A Place on Vines
"Daring, eclectic, unconventional and sensitive" - this is how the approach of designer Francesca Lanzavecchia is described. Born in Pavia in 1983, she studied industrial design in Milan and conceptual design in Eindhoven until 2008. There she developed her own understanding of design as a prismatic and multi-faceted discipline. Since then, she has made it her mission to design everyday objects with poetic and subversive elegance. In her projects, she combines functional and symbolic elements that carry histories, gestures or rituals and to which she wants to enable a personal and emotional connection. For her new chair, which she designed for S-CAB, she was inspired by Mediterranean vines: "This chair is an ode to conviviality, comfort and relaxation in the open air. When designing and naming it, I wanted to evoke an atmosphere of pleasant evenings, lively squares, bright dehors and terraces with a breathtaking view," says Lanzavecchia.
"Malvasia" unfolds its full effect in the sun: when the rays fall through the metal mesh and cast patterns on the floor, associations with the play of shadows on foliage or pergolas are automatically evoked. The design appears light as a result of the geometric arrangement of the struts. Meanwhile, the production of the pattern posed a real challenge, emphasises the designer: "This outdoor chair designed for S-CAB expresses a production challenge despite its simple and structured forms: The backrest and seat are created from a single calendered and perforated piece and then welded almost invisibly to the tubular frame. A complex endeavour that pushes the material to the limits of its flexibility."
Formally, the curves soften the cool effect of the material. The legs follow the wave of the backrest and give the piece of furniture a supporting line. In the armchair version, the armrest is attached to it and wraps around the corpus. "Like the Malvasia grape, renowned and exported worldwide for its sweet flavor and its aroma, this chair fits in a wide range of situations, from the most casual to the most sophisticated. Its colors can transform it from a sober look to a more lively or romantic one, reflecting the diversity of outdoor experiences," explains Lanzavecchia. The colour scheme of the powder coating is based on the Mediterranean spectrum: S-CAB offers the new seating furniture in a total of eight shades, from "matt linen" and sophisticated grey tones to "matt olive green" or warmer earth tones such as caramel and terracotta. Matching seat cushions complete the chair and arm chair for added comfort. S-CAB thus continues to pursue its goal of anchoring beauty in everyday life. Or as Lanzavecchia puts it: "Malvasia embodies the spirit of Mediterranean hospitality, inviting friends and family to gather around tables in public and private spaces. I imagine myself sitting on ‚Malvasia', admiring a sunset while sipping a glass of wine, immersed in the timeless atmosphere of the Mediterranean."
