bluestocking
c italian designers at home
Designers make their way into other people’s homes
every day, through the lamps they set alight, the
sofas they sinuously seduce us with, the eye-catching
accessories they fashion. What a treat it would be, then,
to turn the tables (and the chairs, lamps and bookcases)
and see how the other side lives. Italian Designers at
Home does just that, escorting us on a walking tour
through the personal spaces of the mavericks whose
style savvy has penetrated our domestic universe.
Architectural photographer Mario Ciampi and
interior design writer Alessandra Burigana team
up to provide affectionate and thorough portraits
that illustrate how each featured designer’s milieu
is governed by his or her philosophy while simultaneously influencing their creativity. Still, what makes
each of these 23 featured homes special is that which
lives between the walls: a cocktail of “culture, design,
creativity, personal history, memories, interpretation
and exploration,” writes Burigana.
Every house has a story, and in this case, each
designer does as well. Whether architect, ceramic
artist or furniture innovator, these pros wax poetic
on their working principles and tastes: “A house is the
stratification of personal memories,” muses architect
Mario Bellini. “Furnishing should not invade one’s life,
or complicate it,” declares famed industrial designer
Ettore Sottsass. “I am only interested in the quality of
the space where I live, where I move.”
Ciampi’s well-styled photos dramatically throw open
the doors to these dominions of genius. Forgiving the
occasional repetition—the same room shot from only
slightly different angles—he manages to capture the
spirit of his subjects and their surroundings in a way
that’s undeniably sincere. Each profile opens with
a portrait of the designer, in some cases wearing a
pensive gaze, in other cases, smiling warmly, a favored
dog on lap. The subsequent photo spreads emphasize
wide shots of sleek living rooms and plush libraries, of
country kitchens and tranquil bedrooms. Most telling,
though, are the background elements captured by
