Big dreams / FORCE ONE'S NEW OFFICE

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© Valentina Selvaggia de Gaspari

A PARLOUR OF IDEAS

WELCOME TO FORCE ONE

By Luca Marotta

It may seem strange to introduce ourselves so many years after the first edition of FORCE ONE was printed, all the way back in 2015. From a tiny room that fit not much more than one desk and a chair on Ruelle de la Fonderie – close to the palace, but so far from the grandeur – the magazine was carefully constructed every month. It was a passion project, and a massive risk.

Fast forward seven exhilarating (and tough) years, and we have seen ourselves go through a metamorphosis. From the struggling caterpillar of the early years we have now emerged a beautiful butterfly, and now find ourselves in a stunning, art-filled new office on 7 Avenue Ostende, overlooking the harbour of Monaco and first turn of the Grand Prix.

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© Giovanni Mereghetti

▲ Sergio Villa ▲ Carlo Rampazzi

We are more than just a magazine, and we needed our surroundings to reflect this. We wanted to, and have now, created a space which is not just an office, but a place to meet with clients, partners and friends to share ideas, talk about art, discuss the future of design, discover new luxuries; a parlour of ideas.

Designed by the kaleidoscopic architect Carlo Rampazzi, whose ability to inject the personality of his clients into his designs is unparalleled, our new office is unapologetically a scion of great interior design.

We have brought the outside in; our ceiling is painted with angelic clouds and a soothing sky blue, continuing the view from the wall of windows overlooking the harbour. This too is reflected on the custom made carpet, making you feel as if you are suspended in a dream-like scene.

But amidst the pastel are pops of colour, provided by the artisan furniture of Sergio Villa, a collaboration between the eponymous designer and Rampazzi.

From the Brianza workshop in Northern Italy, the celestial theme of the office is complemented by seductively eccentric armchairs, one representative of the sun, the other a moon. Our other “office furniture” could not be further from the dull, wood and leather clad images this phrase summons up. Simple forms like desks and coffee tables have been infused with a design-first approach, and makes for the perfect setting to discuss similar subjects with our visiting partners.

This new space also gives us the opportunity to host new artists on our walls and turn a portion of our office into a tiny gallery, as part of our ongoing partnership with the HOFA Gallery, founded in London’s Mayfair. Friends of FORCE ONE will have exclusive access to these artworks, with the opportunity to also discuss art investment in a private and inspirational setting.

The first artist to grace our walls is the incredible Chinese artist, Zhuang Hong Yi. Working between The Netherlands and Beijing, his work is influenced by the Dutch love of flowers and Chinese love of colour, intricately crafted together to produce sculptural canvases that embrace the emotions of his heritage, and the sophistication of his present.

We have come a long way. It’s hard not to tear up when surrounded by such beauty, the result of so much hard work from an incredibly talented and dedicated team. And we want to share this with you, our space, our ideas, our love of beautiful luxury.