ARMANI/CASA AT SALONE DEL MOBILE 2009
This year the Salone del Mobile (International Furniture Exhibition) in Milan has an extra special significance for Armani/Casa which, besides consolidating the contents of its catalogue for every area of the home, is launching a new kitchen and presenting an exclusive new line of furnishing fabrics as well as several numbered and signed limited edition pieces.
The collection has been developed to cover three principal themes: furnishings, kitchen design and textiles. Armani/Casa has this year chosen to display the new products in the single brand stores in Milan at Via Manzoni 31 and 37 and the new permanent space at Via Pisoni 2.
· Via Manzoni 31 and 37 – new furnishings, accessories and limited editions – a variety of new furnishings and accessories have been introduced to help complete the concept of an ever more harmonious home. In Via Manzoni 37 six new limited editions will be shown, "jewel furnishings" created in matchless materials and embodying priceless craftsmanship, strictly Made in Italy, numbered and signed by Giorgio Armani himself.
· Via Pisoni 2 - kitchen - Armani/Casa presents its second system for the kitchen, "Calyx", developed in collaboration with Dada. This space will in future showcase our new kitchens on a continuous basis.
· Via Manzoni 31 - textiles – introducing an exclusive line of textiles for interior design, curtains and hangings, developed in collaboration with Rubelli.
Now, almost ten years since its launch, Armani/Casa maintains an international presence based on 80 outlets in 45 countries. For several years Armani/Casa has underpinned its exclusivity with an Interior Design Service focused on clients who wish to achieve interiors in the perfect Armani style. Over the years this enterprise has come to offer an ever-greater degree of versatility and individual awareness, with the potential to place a wealth of stylistic experience at the disposal of the most discerning clientele. A large number of projects for private residences and important projects in co-operation with international property developers have been undertaken, always meeting the highest criteria of individuality and excellence.
The New Armani/Casa 2009-2010 Collection
Precious materials. Sophisticated technology. Skilful combinations.
The new Armani/Casa 2009-2010 collection is sophisticated and sensual, a delight to the senses, and features precious finishes in a class of their own, both exclusive and unique. This collection is pure elegance, defined by the sheer excellence of traditional Made in Italy craftsmanship – the quintessence of professional skill and creative originality. Highlights include lizard skin teamed with a sumptuous fabric to clothe a sofa, a chaise longue, or chosen for an exclusive writing table; and shagreen-effect printed leather in a shade of greige gracing exceptional pieces, such as a limited edition coiffeuse or a cocktail bar. Precious woods such as rosewood enrich the surfaces of tables or become beading for other furniture exploiting the eye-catching sinuous optical patterns of its attractive grain. Sophisticated varnishing techniques include the application of liquid metal or black nickel resulting in both opulence and radiance on various items such as side tables and lamps. Textiles are rich, decorated with geometric patterns. Skilfully judged colour combinations emphasise the deep thought given to every major piece in the collection: warm colours, earth, tobacco, greige, charcoal grey, and dark green. This is a collection of elegant simplicity and total harmony that reflects the unmistakable style of Giorgio Armani.
Some of the important new arrivals:
ADELCHI - Writing Table - Limited Edition 100 pieces
Writing table characterised by alternating matt steel plates gilded with a dipped gold finish. The diverse positioning of the tiles creates an interplay of gleaming reflections. The interior of the drawer is lined in dark green lacquer. Dimensions: 140x70x74h cm.
AIDA - Writing table - Limited Edition 100 pieces
Writing table covered in glass sheets with gold decoration through which the bronze-coloured leather with shagreen print is visible. Details in bronze-finish brass. Dimensions: 140X70X75h cm.
CAMUS - Desk - Limited Edition 100 pieces
This monobloc desk with its rounded lines features chamfered edges and three exterior drawers. Camus is clad with an outer layer of tobacco brown lizard skin adorned with details in bronze-finish brass. Once opened the fine interior in matt rosewood is revealed. Dimensions: 120x51x123h cm.
BORROMINI - Limited Edition 100 pieces
Padded chaise longue upholstered in an exclusive Armani/Casa animal-print fabric and characterised by chunky arms and feet clad in tobacco-brown lizard skin. Dimensions: 198x78x86h cm.
