Stories Separating and sanitising Text by Marco Romanelli Add to bookmarks Caimi Brevetti A change of function for screens and dividers that don’t just protect our privacy but become design tools for social distancing. The pandemic has wrought a radical change to our lifestyles. The fact that activities have been brought to a standstill hasn’t meant, however, that reflections on design or more specific thinking around how the sector should tackle the problem have slowed down. Business thinking has focused on matters such as the development of e-commerce, on one hand, and the study of hygiene procedures and easily sanitised materials (glass first and foremost – see Piero Lissoni’s structured internal door Spin collection for Glas Italia), on the other. Sherazade Spin, design by Piero Lissoni, Glas Italia Equally, ways of marking out spaces (screens and dividers) have seen a renaissance, as have ways of ensuring comfortable smart working (small desks, easily accommodated in bedrooms, and chairs that are a cross between office and domestic). Desks include the essential Era model by David Lopez Quincoces for Living Divani, Tucano, designed by Monica Förster for Zanotta, with a steel frame and shaped leather top, and the sophisticated solid wood MO Bridge Small Desk with woven strips conceived by Sinsaku Miyamoto for Ritzwell. Era, design by David Lopez Quincoces, Living Divani A large variety of screens have also been devised during this period, some hugely decorative and some more technical, as well as sound-absorbent (now much-needed, even outside workplaces, thanks to the recent forced domestic co-existence). Caimi Brevetti has always worked with this type of furniture, and has now come up with Sepa Rolls, designed by Sezgin Aksu, steel screens with Snowsound fabric, that can be juxtaposed and are equipped with wheels for easy movement. Philippe Nigro and Manerba are presenting the multifunctional Stem bookcase-divider system that can be fitted with padded elements to create individual phone booths. The back panels can be covered in a fabric of choice to ensure a good level of sound-absorption. Stem System, design by Philippe Nigro, Manerba
Stories The holiday library. 5 important books to savor tranquilly From Robert Wilson’s chairs to fables about the Castiglioni brothers. From the Compasso d’Oro to Beatrice Leanza’s thoughts and a bookazine on luxury. Essential reading for all those with a passion for the topic. Patrizia Malfatti
Exhibitions The latest outdoor furnishing, championing sustainability, material and colour Comfortable and sustainable, outdoor furnishing lends itself to many different interpretations, channelling innovation and constantly evolving aesthetics Marilena Pitino
Stories The biology of light, according to Manuel Spitschan What does chronobiology have to do with design? Manuel Spitschan, professor at the Technische Universität München, explains why light is essential to our well-being. And why designers should know more about it to design better. Giulia Zappa
