to tackle multidisciplinary solutions across projects. We have a history of custom designing product for our projects, along with combining architecture and interior design in our practice.
And finally, any insights that have left a lasting impression?
I left with a sense of ’simpatico’! The feeling of being part of a bigger design community, one that transcends distance and borders!
Iva Fuscia was invited to visit Lissoni Associati by Space, joining a group of architects, designers and curators from Australia and Singapore.
Piero Lissoni designs for brands including B&B Italia, Living Divani, Kartell, and Porro, all available exclusively in South East Asia from Space – Australia, and Space – Singapore and Malaysia.