waves of the adriatic sea inspire the natuzzi deep collection by nika zupanc

natuzzi italia‘s the circle of harmony collection is a search for balance and perfection. it seeks to define an ecosystem of design that displays a homage to beauty, inclusiveness, and the comparison between different creative interpretations of the renowned made-in-puglia brand. as such, the theme welcomes eight designers including marcantonio, claudio bellini, nika zupanc, maurizio manzoni, BYBORRE, mauro lipparini, paola navone, and fabio novembre. the designs blend the character of their designer with ethics, aesthetics, style, function, colors and materials true to natuzzi italia. these range from sofas to modular seating systems and from beds to table, lamps, and even a specific upholstery textile.

as a first collaboration, nika zupanc strikes a balance between individuality and shared themes with the natuzzi italia deep collection, which ranges from cocooning sofas and cosy armchairs to modular shelving, magnificent tables and a spectrum of accessories. designboom spoke to the designer to delve into how her inspired material choices infuse within the circle of harmony.

(from left to right) the ‘adore’ armchair, ‘voyage’ coffee table, ‘joy’ table lamp, ‘tide’ shelf, ‘voyage’ dining set, ‘vortex’ rug, and ‘joy’ pendant lamp
all images courtesy of natuzzi italia

‘the collaboration was the result of many different influences,’ tells nika zupanc to designboom, ‘but the starting point was the adriatic sea. after meeting pasquale junior [natuzzi italia creative director] in 2019, I visited their headquarters in puglia by flying over this wonderful body of water that we both share. as soon as I landed, I remember having this strong vision of what would be the essence of the collection. the sea represents a division but, at the same, time it is shared. it reflects our common values.‘

stretching from the designer’s native slovenia all the way down to the brand’s home at the very tip of puglia, the beauty of the adriatic sea heavily influenced the nattuzi deep collection. the fluid shapes, the endless curves and the shifting colors of the water flow through every object. the curvy lines of the modular, powder-varnished light gold metal ‘tide’ bookcase reflects its movement upon the shore, and echoes the same motion to the interior environment surrounding it. likewise, the ‘wave’ sofa is shaped like its namesake body to create a cocooning form.

(from left to right) the ‘deep’ sofa, ‘vortex’ rug, ‘voyage’ coffee table, ‘wave’ ottoman, ‘joy’ floor lamp, ‘mermaid’ mirrors, and ‘tide’ shelf

in the ‘wave’ sofa, it is the enveloping curves of the backrest and cushions that create its inviting, intimate space. its availability in a two-seater, three-seater or armchair makes it perfectly comfortable in any setting and for any user. similar cocooning shapes form the modular upholstered system ‘deep’. its seats and features in various shapes and depths can be configured into different compositions. the ground base and wide seating arrangement offers a dream-like space for relaxing.

(from left to right) the ‘voyage’ dining set, ‘joy’ pendant lamp, ‘joy’ floor lamp, ‘deep’ chaise longue, ‘tide’ shelf, ‘vortex’ rug, ‘voyage’ coffee table, and ‘adore’ armchair

‘the collection merges different attributes of mine and natuzzi italia’s DNA. seemingly contrasting points form the basis of the collection, but as the pieces are placed together, the results are wonderful and cohesive. the viewer can make connections between the designs. the natural shapes and colors of the sea helped merge the pieces,’ adds nika.

the two half-moon elements of ‘wave’ ottoman can be joined together with a light gold magazine rack

the entire natuzzi italia deep collection is defined by pieces that are incredibly sculptural, unique and standout individually, but when merged together, many common threads become apparent. the designs connect to one another in form, materials, colors and character. this is most notable with the ‘wave’ ottoman. made from two half-moon elements, these parts can work individually or be joined together by a central light gold magazine rack. the accessory defines deep waves that bridge together its two land-like bodies.

‘vortex’ rug blurs the boundaries between interior decoration and art

the ‘vortex’ rugs, threaded with a mix of gold and platinum colors, literally connects all the pieces within a room. they blur the boundaries between interior decoration and art. the colors of the collection help define this by mimicking the adriatic sea and varying in waves of different colors that are all complementary. the light gold shine is shown with the glass ‘joy’ lamps – available in floor, table and pendant editions – and the oval ‘mermaid’ and ‘sailor’ mirrors.

the oval ‘mermaid’ (left) and ‘sailor’ (right) mirrors continue the collection’s gold hues

‘the table, especially the table top, is my favorite piece from the collection,’ states the designer. ‘we wanted to add a unique material to this design and the story to achieve it was equally so. pasquale junior and I visited the production company on the last day before the italian lockdown in march 2020. we raced to get there in the car just so that we could pick up the materials in time. we were like children playing with the stone, finding the right shapes and colors, and it result really emphasizes the hand-craftsmanship of the collection.’

the gold and glass finish top of the ‘voyage’ coffee table

the terrazzo stone tops – made from a mix of precious marbles – creates a stardust effect on the tops of the ‘voyage’ table, which is available with an oval or round top and in coffee table sizes. it provides a rich complement to the bolder monolithic pedestals made from light gold matte metal. it is accompanied by an armchair to complete the dining set. the sensual ‘adore’ armchair shares a similar swivelling, techno-glam single leg, also finished with matte light gold metal. it has a comforting molded seat and tall, voluptuous back.

the ‘voyage’ table can be topped with a stardust terrazzo surface, complete with dining armchairs

‘I see sustainability in two parts. the first is to design for longevity. designs should not be too loud in appearance, and they should be made from long-lasting materials like stone, metal or quality fabrics. these items can then last for generations. the second element to sustainability is the push to use more recyclable materials and to think about a product’s lifecycle. designs should consider every step of manufacturing, their use, and finally their reuse.‘ nika confirms, ‘the longevity of sustainability was key to this collection.’

the voluptuous body of the ‘adore’ armchair sits atop a swivelling base

the choice of materials was incredibly important to the designer and natuzzi italia for the deep collection. they needed to be characterful, natural and high quality to offer longevity. light gold metal lines the bases of nearly all the designs, from the ‘wave’ sofa to the ‘adore’ armchair. these accents deliver the collection’s overall charm. upholstery for the sofas, armchairs and ottoman, whereas, ensure maximum comfort and durability through the use of high quality.

gold-finished metal lines the base of the ‘wave’ sofa

‘to create a collection, especially one as big as the deep collection, the designer and client need to completely understand each other. that is why I have visited puglia so much – to see the home of natuzzi italia. even from the very beginning of the collaboration, it was like a family. it is hard to define the circle of harmony exactly but our cohesive teamwork created these beautiful results,’ concludes nika zupanc.

the ‘deep’ chaise longue highlights the design’s many configurations in shapes and depths