La dolce design

In recent years, a number of exhibition formats founded by individual protagonists rather than large organisations have mixed things up in the design scene – often as a counterpoint to the established trade fair formats in terms of content. These include events such as 3daysofdesign in Copenhagen, the Conceptual Biennale, which opened for the first time in Berlin, and Edit Napoli.

The event in Naples, conceived by Domitilla Dardi and Emilia Petruccelli, took place for the seventh time in mid-October and attracted 15 per cent more visitors than last year. The fair featured several exhibition venues: while the former 16th-century monastery of La Santissima (later a military hospital) high above the city was reserved for designer pieces and smaller manufacturers, projects of a more commercial nature were presented under the Edit Napoli Cult label at venues such as Castel Sant'Elmo, Certosa di San Martino and Villa Floridiana. English designer Bethan Laura Wood presented Terrazzo Quarry, a collection of seating furniture with a Memphis touch for Poltronova, while Luca Boscardin's abstract coloured metal animals for Magis, entitled Animal Factory, adorned the courtyard of Castel Sant'Elmo. Edit Napoli wanted to enter into a dialogue with the city by incorporating the historic exhibition venues, explains co-curator Domotilla Dardi, describing the event concept, which has so far focused primarily on the Italian creative scene.

In terms of subject matter, however, the most relevant aspect of this year's Edit Napoli was the presentation at La Santissima featuring designers and projects such as Studio Bojola, Take 5 Rubber, studiolehn, Sciscioré and Vasame. For small manufacturers and design studios, trade fairs always involve considerable organisational and financial effort. But not being seen is not an option either, says Berlin-based designer Carolin Zeyher, who, with her label Frau Caze, presented the Monopoli side table in collaboration with co/rizom, for which she worked with natural stone for the first time. Her colleague Heike Buchfelder – both are co-founders of the female design collective Matter of Course – particularly appreciates the fact that Edit Napoli invites internationally active interior designers and buyers. This sometimes results in valuable contacts and opportunities to sell their own designs.

During our tour of the impressive rooms of the former monastery, we noticed three projects that represent generally applicable design trends, similar to those currently observed in industrial design.

On the ground floor of La Santissima, Chroma Composites presented a project that attracted everyone's attention. While the Italian manufacturer normally sells recycled materials for interior design projects, including surfaces for kitchens, bathrooms and custom-made (built-in) furniture, it has now launched its own design project for the first time. Chroma Objects – these are objects such as tables, consoles, lamps and vases that revolve around the theme of upcycling. The initiators explain what this is all about as follows: ‘The natural stone sector is not very sustainable, especially when it comes to quarrying, production and the disposal of processing waste.’ Chroma Composites sees a possible solution to the problem in the production of materials obtained from secondary raw materials and natural minerals. For the collection shown in La Santissima, Chroma collaborated with twelve designers, including Tobias Brunner, Tellurico, Dopolavoro Studio and Giuseppe Leida. The works by Debonademeo were particularly successful in terms of design. Due Sicilie – these are two vases and a side table that stand out thanks to geometric sprinklings of natural stone. It is also worth mentioning that the limited design series, with prices ranging from 350 to 4,400 euro, is in the field of high-quality, mass-produced design products.

In one of the former monastery cells, another design highlight awaited visitors: a collection of alabaster objects designed by Italian architect Angelo Mangiarotti (1921–2012) in the 1980s. Reissued based on the original drawings that had been preserved, it was manufactured in Volterra, the stronghold of alabaster production in Tuscany. Only on closer inspection does one realise that the milky material is alabaster and not glass. Only rare, very high-quality Scaglione alabaster is used for the finely crafted pieces, explained an employee of Artieri 1895. Just as Mangiarotti had specified during his lifetime. Collezione Axis consists of various objects, including bowls and candle holders, which are available in a limited edition starting at £850 per piece. At the same time, Artieri 1895 also exhibited contemporary objects by Tipstudio and Matteo Bimbi, the manufacturer's current art director. The company sees itself as an open laboratory and promotes collaboration between designers and alabaster craftsmen.

One of the few non-Italian designers participating in this year's edition of Edit Napoli was Heike Buchfelder. The Berlin-based designer presented her handmade collection ‘Fold 03’, which includes table and floor lamps in three different sizes and derives its impact in particular from the craftsmanship, materials and colours used. The carefully folded lampshade is made of Japanese shoji paper, which is traditionally used for sliding doors, room dividers and windows and is highly tear-resistant, translucent and extremely moisture-resistant. In Japan, it usually comes in classic (natural) white, but Buchfelder has coloured the paper with high-quality water-based ink. This is complemented by a solid alder wood base, which has been treated with oil paints to match the shade. The trained architect says she particularly enjoys composing colour combinations, partly because she once studied oil painting intensively. Three steel discs are mounted in the base to ensure that the very slim and tall floor lamp stands stably. At the trade fair stand, Buchfelder was delighted that several visitors had already expressed interest in the limited edition lamp, which costs between 2,500 and 7,000 euro due to the craftsmanship involved.