DE S IGN CENTRE
IT TAKES TWO
A finely calibrated collaboration stokes the fire of creativity and nowhere is this better showcased than by the design houses at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour
Already an inspirational place for creative connections, many of the resident international showrooms at the world’s premier design centre foster collaboration by teaming up with architects and designers to elevate their offerings. Nourishing their own lines with external talent
is deeply embedded in the DNA of
many leading Italian design brands. Flexform has a longstanding collaboration with architect Antonio Citterio. It has evolved over decades, but this season, it reached new heights with its first outdoor furniture collection. For Ethimo, outdoor space is worthy of design consideration as a means to connect with nature. It has teamed up with design superstar Paola Navone to create the Rafael collection, which includes new outdoor dining pieces. Statue marble and enamelled lava stone in intense brilliant colour emphasise hues of the sea. Meanwhile, Gallotti&Radice has worked with major names from Massimo Castegna to Pietro Russo and Dainelli Studio, and most recently, Milan- based Studiopepe whose ‘Bonfire’ table lamp won the Wallpaper* Design Awards 2021 in the Best Curves category. Franco Ceccotti, legendary founder of Ceccotti Collezioni, has an openness to working with guest designers including Draw Studio and Roberto Lazzeroni whose sinuous ‘Ico’ sofa is handmade in
solid walnut. With an inclination for innovation, combining technological skill with traditional craftsmanship, involving important architects and designers to envision new designs, is a characteristic that distinguishes these companies and contributes to their success. So what does introducing a “guest designer” bring to
a brand? There’s obviously that sprinkling of stardust. Savoir Beds found creative synergy when it teamed up with British fashion and textile designer Dame Zandra Rhodes. “For me, it was a dream that came true,” said Rhodes talking about the collaboration during a recent Design Date webinar. The ‘Lilies’ design combines one of the most important elements of the home, the bed, with Rhodes’s love of art to create a functional work of art. Inspired by her ‘Field of Lilies’ motif, originally created in 1971, the pattern has been reimagined in signature maximalist style as an elegant arc of lilies. “We created a rainbow above your head,” said the fashion icon. Fame aside, there’s a wealth of experience to be
gained from diverse talents. Esti Barnes, the award- winning carpet designer at Topfloor by Esti in London discovered the work of San Francisco-based artist Gianluca Franzese via social media. They collaborated over a distance of 5,000 miles to achieve astonishing
Topfloor by Esti creates rugs as functional art using the highest quality materials and techniques. The ‘Rhombus’ and ‘Shimmer’ rugs were designed in collaboration with San Francisco-based artist Gianluca Franzese and feature reflective patterns, articulating the illusion of space and light
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