Photo courtesy of Sergio Mannino

But for over a century or so, there has also been the practice, often exercised by a single person, of designing and making furniture that obeys other criteria and has other aims, i.e. the description of a fantastic world, the desire of a thinker to express himself with a design, and then the actual construction of allegories, of ‘physicalism’ diagrams of thought.

Some architects do this because they have discovered that the creation of a piece of furniture can aid them in working out an architectural plan as well as illustrate many things: their time, their existence, their love, desires and wishes. When one considers architecture, on whatever scale, when the models are prepared in reduced size, the checks are often uncertain…

Photo courtesy of Sergio Mannino

In furniture, the design exercise is less frustrating: one can use drawings or models, but (and furniture is unique in this in the world of design) the models must be life-size, not reduced, and the materials used have to be the actual ones planned! It means working on the project and not being bogged down on a silly 1:100 scale (if you’re lucky). 

This was a great discovery for those in my generation, like Archizoom, Ufo, Superstudio, and of course myself. Being faced by the full-size results of your design phase, in the actual materials, and in just a short space of time (compared to the years that architectural plans require, and when the building is finally completed, you have already moved on, you are after), producing the design, tackling it, and seeing it face to face is a thrilling experience. This is permitted to visual artists like actors and set designers, but to architects no. Thus, the production of furniture becomes an important aspect of the architect’s externalization of self and the organization of spaces. And seeing that you are right at the start, your own vision of the world flows into these allegories. The item of furniture becomes a vehicle or a tool that allows you to externalize and face up to yourself, it becomes a place of dreams, the fantastic and the visionary. All this is accompanied by writings, drawings, models, prototypes and paraphernalia.

Photo courtesy of Sergio Mannino

Someone is responsible for all this. Who was it that began to bring back to the design process from the traditional architecture menu the ingredients that had been expelled from it during the 1930s? Right after the Second World War, Ettore Sottsass began to follow an entirely independent route in the world of design in which, in his hands, the functionalist experience seemed to lose strength and be replaced by materials, color and ornamentation. These are the spices that were removed from the menu when, in the 1920s, at the risk of bulimia, architecture decided to slim down and limit itself to the simplified diet of pure geometry. Ettore understood that for him such a diet would risk anorexia, so he slowly brought back to his own table materials, color and ornamentation to re-establish a balance. 

He did so in his production of furniture, glassworks and ceramics, often at his own expense and often ‘…impossible to produce, impossible to transport, impossible to make them pay…’. Andrea, Lapo, myself, Cristiano, Adolfo and then Alessandro, Gaetano and Riccardo* understood by examining his works that, yes, design was not just the mirror of a rational world but could describe so many other things, ourselves, desires, the love of love, emotions, irony and the crossing of barriers. The design had to tell a story and describe ourselves. That’s a hell of a task. It was stirring, radical stuff. Global Tools, Alchimia, Memphis: one after another these were where my first students went, and then those of Adolfo, like Michele (De Lucchi), and then those of Buti, like Giovannoni and Venturini and today Mannino.

Photo courtesy of Sergio Mannino

For years, students and young graduates flocked from Florence to Milan, and of those who were seduced by this climate, Sergio remains the one who interprets this world in the most orthodox manner. In his university thesis he was already searching out Ettore, and with him learned to design small, marvelous houses halfway between nature and spatial organizations that were simple, intense and well-balanced. His furniture also had the desire to capture alphabets and thoughts, so as to describe and use them to make statements through their construction, defining consistency colors transparency.

Photo courtesy of Sergio Mannino

In my opinion, Ettore’s best pieces are produced when he lets himself go, and his subject matter faces you square on, almost two-dimensional, with the almost mechanical addition of depth. His designs make the statement about the possibility of existence, alone, in a room.

Sergio understood the lesson and these works of his describe the routes he has taken within himself and within us.

