The Sound of Furniture

Have you ever listened to a shelf? Or a chair? And what does an armchair actually sound like? The new furniture label Bottone has recorded a piece of music for each of the eight objects in its first collection. The tracks are spherical, electronic, minimalist and dry. Metallic beats stumble along with the "Rivet" aluminium chair, the curved "S-Tisch" wobbles excitedly like early house music, while the "Filigrana" shelving unit sounds as delicate as its name – and surprisingly melodic despite its rectangular grid. And the piece for the armchair "Nodo" contains a sample that is reminiscent of the sound of a zip. All eight pieces can be found on the Bottone website. They are part of a sophisticated concept with which the founders and brothers Daniele Luciano and Michele Ferrazzano are orchestrating the launch of their company. The actual furniture premiered in Milan at the Salone del Mobile, Bottone presented it in the "Dopo Space".

Bottone is an affair of the heart for the two Ferrazzanos. The fact that the launch is accompanied by music is no marketing gimmick: both 40-year-old Daniele and 44-year-old Michele have been making music themselves and DJing for years. Turning the designs into sounds was an obvious choice for them. "That's what sets us apart," says Daniele during an interview in his Berlin flat, where one room serves as a home office and studio. What also sets them apart is their origins in Apulia; their grandfathers came to south-west Germany to work. Family is paramount in Italy – a cliché that the two are happy to confirm with their close relationship. Founding a company together came naturally at some point.

But Italy also means Italian design, of course, and Daniele Ferrazzano discovered this as an industrial design student during his first visit to the Salone del Mobile in 2005. He had registered for the excursion to Milan at his university in Schwäbisch Gmünd without knowing what to expect. But from then on, his passion for furniture would not let him go. "I fell in love with this world." And the emotionality of Italian postmodernism gave his Bauhaus-trained understanding of design a little kick. Combining the two worlds, German and Italian design, is one of the brothers' declared goals. As an industrial engineer and internationally experienced project manager, Michele is responsible for production, construction and planning, while Daniele has taken on the role of creative director and designer.

Daniele Ferrazzano has also been running an interior design studio in Stuttgart under the name Studio DLF since 2009. Daniele designed five products for the first collection, three of which originate from architectural projects by Studio DLF, such as the "S-Tisch" with the serpentine curved top. Daniele designed it in 2020 for a café in Stuttgart, which had to close again after a few months due to the pandemic. The "Rivet" chair, on the other hand, was designed by Simon Busse. "A smart design," says Daniele, "and it's easy to make." The "Zooom Rug" was created in collaboration with the Haus Otto design studio and Daniele worked together with Artur De Menezes (Sixnfive Objects) for "In&Out". The founders define Bottone as an "affordable collectible", meaning that there are no limited editions and the furniture is not outrageously expensive. However, it is not affordable for the mass market, which is not possible due to the small quantities produced so far. Following the launch of the collection in Milan, Bottone is continuing at a rapid pace: Michele and Daniele Ferrazzano will open their own showroom in Berlin-Mitte. From the opening on 30 April 2024, visitors will be able to test whether the furniture actually looks like it sounds.

Bottone Showroom
Leipziger Straße 66
10117 Berlin

Opening:
30 April 2024, 7 pm