natuzzi partners with designboom for a series of live talks with renowned designers

’at natuzzi, we have always believed in a holistic vision on harmony, which is both a feeling but also a creative expression of beauty that resonates through our products,’ explains pasquale junior natuzzi, chief creative officer, to designboom at the brand’s home in puglia, italy, following an invitation to witness the collection’s photo shoot. it is here, at the heel of the boot of italy, where the brand crafts their renowned made in italy furnishings. it is also the meeting place of their collaborators, the diversity of their ideas, and simultaneously, the realization of their designs as well as the birthplace of their products. the natuzzi 2021 collection – the circle of harmony – reflects these themes in the encompassing title, the circle of harmony.

designboom has partnered with natuzzi, stepping into the circle of harmony, for a special series of live talks starting wednesday 30th september on designboom’s instagram account. paola navone, fabio novembre, byborre, claudio bellini, mauro lipparini and nika zupanc will join us on the sofa to discuss their designs and this new relationship forged by love.

natuzzi the circle of harmony 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 historic brand. as such, the theme welcomes eight designers including claudio bellini, mauro lipparini, marcantonio, maurizio manzoni, fabio novembre, paola navone, nika zupanc, and BYBORRE. the results blend the character of their designer with ethics, aesthetics, style, function, colors and materials true to the brand. these range from sofas to modular seating systems and from beds to tables, lamps, and even a specific upholstery textile.

‘our idea was to connect a circle of creative people that share a similar sense of harmony through their love for natuzzi, style, and mainly, a meaningful design process. this is even before we explored what products we needed in this new collection. the circle needed to resemble a family with a strong relationship as the design process is deeply infused with many complex elements. it brought together these eight designers and our team of crafters together, all of whom will be part of the natuzzi family forever more,’ emphasizes pasquale junior.

‘key principles of the natuzzi DNA, so a visual comfort through soft lines and organic shapes, are seen as a common thread within the whole collection. but there is also a sense of contamination as each design is affected by the DNA of the designer. each piece is an interpretation yet still respects natuzzi and our vision,’ adds the brand’s creative director. the eight designers were tasked with translating the identity of natuzzi to create their furnishings. as such, each piece delivers the elegance, comfort and innate connection to puglia for which the brand is renowned, but they each display an individual style.

‘for claudio bellini’s designs for example, he has delved into the history of the brand much more. old icons have been translated into reinterpreted shapes, and the use of traditional materials have been adapted to create contemporary items.’ pasquale junior goes on to say, ‘claudio bellini, maurizio manzoni and mauro lipparini understand natuzzi very well, after many years of collaborating with myself and my father before me. they know where, how, and to what limits to push the boundaries for the brand. in a way, it is less risky for them to experiment as our previous work together has been successful. as our collaborations have matured, their new designs can adapt and become part of a distinct evolution.’

this evolution of the brand – to add even more personality to its made-in-puglia mantra – promoted many more of the collaborations within the circle of harmony theme. ‘paola navone was integral. she collaborated with natuzzi many years ago, but I approached her with a new vision for natuzzi and she fell in love with it. we didn’t want to revert the world of natuzzi upside down; we wanted to evolve it. our renowned visual comfort remains in her designs yet they also convey an elegance that is unmistakably light, timeless, and sophisticated too,’ explains pasquale junior.

‘like paola navone, her and nika zupanc are two very strong, powerful women with their own unique DNA. that is what we love at natuzzi – and that is what we need to feel in our family. they believe in their own ideas, and these ideals translate into memorable designs for us,’ adds the creative director. ‘nika, at first impression, is the complete opposite of the natuzzi DNA. she is punk and chic. she’s metals, ribbons and diamonds. she’s black and gold. all of her designs, though, are narrated by great stories. instantly, there was a great empathy in our relationship. there is a lot that divides us but, at the same time, these can – and did – unite us.’

that is why establishing a balance is a key ingredient within the circle of harmony for natuzzi. differences are seen as a strength as long as there is respect to achieve the mission statement – a collection of stylish, made-in-puglia products that deliver the utmost comfort. ‘for designers with strong identities, we enhance this energy to create standout products. for 2020 for example, fabio novembre and marcantonio realize this, and it is only possible thanks to them. they contaminate the brand in a highly visual and artistic impression, but at the core, the designs always deliver in functionality, comfort, and, of course, beauty,’ clarifies pasquale junior.

from seating systems to an array of surfaces and accessories, the 2021 collection would not represent the circle of harmony if all aspects were not considered. for the first time, a completely unique, in-brand textile for upholstery was created to adorn the novelties. ‘it is the circle of harmony for a reason,’ notes the creative director. ‘it was the right moment to step into that field, to create our own fabric around the collection, and add to the narrative. it truly enhances the multi-sensorial aspect of each product. there were so many aspects to its creation, from performance testing to coloring and supply chain management, but we had the expertize of byborre to help.’

‘every design within the collection has the natuzzi DNA as a common theme. however, the fact that each of them is also diverse and different is something that, I think, expresses how colorful the brand can be,’ concludes pasquale junior. it marks an evolution, a new sense of personality in interior furnishings, but concurrently, remains infused with their made-in-puglia mantra as well as aesthetic in terms of forms, materials and construction.

delve into the homeland of natuzzi with designboom, and stay tuned ‘natuzzi sofa talks hosted by designboom’ as we speak to each designer live on instagram. 

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