The post A Closer Look At Sergio Mannino’s Furniture Collection In Collaboration with Ettore Sottsass appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Photo courtesy of Sergio Mannino Studio

Dear John,

The boat was sailing around the island of Stromboli on a clear summer night. The Mediterranean sea was a flat surface of dark water that extended in front of my eyes like an infinite slab of thin black marble. I couldn’t see the end of it as it melted in a blurry line on the horizon with the sky over me. The sky was also a mysterious black veil patterned with billions of stars and galaxies whose fate, origin, meaning and mysteries we know close to nothing about.

So there I was, sailing in the silence of the night, trapped in between those two curtains, thinking if there will ever be a way to cut through them in order to get a glimpse of truth. And I can sail again in that same place every time I close my eyes and I remove all the buildings, objects, people, thoughts, anxieties, memories, fears, feelings, love or hate and I go deep into my soul or into void...

Photo courtesy of Sergio Mannino Studio

I remember the first time I saw one of your planks in a book. I was probably 22 or 23 years old and it felt like something out of this world, perfect, polished, extremely simple yet very complex, almost like that black slab of water at night. I immediately made one out of sheet metal and one out of frosted glass. It took me several days and countless models to define the right proportions and height (I had no idea about the real size of your planks). Both prototypes had a fluorescent light behind it but only the metal one was able to maintain its aura of mystery and its depth. I saw my plank as the connection between two worlds: body and mind, matter and spirit, the black Mediterranean sea and the dark sky above. Was it the same for you? Were you trying like me to scratch the surface of the black slabs in order to find some truths? Were you looking for new connections? New explanations? Maybe you wondered like me on the ocean hoping at some point to be able to stare at one temporary fragment of truth, perfectly lit, with eyes wide open.

- Sergio Mannino

Photo courtesy of Sergio Mannino

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

SERGIO MANNINO STUDIO

117 Grattan Street #204

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 11237

USA

INFO@SERGIOMANNINO.COM

PHONE: +1 718 855 5018

WWW.SERGIOMANNINO.COM

The post Sergio Mannino Studio Pays Tribute To John McCracken With Limited Edition ‘Dear John’ Lights Collection appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Sergio Mannino Studio designed the interior of a pre-war apartment in the West Village in New York. A 400 sqft one bedroom apartment, completely renovated while maintaining the original New York charm. The living room features the “No-flying Carpet” by Sergio Mannino Studio as well, handmade in Nepal by professional artisans.

This peculiar piece is modular with uniquely shaped pieces that fit together like a puzzle, it recreates a courtyard indoors. The piece is available for sale at www.sergiomannino.com or at our First Dibs store.

The wall lamp “Dear John” designed by Sergio Mannino in the bedroom which is part of a series of Limited Edition lamps designed as a tribute to the American artist John McCracken. The “Dear John” #1 is also available on sale at www.sergiomannino.com or at our First Dibs store.

Photos courtesy of Sergio Mannino 

The post Handmade Design Elements Revive This NYC Apartment appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

At the end of the seventies, Shenzhen was a small market town of less than thirty thousand people. By 2016 it was a megacity of 12 million, and its population rate has not slowed down since. China sees many urban inner-city projects like ours, but Shenzhen is unique in its very sudden economic and cultural boom and resultant young population, and we had to accommodate for this. The average person living in Shenzhen is just under 30 years old.

The biggest challenge we faced throughout the project was translating our design aesthetic into something that would be appreciated by the local buyers - without compromising on the Studio language. To gain an understanding of the aesthetic we were after, we visited several new residential projects in Shenzhen and nearby Hong Kong. We found that these projects were all characterized by a high level of décor; no white walls or plain surfaces anywhere. This is a major difference compared to the US and the Western world in general, where minimalism is often strongly favored across many design platforms.

Were we to adopt a minimalist practice for this project, however, we were at risk of appearing cheap or lazy. We began to understand that luxury in Chinese design is usually defined by an abundance of materials and finishes, with emphasis on stone and marble surfaces. Initially, our team found adapting to these unfamiliar design values quite challenging, having come from a markedly different cultural background and design training. Regardless of the design choices, however, our main priority was to ensure that the project was a commercial success.

