Patricia Urquiola: The Face of International Design

The mood of

Patricia Urquiola

She assisted Achille Castiglioni and Eugenio Bettinelli. She worked with Vico Magistretti at DePadova and Piero Lissoni. However, since then, she has managed to find her own language—a distinctive, joyful, and refined lexicon that blends interior architecture and design.

Born in Oviedo, Spain, in 1961, she has come a long way—from Paris to Milan, where she established her studio over twenty years ago. There, she sets the tone for Milan Design Week each year, showcasing installations and creations. Last spring, she notably designed a scenography in a vault for Cassina (of which she is the artistic director) and unveiled the extension of the Dalya furniture line at Coedition.This summer, she reimagined the new Six Senses hotel in Rome, which has just opened its doors. Let’s meet.

Six Senses Rome – Patricia Urquiola Interior

What influenced and shaped your taste?

« I was born into a Spanish family during a period of change in ’68. We traveled a lot to France, to London. We crossed the border and went to Bayonne, Biarritz. We had a special connection with that border; whenever we crossed it, it was always a beautiful story. In Spain, it was different… It was a time of revolution from all sides.

In the north of Spain, we had connections to the world, close to a non-Franco universe. The conversation was strong. Then Franco died. I am from the generation of liberation; we had to try something, it wasn’t enough to just do architecture. A generation made for experimental and spiritual research. I had an education without limits. »

Patricia Urquiola at Cassina in Meda © Laura Villa Baroncelli

Sofa and table Kettal Plumon – Designed by Patricia Urquiola

The Recommended Journey – installation designed by Patricia Urquiola for Cartier at Villa Reale di Marlia in Tuscany

A place that left an impression on you?

« I remember going to London when I was young and entering Biba, a large, very dark department store, with a rainbow café above, all in purple. I will remember that space for the rest of my life. »

Big Biba London

The films that inspired you?

« The film ‘Last Tango in Paris’ by Bertolucci with Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider. They spoke in French, and I understood everything. The film takes place in a beige apartment with yellow light; it’s a fantasy that left a lasting impression on me. »

Last Tango in Paris

Directed by Bertolucci.

« The film ‘Emmanuelle,’ directed by Just Jaeckin, with images of youth, adolescence. It was all about the revelation of sexuality. »

« Emmanuelle » directed by Just Jaeckin

The first piece you envisioned?

« I was at Piero Lissoni’s, and we had created a small collection of metal and leather chairs. That’s where it all started. It was incredible to have the opportunity to envision oneself as someone who can have a voice. »

Your mentors?

« I was the assistant to Achille Castiglioni and Eugenio Bettinelli in Milan and Paris. Then, I worked with Vico Magistretti. While much is said about the men, I believe the editor Maddalena de Padova helped me a lot; she trusted me. Her team was very small, and we could absorb a lot of her immense energy. »

Achille Castiglioni, ‘Mezzadro’ stool, 1957

The ‘Eclisse’ lamp, designed by Vico Magistretti for Artemide, 1965

A color palette that follows you?

« The colors of the Atlantic, which have an energy, specific nuances. The ocean has a mood, an energy. »

The 2021 collection designed by Patricia Urquiola for the brand CC Tapis

If you had to choose a color?

« All colors are important to me; I have no color phobia at all. Color is a fundamental part of defining things, like material and proportions. It has great power because it can truly change the value of an object, of a space in the end. One must handle color with a lot of respect. For me, when you respect something, it means you really love it.

We must work with color very carefully. For example, the use of the color red in the Cassina scenography at the last Salone del Mobile. We went down to the city, into a vault. In this case, the red atmosphere sets the entire ambiance of the project, the product. You live a beautiful experience there. »

Your vision of the Salone del Mobile?

« I believe that during that week, the city of Milan must provide strong emotions to others. We all need to understand that it’s a week to add value. It’s very open when you come; there’s a desire to absorb, and each person can communicate their culture to others. »

How did you approach the continuation of the DALYA collection for Coedition?

« I really like when there is continuity, the ability to do what we haven’t done before. There are always conversations to be had, and it’s great if there’s space for exploration.

An idea comes because you’re thinking about a piece that’s missing in a collection, something that can still be experimented with, something the company hasn’t done much. And then the relationship becomes special.

With Coedition, we’ve been friends forever; they have a very consistent language, an attention to detail, work with wood, leather. I really enjoy working with them. »

Dayla Armchair, designed by Patricia Urquiola for Coedition.

Dayla Chair, designed by Patricia Urquiola for Coedition.

A style that inspires you?

« When you are young and starting out, it’s important to understand which themes inspire you. But now, in my mind, there are different subjects, each with different priorities, a thousand and one connections. »

Moncloud sofa – Cassina by Patricia Urquiola

A material you enjoy working with?

« All of them! Currently, I am focusing on surface ceramics. We are exploring how to achieve a handmade, somewhat brutalist appearance, reminiscent of the 90s when I was young. By reproducing this artisanal effect on an industrial scale, we are adding more substance to the wall. It’s one of the themes that interest me, and we’re conducting a lot of research.

This year, we also have a beautiful collaboration with Nutri: a company with incredible mastery of marble and unique inlay techniques. They are genuinely fascinating for their technical expertise. »