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Interview with Beatrice Bonzanigo |
Home > Designer Interviews > Beatrice Bonzanigo |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Beatrice Bonzanigo (BB) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Beatrice Bonzanigo by clicking here.
FS: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
BB: I was born in a family surrounded by architecture. I used to visit construction sites with my mother, father and grandfather. I remember the perfume of dust and fresh paint. I’ve always been interested in ancient civilizations, astronomy and philosophy. At 18 I found out that Architecture could embrace them all.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
BB: In 2009, I graduated from the Academy of Architecture of Mendrisio (Switzerland), joined my mother’s firm (Architect Isabella Invernizzi) and contributed to the development of a humanistic design culture inspired by the philosophy pursued by my mentoring architects. We opened IB Studio in 2014. From the elegant apartments in the city centre, to the farmhouses in the Tuscan countryside and from the villas on the Riviera to the chalets at the foot of Mont Blanc, IB Studio’s design language is never limited to simple philological recovery, but aims to a functional and aesthetic improvement of the buildings. Our portfolio also includes other types of projects, such as a hotel in the Umbria region, a chain of restaurants in Japan, a villa in Australia and a winery in the Tuscany region, for which we've been awarded the prestigious American Architecture Prize in 2016. Recently, IB Studio participated in several installations of exhibitions, including one at the Venice Architecture Biennale and one currently in progress at MADD – Musée des Arts Décoratifs et du Design in Bordeaux. We received a nomination as Best Country Home Renovation Firm 2019 – Italy from the British magazine BUILD and Best of Houzz Design 2019 from the global leading online home renovation and design platform Houzz. In recent years, we expanded our activities to the USA and Latin America.
FS: What is "design" for you?
BB: Poetry. Design and Architecture are the most powerful instrument to transform ideas, dreams and imagination into reality.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
BB: I love residential as it is the expression of human being's life.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
BB: The project of a winery in Chianti. It took 7 years of hard work facing Italian bureaucracy. It has never been built for personal's reasons of the Client, but it has been the most complete school for me. Born from the embracing hill as it opens over the surrounding vineyards, the project harmoniously integrates with the aesthetics of the Tuscan landscape, sharing its poetry. It is a project of a new building to welcome the entire production of wine, from the grape to the bottle of Chianti Classico. It is by studying the singular topography of the place that I ended up designing the main façade: an arched stone wall that follows existing ground levels, with an overlook path on top. The wall it is divided in five parts to be able to embrace the natural hill development. It grows from the lower level and returns to the ground on the highest level leaving behind three consequent arches. Different paths help the visitors to naturally scroll the beautiful surrounding landscape from diverse perspectives, ending at the end of the tour in a hidden garden that hosts a glass pavilion for tasting and selling area. The unique view on the vineyards is then framed by the three arches. The garden is the result of two simple architectural gestures: the arched wall and the production areas underground which is mostly on one single floor, as requested by their own function and the landscape itself. The building hosts harvesting lay-by, fermentation, ageing, pressing & filtering, depots, packaging, tasting & selling areas, in addition to technical & service rooms and a warehouse for farm machineries. Few additional external paths connect entrances of the building with existing farm tracks giving flexibility to workers’ activity. Main materials are high quality white concrete, traditional local stones, burnished brass finishing and least but not last, a selection of native and grass plants in purple, red and yellow tones. The hidden garden harbors a choice of special roses and climbing plants. Structure in concrete and high tech hydraulic and mechanical systems complete building's strength.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
BB: A winery in Chianti.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
BB: I don't have a favorite material or technology. I love being surprised during my researches.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
BB: When I travel around the world. Even if my biggest inspirations came while having an hot bath at home.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
BB: I like embracing our Client's wishes and transform them into a good and balanced architecture.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
BB: Happiness, fear, joy, sadness facing limits of our society, fulfillment.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
BB: Awareness for choosing the best job.
FS: What makes a design successful?
