A conversation with Tiziano Vudafieri e Claudio Saverino
«Since the dawn of time textiles have been a part of the relationship between man and space, living spaces as well as a sense of living. Home, bed, surfaces which define the threshold between the domestic world and the natural world.. It is therefore part of that group of factors that constitutes the tools and thoughts of every designer. In our daily work, the composition of ideas and concepts rests equally on surfaces which are hard, soft, porous, shiny, matte, material, tactile and therefore also textiles». With these clear, unequivocal words, Tiziano Vudafieri and Claudio Saverino, co-owners of the Vudafieri-Saverino Partners studio, explain their relationship with textiles. It’s easy to see how this relationship is crucially important to their idea of design. «Sight and touch -the architects specify, in fact- come together in a single expression for soft furnishings as well as complementary furniture. The expressive three-dimensional nature of this material is unrivalled, as is its ability to adapt to different uses and conditions. Textiles are never static within a context, rather they co-habit and interact with light, wind and humidity. They add their own personality to living spaces».
Vudafieri and Saverino know exactly how to communicate this expressive force within textiles to their clients, in an efficient manner, by talking about emotions, using visual expression, describing the benefits and effects of every material used in the project in great detail. Sustainability is of central importance in every project completed by the studio: «Sustainability – they confirm – is not an additional attribute to our design projects, rather it is one of the constitutional elements, a natural interpretation of ideas and shapes. The research into new fibres and sustainable composites makes textiles the most versatile materials, in that material requirements can be combined with ethical needs. This sector moved quickly in order to face the challenge of a more sustainable, circular economy».
Involved in various projects ranging from architecture, interior design, retail fashion, hotels to food design, depending on the context, Vudafieri and Saverino, use textiles in different ways: «Different professional places require textile materials suited to how they are supposed to perform in that particular context. And so, solutions which optimise performance and product life to the max. While within visual and aesthetic contexts, every story is a new story, it is not possible to establish abstract rules separating sectors».
Towards the end of the interview we asked the designers one last question about the importance of innovation within the field of textiles: today, unlike the past, eco-sustainable textiles, thanks to patented flame-retardant fibres, can also be used in the hospitality sector. Will this open up a whole new range of possibilities?
«Technological and legislative evolution lead to increased opportunities for expression and a wider range of technical and aesthetic solutions. It is therefore clear that the freedom of a designer will benefit».
Hotel Montafon 5*
The new Falkensteiner Hotel Montafon 5* which is due to open on 22nd December is characterised by understated luxury and family-friendly innovative hospitality. The work carried out by the Italian designers (who were in charge of the interior design) focused on respecting tradition and its special atmosphere by choosing vernacular materials, but especially a careful colour palette inspired by the alpine lands, and particularly the three-stage farming technique which has shaped the lives of the rural population. Spring and summer colours have been employed in the common areas, particularly grass green and shades of teal and larch wood for the panelling. The bedrooms, inspired by autumn and winter, feature warm reds, orange and yellow, again, combined with wood.
Boutique Delvaux _Dubai
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In order to desribe Delvaux’s philosophy, Vudafieri-Saverino Partners chose a stylistic language that could interpret the context, tradition, savoir-faire as well as contemporary creativity. The entrance hall features curved wall units to represent a contemporary version of traditional Flemish design, it faces a large door decorated with a selection of antique tools for cutting leather from the Delvaux atelier in Brussels. A small café is framed by a magnificent marble surround, while the lounge area houses armchairs with Angolo corner poufs by Tato, 3. The vestibule, covered with soft burgundy fabric with pale gold alcoves, leads to the VIC lounge (Very Important Customer) decorated with custom-made wallpaper: it invites customers, who are in actual fact, guests, to peruse the collection in the comfort of a private space.
Milano Verticale | UNA Esperienze
Four-star superior hotel designed by Vudafieri-Saverino Partners. The rooms use fabric furnishings and curtains that protect from the sun for a pleasant and refined environment.
Ristorante Chez Pierre_Montecarlo
The Chez Pierre restaurant designed by Vudafieri-Saverino Partners. The bench in the hall is characterized by a soft red velvet surface.The neutral tone of the Alter Ego fabric by Dedar covers the wall panels, the texture and richness add style and elegance to the interior.
Who is who
Faithful to the Milanese tradition of the creative atelier, work done by the studio, guided by Tiziano Vudafieri and Claudio Saverino, ranges from architecture, interior design, fashion retail, hotels and food design, and involves both city issues – landscape and society – as well as architecture for residential, commercial and industrial spaces. Vudafieri-Saverino Partners has offices in Milan and Shanghai, and over the years has completed projects in almost every country and every continent. Recent projects include a concept for Delvaux in Dubai – an aesthetic experience which describes the heritage and originality of a fashion house which invented the concept of the modern bag. Then there was the new Chez Pierre restaurant in Montecarlo, a blend of style and eccentricity, while the studio is currently working on the interior design of the 5* Falkensteiner Hotel Montafon, in the eponymous Austrian alpine valley.
