#13 ST. MORITZ

THE BLOG - curated by Antonella Dedini

DESIGN ITALY IN THE WORLD 
ST. MORITZ

"Here I feel much better than anywhere else on earth," wrote philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche in July 1881 about his numerous stays in Engadine, a Swiss valley in the Canton of Graubünden; precisely, we are in Sils Maria, a few kilometers from St. Moritz. A destination that had remained in his heart and, due to its rich nature with meadows, larch and spruce forests, Swiss stone pine trees hiding romantic high-altitude lakes, represented an "ideal place for contemplation" for a soul in search of peace. Some have called this region the "Tibet of Europe" because the landscape has a particular beauty that invites reflection.

Today, it is the realm of water sports enthusiasts, mountain lovers, and those seeking relaxation, in winter dominated by skiers and enthusiasts of walks and cross-country skiing.

The locality of St. Moritz is located precisely in this "lake region" of the Southern Alps, an icon in the international tourism scene for its cosmopolitan and sparkling character, unlike few other tourist destinations.

It is in this place of relaxation and sophistication that we set our imaginary home.

THE HOUSE WITH THE TERRACE OVERLOOKING THE LAKE

We envision a house entirely enveloped in wood, the primary local building material. Its intense color, combined with the formal purity of the architecture, welcomes and releases the dazzling light of the sun throughout the day. The view from the terrace is breathtaking: the lake helps reflect the light inside the house, whose interiors can afford to play with furnishings in even dark colors in the fantasy of contrasts.

For enjoying the panorama in relaxation and comfort, the Roly Poly outdoor armchair by Faye Toogood for Driade is an ideal seat. Made from a single block of recycled plastic, it can have a comfortable and warm padding that reminds us of the beloved down jackets we use in the mountains and beyond.

On the deck, a vase or a practical firewood holder on wheels. The Color Vase by Francesca Cutini for Barrel12, made from recycled barrels, is one of those "sustainable" objects today that gain a second life thanks to clever product design.

We imagine, after a day on the snow, having the limited-edition Loose Algali skis by Cesare Griffa for Ambin by our side, which have the characteristic of being customizable and adaptable to any type of binding.

THE LIVING AREA

The living room is made very welcoming by a traditional wood-burning cast iron stove, contrasting with contemporary and sometimes minimal furnishings. In the environment with wainscoting and parquet flooring made from old larch boards, the conversation area is furnished with the Clayton sofa by Jean Marie Massaud for Poltrona Frau, a contemporary and refined furniture piece for relaxing, covered with the INSULA blanket by Valentina Mancini and Pasquale Iaconantonio in extra-fine merino wool from Lanificio Leo.

The sofa is illuminated by two exceptional light sources: the TRI.BE.CA floor lamp by Marzia and Leo Dainelli for Mogg, with convenient shelves for books and objects, and a USB port for charging tablets and smartphones—all in one lamp. And then, a GLAM T3 table lamp by Luc Ramael for Prandina rests on the Bob table by Jean Marie Massaud, with a leather-covered top.

The pouf, fun and unexpectedly comfortable, is SPIN by Renè Barba for BBB Italia. It is as wide as an armchair and can be rocked like a spinning top.

As Christmas approaches, the unconventional 185 cm tall sustainable laminated pine wood ARBOR tree is ideal for decorating the house for the holidays. At its base, the ceramic Christmas balls BAUBLES by E-Pottery.

THE DINING AREA

Adjacent to the living room is the dining area. The table is shielded by a movable wooden partition that reveals the communal space of the house. Here, a piece by the famous designer Charlotte Perriand, who loved these locations very much, could not be missing. The solid wood TABLE EN FORME LIBRE table for Cassina was initially designed in 1928 for her personal studio in Montparnasse and later put into production with Galerie Steph Simon in the late 1950s. It has rounded and asymmetrical shapes that also adapt to small spaces, seating up to 8 people.

On the table, the spectacular seven-armed silver-plated SIMON candelabrum by Czechoslovakian designer Borek Sipek, who contributed to the success of the historic Italian company Driade. And then, we imagine a table set with the Bone China plates THE WHITE SNOW MOI II by Adelaide Astori, the founder, and soul of the same company.

The MONTERA leather chairs are by Roberto Lazzeroni for Poltrona Frau. They have a very comfortable and enveloping backrest, making them suitable for dining.

The light in this space is indirect and comes from the FEZ F1 floor lamp with a blown glass dome by Marco Alessi for Prandina.

The leather weaves of the BUNGALOW ARMCHAIR by Jamie Durie for Riva 1920 and the CESTLAVIE magazine rack by Gamfratesi, which can serve as a functional support, produced by Poltrona Frau, are very precious.