BB: I have no idea. It keeps surprising me.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
BB: It has to be obvious the desire that represents and it needs to be aesthetically pleasant.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
BB: Respect Nature as much as possible but also to create an useful spark in human's minds.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
BB: I hope that form will not destroy functionality. It could really help evolution.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
BB: My last exhibition was at Milan Design Week (2019), at Galleria Post Design / Memphis. I presented Casa Ojala and I've very surprised about people's reaction facing my project in a very small room. I will participate to Prague International Design Festival in October this year with Casa Ojala.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
BB: Speaking about Casa Ojala, I’ve been traveling frequently to South America in the past years, as I felt I needed some fresh inspiration by in nite lands and a younger approach to contemporary architecture. Italian bureaucracy sometimes is too much for an architect. Visiting Argentinian, Chilean, and Uruguayan beautiful and still very untouched lands, I found out that hospitality for travelers is very limited and localized. It was a pity to go back to centralized structures – even if in beautiful hotels – after a day on horseback or by jeep, full of dust and savage nature. It was a pity not being able to experience those wonders more, few days in a row, day and night, to really get in contact with the unlimited inspiration that those in nite spaces and sky can give. Sometimes I want to look at the Andes having an hot bath; sometimes I would love to be surrounded by traditional and perfumed textiles while I looked at the stars next to a replace and nothing else; sometimes I want to share all this with one or two friends; sometimes I need a wardrobe even if I’m the middle of a desert; sometimes the wind bothers me while I'm reading next to the ocean; sometimes I want to be touched by the wind fancing a swing under some wooden shades; sometimes I want to experience from my bed 360° of planet earth with no boundaries in between. And in the meantime, I love to feel good comfort, safe, at home. What about a new architecture that could speak about those feelings and that could fully transmit the feeling of utter freedom that these endless lands convey? the outdoor about? How to truly inhabiting nature without infringing it, and yet without renouncing the rest and pampering one may nd in a hotel? What architectural structure could I make disappear on request? How could I satisfy the thirsty eye without constraining its views in an arti cial frame? What could be self-su cient enough to function in isolated spots? How to make its host part of nature and safe at home in the meantime? What is that travelers are really looking for? So, I started thinking about a very exible little house. Then the idea of a small space with literally in nite possibilities came about. Traveling it is definitely my biggest source of inspiration.
FS: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
BB: I think I don't have a proper design style. But looking at all my projects I see a common thread. I think is the expression of me being a tireless dreamer. I am often quite surprised at the end of a design process when it becomes very clear the path I followed. During the process I only work with my stomach and heart.
FS: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
BB: I live in Milan. I love the city as it became very international and inspirational. I do think that Italy has the greatest sophisticated taste. I surely love living here. The black hole is its bureaucracy that very often is very tiring and frustrating, as an architect.
FS: How do you work with companies?
BB: It really depends on each project.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
BB: I think that designers should choose companies depending on the project's needs.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
BB: I spend a long time thinking and imagining. Then usually in one day the all project comes out. It could take a long time without drawing a single line.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
BB: My very old piano, a B&B leather sofa that was my grandfather's, my very white and simple kitchen, a wooden rocking chair that I found in a market, my tango shoes.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
BB: It is impossible. I think I don't have a day like any other. I am a Scorpio.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
BB: Trust your own life without fear or compromise.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
BB: There's no negatives. Creativity is always good.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
BB: Trust your own life without fear or compromise.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
BB: Patience, and the ability to create a good working team.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
BB: I still draw by hand, I also use Autocad and Photoshop.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
BB: I force myself going to pilates to free my mind every day, even if I am tired.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
BB: I cannot answer this. It depends on each design needs.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
BB: Are you an interior architect?
FS: What was your most important job experience?
BB: Finding out that working with my mother is great.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
BB: Private clients, from Italy and abroad.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
BB: I love residential as it is the expression of human being's life.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
BB: Keep working as an architect. I dream about designing a new city that doesn't need any modern technology.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
BB: It depends.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
BB: We are following an interesting exhibition design project at MADD – Musée des Arts Décoratifs et du Design in Bordeaux for Memphis. It is called "Plastic Field", in the old prisons of Bordeaux. A black field with black tropical plants to enlighten Memphis' forms and bright colors.
FS: How can people contact you?
BB: beatrice@ib-studio.eu
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A’ Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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