After some hard but rewarding work merging these Chinese expectations with our own design sensibility, we managed to negotiate an attractive outcome. The final design was rich and colorful with an emphasis on marble - without being overly grandiose. All the apartments were sold long before completion at asking price or more. The client was very pleased with the final result, and so we were.

Photos courtesy of Sergio Mannino

The post Minimalist Aesthetics Inspire China Studio appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Photo courtesy of Paula Cooper Gallery, NYC

The Best Art Galleries

New York has seen the rise of the abstract expressionism, the pop art, the minimalism, Basquiat, Warhol, Murakami, Jeff Koons and many other artists. The biggest galleries are probably the ones that take fewer risks but showcase established artists: they are Gagosian, Mary Boone (set to close soon after more than 40 years inactivity), David Zwirner, Glastone, Paula Cooper, Metro Pictures, Pace and many others.

Then there are also more recent spaces that don’t have the history of Mary Boone but they are producing very interesting shows and are definitely worth a visit. They are located in places that are more affordable in terms of rent than the Chelsea ones.

One that immediately comes to mind is Pioneer Works in Red Hook. Not served by the subway system Red Hook is a special place far from the craziness of the city but extremely interesting. The space is a huge warehouse of about 30,000 sqft that showcases artists, performers, musicians and even studios.

Another area that is great for art is Bushwick, where our studio is located. Notable places include Sardine, Transmitter, Clearing. Just by walking around in the neighborhood you can see the amazing graffiti on the walls of factories and shops. Get off at Morgan Ave or at Jefferson on the L train and walk around when it’s not too cold, you will not regret the trip. If you are hungry you can stop at Falansai, a Vietnamese restaurant with amazing food at affordable prices, even if is a Michelin listed place.

Photo courtesy of The Ludlow House

Where To Stay and Dine  

The Ludlow House, the recent addition to the Soho House empire is a Lower East Side building. Great for dinner, events, concerts, a casual night out and much more. Members only. Taverna di Bacco, authentic Italian cuisine with a small twist. Falansai in Bushwick, part of the Michelin selection, it is an inexpensive restaurant with great food and ambiance. 

Photo courtesy of Claus Porto

 Where to Shop 

Glam Seamless (SMStudio) a Pop-Up shop in Soho. Medly Pharmacy (SMStudio) a new type of pharmacy, a physical location, an app and a delivery service for your prescription, or Claus Porto. 

The post A Design Lover’s Guide To New York City appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Photo courtesy of Brianna Bitton of Bitton Design Group

The comeback trend of 2019:

“Art Deco is back but with a fresh look to it.” -- Natalia Neverko of Natalia Neverko Design.

The colors and patterns to look out for:

“A lot of brighter colors with an earthy twist. I’m thinking mossy greens, dusty blues, ochre, and of course coral (Pantone said it first.)” -- Brianna Bitton of Bitton Design Group and the interior designer behind Halsey's Los Angeles home. 

Best item(s) to splurge on:

“Art. Every penny you spend on artwork will always yield a return. It’s one of the best investments you can make toward achieving a truly beautiful and meaning interior design.” -- Sandra Diaz of EOLO A&I Design.

Photo courtesy of eolodesigns.com by Sandra Diaz

What will be the aesthetic of 2019?

“Unapologetic. People are less afraid to decorate with the things that make them happy, to defy traditional design expectations.” -- Susan Rocco of the Kitchenworks.

The number one design tip:

“Listen to your heart, spend time filling the space and sketching around. Don’t make fast decisions, don’t rush it. Everything will come to you if you read and interact with the space. Trust yourself.” – Pepe Calderin of Pepe Calderin Design.

Photo courtesy of Pepe Calderin

Where do you see the market trends heading into the new year?

Bolder furniture and unique original pieces will be the trends of this year. People are looking more and more for handmade object that stand out from the mass-produced items. -- Sergio Mannino of Sergio Mannino Studio. 

The post 6 Interior Design Professionals Weigh In On The Design Trends and Tips Of 2019 appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.