Formafantasma founders Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin may be most renowned for their designs in wood – for the duo’s ‘Cambio’ exhibition, at London’s Serpentine Gallery in 2020, they memorably remade Ikea’s £29 ‘Bekväm’ stool in seven different varieties of timber to highlight the material’s ethical pitfalls.
At the moment, though, they are busy learning everything they can about wool.
This fresh interest is for a new exhibition, ‘On Wool’, scheduled to open at Oslo’s National Museum early next year. Here, again, they hope to open people’s minds to the wider ramifications of the interiors world – not just ecological, but also social and political. ‘As designers, it is our role to question this moment in time,’ says Simone, ‘to ask how it can shape our discipline.’
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It is the pursuit of this mission that helped Andrea and Simone narrow down the location of their new home when, in 2019, the partners in life and work decided to move from Amsterdam, where they had lived for the past 14 years, back to their native Italy.
Choosing to settle not in Florence (where the pair were both born and studied) but Milan, they eschewed the design capital’s grander buildings, looking instead to the trendy district of Via Padova on the outskirts of the city, and the industrial surroundings of AssabOne. This vast and unique space, a former printing factory, is run by founder Elena Quarestani as a not-for-profit organisation housing art and design exhibitions that focus on positive change, as well as the studios of several brands (Formafantasma included) that share its ethos.
‘We transformed the warehouse into a hybrid, open-plan space where we could meet and work with our collaborators,’ says Andrea, introducing the modern, 280-square-metre studio that is also the couple’s home.
A healthy work-life balance is maintained with the help of bespoke maple-wood cabinetry and desks by Sicilian custom-joinery atelier DiSé. These stylishly divide the space, which has no internal walls, separating extensive collaborative work areas from more private, relaxing corners. It’s a set-up that feels very prescient, with people still looking for ways to inconspicuously squeeze office areas into their homes. In recognition of this (Andrea and Simone always have their fingers on the pulse), Formafantasma will slowly be releasing the ‘Assab’ collection via DiSé’s website.
It is the materials palette that is the biggest clue for when to down tools and unwind, though. The wooden divider that forms the back wall of the living area is clad in sage-green fabric by Vincent Van Duysen for Sahco – the softness acts as a visual cue, signalling the need for calm. Meanwhile, on the mezzanine level, the couple’s bedroom is an oasis of pared-back serenity: a spot above the hubbub to reflect on the ideas of the day.
Throughout the public and more private areas of the studio, you will see a smattering of design classics – pieces by creators that Andrea and Simone respect, many of whom share their aesthetic and ethical values. There’s lighting by Jasper Morrison and Konstantin Grcic, as well as Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, and furniture by the likes of Gerrit Rietveld and Jean Prouvé.
Then, there’s the detritus of the creative process – small paper prototypes and plans piled on bookcases and tables offering tantalising glimpses of projects past and future. As well as creating lighting for Flos, glassware for Nude and Lobmeyr and, this year, new work for Bitossi, Cassina and Milanese tap brand Quadro, the studio is increasingly taking on research projects.
Currently, the pair are doing a deep dive into the sustainability of the forestry industry in Finland – a step on from their investigations for ‘Cambio’ – in collaboration with furniture brand Artek. The title of that exhibition came from cambium, the Latin word for ‘a change’. And it’s clear that Formafantasma’s new home, a bustling hub alive with ideas, will continue to be a force for just that. formafantasma.com
