You recently launched a new line of office furniture with longtime partner Vitra. What makes them a good collaborator?
There is a culture [at Vitra] about design and process. Our research in design is the continuation of this culture. If you are a family business [like Vitra], you can make investments and not look at the return the day after. [Because of that], they are willing to do experimental things.
You’re designing Bulgari properties in China, France, Russia, and the UAE. What is your approach for Marriott’s luxurious, fashion-forward brand?
It is important to remember that in all Bulgari hotels, the strategy of service is the must; design is a plus. Every Bulgari hotel is different in the interior design and in the architecture, but the approach is the same. The design is focused on quality. Interiors are strongly rooted in the traditions and culture of the place and careful design has been applied to every single detail. [The hotels] feature the distinctive, bold, and contemporary Italian style typical of Bulgari, reflected in the hotel’s unique design concept.
How has the definition of luxury evolved?
Nowadays luxury means quality of life—listening to music while taking a shower or reading your favorite author while laying on a very comfortable sofa. [It’s about] being surrounded by objects you like and that serve the purpose you have bought them for.
Do you think that’s why there has been a global shift in more robust public spaces?
There is more and more investment now [in public spaces]. When you are in Stockholm or Germany or some place in Italy, the public areas are really important to understanding the quality of the [area’s] culture.
Why is comfort a common thread in many of your products and projects?
It’s not only a physical sensation but also a perfect atmosphere for each moment of the day. Comfort means user-friendliness, correct lighting, proper proportions, a sensation of being in the right place, the desire of staying there. This is what we all strive to find in a hotel environment.