CANDIDE - Modular bookcase/screen
Adaptable bookcase that allows for a multitude of different arrangements. With its potential for incorporating more modules, it can be used as a freestanding room divider. An attractively designed hinge system connects the modules to create an extremely stylish piece. The modules are all mounted on castors for extra ease of movement.
The structure is in metallic grey lacquer and the shelves are clad in greige techno fabric while the vertical shelf dividers are in contrasting matt-black nickel. Dimensions of each module: 70x42x156h cm.
CAVOUR - Table
Table in glossy rosewood featuring a soft chamfered outline. The skilled use of the grain creates an optical interplay that shows off this highly prized wood to excellent effect.
The legs in solid wood mirror the splayed pattern of the edges of the tabletop. Dimensions: 150x150x75h cm.
CUPIDO - Set of low tables
Set of four segmented shaped tables in pickled oak that can be brought together to form a single unit or used individually as separate entities. Dimensions 50x50x50h cm.
CHARLIE - Coffee Table
Coffee table in glossy rosewood with plinth in matt-black lacquer. Dimensions: 210x75x41h cm.
CLEOPATRA - mirror
Full-length mirror with frame in glossy black linen fold pattern. Dimensions: 80X6.5X200h cm.
The new Calyx kitchen
Behind a sophisticated exterior, technology and functionality rule
Created in collaboration with Dada
Inspiration
Calyx can be described as the "disappearing kitchen", a reference to its revolutionary design and the sophisticated practical solutions adopted. It is actually possible to conceal the working area of the kitchen behind its wide doors, thus creating an extremely discreet environment of impeccable elegance and restraint. Calyx could also be defined as a perimeter kitchen, since it occupies the outer zone of a room, hiding the functional equipment behind impressive container doors. With a simple action that opens or closes the doors, the kitchen can either be revealed as a practical area or concealed within the living or dining room.
The doors play a fundamental role in this system: maintaining the purity of the design while providing an important storage facility, as they incorporate capacious shelving with safety rails to hold essential containers.
Aesthetics
Calyx features an exclusive and sophisticated selection of materials, finishes and colours that demonstrate the unmatchable aesthetic and stylistic taste of Giorgio Armani.
The exterior of the unit and the doors is lacquered in a sophisticated shade of greige with recess handles.
The interior of the doors and the cladding of the whole interior vertical surface of the kitchen are created in plain silver-colour techno fabric, covered with glass panels. The granite countertop is absolute black.Dark green is the choice for shelves and the interior of the drawers.
Functions
The arrangement on display is positioned along the three external sides of the space, set out as follows:
· Front unit measures 4200 mm L x 2600 mm h x 800 mm depth, comprising 7 units of 60 cm allocated to different storage functions including dishwasher unit, sink unit carved from blackgranite, and gas flush hob unit with integrated hood featuring a special retractable design.
· Left side, cupboard unit equipped with shelves for storing pans and food. Dimensions: 4200 mm L x 2600 mm h x 800 mm depth.
· Right side, technical area containing: wine cellar, double tower oven with steam and standard oven, heating drawer, fridge freezer. Dimensions: 4200 mm L x 2600 mm h x 800 mm depth.
Textiles
Created in collaboration with Rubelli
The collection, exploring jacquards, damasks, velvets and curtain fabrics, is intended to provide solutions for the contemporary, cosmopolitan home.
Silk plays a leading role in the new collection. The key themes of the designs are derived from the Twenties and Thirties, revisited through adaptations of documentary material and a reappraisal of decorative themes prevalent at that time.
Elements referring to that era – such as the stylised treatment of plant motifs, sinuous lines and animal prints – reappear in the most significant patterns in the collection.
The jacquards, "Cormons", "Calgary" and "Charleroi", are based on original unpublished designs from the Thirties. "Corinto" is a crocodile print-effect velvet, while "Cancun" and "Cartagena" imitate other reptile skins and the jacquard "Canton" is reminiscent of the grain of briarwood.
There is no shortage of Armani textures and cult designs, such as chess squares and checkerboard canvas, plain classics and mini patterns interpreted in this collection with new treatments and new colour variations specific to the maison.
The collection is completed by lightweight curtains, to add that indispensable finishing touch to the decoration of the home environment. The Armani/Casa collection of "Exclusive Textiles by Rubelli" is the first collection of textiles produced and distributed under license by Rubelli on behalf of Armani. It is launched internationally for the very first time during the Salone del Mobile at the Armani space at Via Manzoni 31.
Credits Armani Press Office