Marco Piva

STUDIO MARCO PIVA

DESIGNER DETAILS

MARCO PIVA

Studio Marco Piva

www.studiomarcopiva.com

We looked to interior designer Marco Piva to discover what inspires him and hear his thoughts on the most important elements of interior design.

A living room and dining room designed by Marco Piva

How did you get passionate about design?

When I was a child, I used to look at the construction/object that surrounded me, playing with them and imagining how they could be different. Becoming a designer was an inner inspiration, now I feel it is something in my blood.

What inspires you?

I am extremely curious. Inspiration can come from a book, a movie or a song, but also by a drawing, a work of art, an emotion or a scene from real life that I attended. I like to walk along streets and squares here in Italy or abroad during my trips to perceive the spirit of a place. I think a designer must always keep a curious and attentive sight to the World, it is fundamental to catch the inspirations, wherever they are.

Who are your mentors?

The roots and inspiration of my design career come from giants like Leonardo Da Vinci, Donatello, Leon Battista Alberti, Palladio. About architecture, I have always been fascinated by the opposite work of Alvar Aalto and Mies van der Rohe, masters of modern architecture and design. The assumption that “L’Architecture c’est difficil”, a statement in French by Alvar Alto, tells about the deep and intensive work that should be done by an architect to create a Masterpiece. While “Less is more" was the basis of Van Der Rohe philosophy, and at the bottom was nothing but the anticipation of the contemporary concept of essentiality, elegance, beauty, and sustainability.

Lounge area designed by Marco Piva

“ Each environment should have synergy between culture and history, originality and authenticity and, above all, it must be functional for the person who will use it. ”

What art field are you most interested in?

I am very passionate about Art, I like to paint and sculpture and since my study I am always been attracted by geometry applied to Art: cubism, neoplasticism, constructivism and kinetic. If I have to choose a field, I would say contemporary art, as today there are strong interactions and contaminations between art, design, architecture, fashion, food etc.. For example, in my latest project Excelsior Hotel Gallia in Milan, together with the client we decided to create an Art Work collection, to investigate the borderline between Design and Art. I have worked on modular elements born from the same materials used to realize the architecture and the interiors, bringing them to a higher level of sophistication in terms of shape and details. A limited and numbered edition of pieces realized exclusively for the Hotel.

Describe Frette in three words.

Luxury. Quality. Details.

From your experience, what is the best decorating advice you can offer someone?

To feel at ease in its own environment, creating a space related to its attitudes (pleasures, education, cultural background, passions…) and not being influenced by others or the “trend” of the moment. Each environment should have synergy between culture and history, originality and authenticity and, above all, it must be functional for the person who will use it.

How would you introduce Frette to your clients?

Through the sense of touch. Using the touch as a narrative element is the best way to “feel” the quality of Frette.

What is your favorite book, magazine, or site on design?

As for the book, I have many, my favorites are related to the Italian history of design, such as the masterpieces of Munari, Gio Ponti, and Castiglioni. For the magazines, surely Marie Claire Maison, Living and Elle Décor, but I find my design inspiration also through “Il Giornale dell’Arte” (Arts Journal) and the National Geographic, where I find suggestive images about territories and cultures. For the websites, I have a lot of references, the main are Trend Tablet, Yatzer, Moco Loco, Dezeen, and Designboom.