Italian designer Giulio Iacchetti has designed a unique piece of upholstery shaped like a dome. The shape and visual texture of the piece, produced by Manie Design, is inspired by the dome-shaped concrete bollards seen around the city of Milan. The bollards were designed by Enzo Mari and were originally installed around sidewalks to prevent motorists from driving onto them.
Iacchetti's dome-shaped upholstery expands the idea and notion of comfort by borrowing a design from a hard, uncomfortable piece of the busy urban streetscape and transforming it into a soft, inviting piece of furniture suitable for any private home.
The round form also looks much like a panettone, a traditional Italian holiday cake. The texture is neither hard like a concrete bollard nor overly soft like a cushion. It is firm enough to sit or stand on but has a soft, comforting surface that sinks in ever so slightly.
Photo Credits: designboom, giulioiacchetti
Streetscape-Inspired Furniture
Giulio Iacchetti's Furniture is Inspired by Concrete Street Posts
Trend Themes
1. Streetscape-inspired Furniture - Designing furniture inspired by elements of the urban streetscape, such as concrete bollards, creates opportunities for unique and innovative designs.
2. Transformation of Uncomfortable to Comfortable - The concept of transforming hard and uncomfortable street objects into soft and inviting furniture pieces opens up opportunities to reimagine comfort and functionality.
3. Cultural Inspiration in Design - Drawing inspiration from cultural and traditional elements, such as the Italian panettone cake, offers a unique way to incorporate local identity into furniture design.
Industry Implications
1. Furniture Design - Incorporating streetscape-inspired elements into furniture design allows for the creation of distinctive and visually appealing products.
2. Interior Design - Integrating transformative furniture pieces that bridge the gap between urban and residential environments presents exciting opportunities for interior design innovation.
3. Home Decor - Utilizing cultural inspirations like the panettone cake in upholstery design can offer consumers unique and stylish home decor options.