Spanish by birth, and Italian by choice, Patricia Urquiola was born in Oviedo, Spain and studied architecture in Madrid before graduating from the Milan Politecnico in 1989. The key words for her work are: rigour and emotion, innovation and mental comfort.
She was mentored by some of the masters of Italian industrial design: Achille Castiglioni oversaw her graduate thesis, and Vico Magistretti, with whom she designed her first projects. She learned her craft in Italy, and opened a studio in Milan in 2001, where she has developed a truly global enterprise. Some highlights from her career include her encounter with Maddalena de Padova (1990), her collaboration with Piero Lissoni (1996-2000), and her partnership with Patrizia Moroso (since 1998). Her designs are unconventional, emphatic, and experimental, blending humanist sensibilities and technical expertise – qualities that also come from her work as an architect. The Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Barcelona is one of her many architectural projects. She has received numerous accolades and awards over the years, and in 2011 she was awarded the Medalla de Oro al Mérito en las Bellas Artes and the Order of Isabella the Catholic by King Juan Carlos I of Spain.
Some noteworthy collaborations include:
• Agape • Alessi • Andreu World • Axor
• B&B Italia • Baccarat • Beko Arçelik • Bisazza • BMW • Budri • Boffi
• Coalesse • De Padova • Driade • Design Hotel
• Emu • Flos • Foscarini
• Gandia Blasco • Glas Italia • Haworth
• Kartell • Kettal • Kvadrat • Louis Vuitton
• Molteni • Moroso • Mutina • Molteni&Co • Missoni • Marriott
• Officine Panerai • Rosenthal • Ritz Carlton • Viccarbe
PATRICIA URQUIOLA FOR GANDIA BLASC
The collection is called MANGAS - that means sleeve in Spanish - and it is based on a patchwork of different wool knits, to create a collection of various typologies with different shapes, going from Manga farol (bellowed sleeve) to Manga de campana (bell-shaped sleeve). The collection is playful and extremely orginal with a great colour schemes.
Another of her latest venture is a collection of gorgeous glazed porcelain tiles which are suitable for both wall and floor applications. Available in three colourways – Nero, Grigio and Bianco – each range is available in a selection of plain and patterned pieces which can be combined to make up to 27 different patterns. What makes these tiles so interesting is the use of visual texture, pattern and colour and the flexibility the range offers to the designer. The tiles can be grouped similarly (as seen above) to create repetitive patterns or laid in a seemingly random fashion but within a simple colour scheme (as seen left) to create an amazing visual dynamic.
GAN introduces GAN spaces in 2015, by Patricia Urquiola and Sandra Figuerola GAN spaces. Starting with a rug, GAN creates your home. Multipurpose modules, cushions, accessories, poufs, containers… they all fit in any space so you can design your own space according to your own needs. Studio Urquiola designed Haworth’s Chicago showroom for NeoCon 2013, 2014 and 2015. This preview product creates new spaces and responds to envolving work habits within the office environment.
For more information visit: www.patriciaurquiola.com