‘I wanted to create a showcase for the very best of Made in Italy,’ says designer Nick Vinson, the creative eye behind the reinvention of the Embassy of Italy in London. To do this he turned, of course, to one of Italy’s most defining furniture brands, Molteni & C, which celebrated its 90th anniversary last year, to provide pieces that spoke to the heritage and craftsmanship of Italian design.
The Embassy in London, home to Italian ambassador Inigo Lambertini, is located in the capital’s prestigious Grosvenor Square. A beautiful, Grade-II listed building built in 1868, it had sadly begun to lose some of its shimmer since its last restoration, by architecture practice Wellesley & Wills, back in the 1930s. ‘As time passed, these spaces no longer adequately conveyed Italy’s image in the world, nor reflected the vitality and innovation of our country,’ explains ambassador Lambertini.
‘The goal, he explains, ‘was to combine tradition and modernity, highlighting the elegance of the building without sacrificing a contemporary imprint that reflects the excellence of Italian design.’ To this end, Vinson worked closely with Fiona Lamb at Avanti Architects (a studio known for its touch when it comes to heritage buildings), aiming to preserve the character and original details of the property – a sweeping staircase and imposing fireplaces – whilst introducing new pieces that would complement the grandeur.
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And there are some iconic designs in that list. In the presidential suite alone there’s a ‘D.847.1’ writing desk by Gio Ponti and ‘Ribbon’ bed by Molteni & C creative director Vincent Van Duysen.
It was ‘a dream assignment for a dream client’ says Vinson of the project, but ‘the most rewarding part was experiencing the enthusiasm of all the exceptional Italian companies involved’. molteni.it
