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Mauro Lipparini and Visionnaire celebrate 40 years of Italian design
Villa D’Este by Mauro Lipparini for Visionnaire
Video: Courtesy of Visionnaire
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Mauro Lipparini and Visionnaire celebrate 40 years of Italian design

Designed as a true manifestation of modern living, Volare, Visionnaire’s new concept home is adorned with bespoke furniture pieces by Mauro Lipparini. 

by STIRpad
Published on : May 25, 2023

Conveying a true philosophy of living as well as a sartorial approach to the creation of one-of-a-kind products, Volare is Visionnaire's new home concept. Designed in collaboration with renowned designers such as Alessandro La Spada, Steve Leung, Mauro Lipparini, Draga & Aurel, Studiopepe, m2atelier, and Gupica, the brand unveiled a stunning collection at Salone del Mobile 2023, Milano.

Among the featured designers, Italian designer Mauro Lipparini's contribution to Volare also marks four decades of his collaboration with Visionnaire, owing to their shared design language of minimalist forms, sophistication and Italian design principles. “I worked with the brand for the first time in 1983, this year marks 40 years of our collaboration which is very special. Even after 40 years, our association continues to evolve in a strong way,” shares Lipparini. From beds and chairs to vanity and kitchen designs Lipparini has crafted bespoke furniture designs for Volare that exude both elegance and functionality, satiating Visionnaire’s goal. Lipparini's work is infused with a spirit of enthusiasm, a buoyant sense of pleasure and possibility, and is rooted in minimalist forms and clear, robust lines that define distinctive elements of Italian minimalism, also evident in all the pieces designed for Volare. He further expands the palette of traditional minimalism by freely utilising vibrant colours, organic textures, and creative visual concepts, bringing the immediacy and strength of the well-respected design to an exciting new period.

“I feel that design is now trying to find poetry, trying to find the gentle,” shares Lipparini. “It is much more humanist, much more related to human feeling, than a few years ago, where we tried to find a strong material factor.” In terms of materiality and the emotion it arouses, Lipparini's design this year differs from his proposal from the previous year. The new composition intends to speak of nature and an accompanying mood rather than the more potent atmosphere of its earlier version.

Villa D’este

Mauro Lipparini's kitchen design for the Villa D’Este emphasises the communal aspect of living, both within the context of a family and in relation to the outside world, as a gesture of contamination and transformation in a setting that represents metamorphosis. The most integral area of the home is made more prestigious and elegant through the use of high-end materials like Stone Oak, a priceless fossilised wood created by age-old processes of earth stratification, and the undulating Calacatta Antique marble with its multiple veins. “When you see Villa D’Este, it is a majestic villa, not just a temple. And when you think about the Villa D’Este kitchen, it's the same,” Lipparini explains. “It is not just the island, but is combined with a lot of layouts together.”

Dorinda bathroom vanity

Dorinda distinguishes in its bathroom vanity version of the curved, sinuous shape of corners, with walls and doors made of curved smoked glass and supported by steel borders. A built-in LED lighting system allows for a view of the interior of the piece, while the contrast of the materials—wood and glass, accentuates the unique form. “Dorinda is an unusual and rare woman's name, but it has this very feminine feeling to it, similar to the vanity’s curved silhouette,” says Lipparini, as he talks about the meaning behind the design’s name.

Walt Vanity

The stiff grosgrain panel on the Walt vanity table is complemented by an upper metal border with the lacquered wood top appearing to rest gently on the framework.

Bastian Bed

The Bastian bed was created as a result of the expansion to the range of upholstered furniture designs (sofas, sectionals, armchairs, and chaise-longues), all of which were built with ‘suspended elements’—armrests and backs that were processed with ‘envelope’ technology and metal friezes. Similar to how the headboard is elevated off the floor and further lit by an LED courtesy light that touches the floor and has a soft-touch ignition, the Sommier is decorated with ‘envelope’ processing with riveted leather tapes and metal friezes in solid aluminium and stainless steel, with a bas-relief logo. It is fitted, like all Visionnaire beds, for height adjustment of the mattress top.

Sybilla chair

At first glance, the Sybilla dining chair's elegant backrest captures the attention of the viewer. Its sinuous sensuality communicates a completely contemporary sense of style and is rendered as though in bas-relief, with swaying hollows and soft rises. The ample draping of the padding and the sparseness of the sleek, seemingly agile legs come together in a harmonious way owing to the backrest's surface, which is both soft and taut. The metal structure's sculptural plasticity brings about this resonance. Pure concave and convex forms interact to make a seamless whole that is both surprising and incredibly appealing.

Bastian sofa

The armrests and backrests of the Bastian couch are built as ‘suspended elements’ using metal friezes and ‘envelope’ processing. The sartorial cuts of seams and borders are highlighted with diamonds that demonstrate excellent attention to detail. The perimeter walls that welcome, enclose, and safeguard the peace of being are analogous to the armrests and backrests.

The harmony of the pieces with the project was the most important point. “Harmony is a part of my mentality,” shares Lipparini. A balance brought in by Mauro Lipparini, juxtaposed with Visionnaire’s philosophy and works by other designers brought to fruition Volare–a place of happiness, a theatre of everyday beauty, and a sanctuary for personal rituals.

STIR’s coverage of Milan Design Week 2023 showcases the best exhibitions, studios, designers, installations, brands, and special projects to look out for. Explore Euroluce 2023 and all the design districts—5Vie Art and Design, Brera Design District, Fuorisalone, Isola Design District, Tortona District, and Milano Design District—with us.

Text by Ria Jha

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