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[ TREND SETTER ]
SCULPTING SPACE
Cultured references, architectural allusions from classical times reinterpreted in the present, with strong accents of a Nordic culture that shapes the material and restores it to the natural world. He creates unique interiors that have inspired a collection of limited edition objects by the Roman architect, who loves to amaze, but in a refined, serene tone by Désirée Sormani - ph. Courtesy of Achille Salvagni Architetti
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is furniture embellishes the homes of collectors around the
journey through history with cultured references and architectural
world, from Tom Ford to Paul Simon, Michael Bloomberg
allusions from far back in time, starting from ancient Rome and
and George Soros. Some pieces have even come under
continuing through the renaissance and baroque periods, then the
the hammer at Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Phillips, alongside works
1920s, 30s, 50s and 60s, continuing up to the present day. There
by such masters of design as Giò Ponti. His work comprises a few
are also strong influences from a Nordic culture with links to the
numbered objects that have become the best source for famous
experience of Arval Alto, Folke Arström and Sigmund Leverentz,
architects involved in creating prestigious interiors. Achille
Scandinavian architects who have codified organic rationalism,
Salvagni has made perfection his hallmark, and a combination
where nature dominates the rigid forms, shaping the material and
of creativity and uniqueness his winning strategy. Whether it’s
making it a part of nature once again. One example is the six-metre
a single piece of furniture or an entire project, he takes us on a
table in the living area of the 70-metre Rossini megayacht Numptia
Architetto Salvagni in the new London Atelier, beside the “Palatino Lacewood” cabinet, the “Oyster Mirror” and the “Divo” lamp. Opposite page, from left: Salvagni’s Rome residence has asoft, natural color palette inspired by Old Master paintings, inherited pieces, andinvestment art. Centre, “Thor” floor lamp in a London interior.Right, the living room inside a Parisian Rive Gauche residence incorporates a mix of works designed by Salvagni and important twentiethcentury design to reflect the rich sense of history found in thisÎle-de-France neighborhood
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[ TREND SETTER ] from 2011 – a large cuttlefish bone in alpacca, an alloy of silver and
like an artist” the architect continues.
aluminium that gives the metal an almost gilded look beneath the light,
Achille Salvagni’s studio also deals with projects for large residences
its reflections evoking the movement of sand and water. The adventure
and yachts, interior projects where everything seems to exist in perfect
of collecting limited edition objects begins here – on board, everything,
harmony. One stylistic choice, one solution leads to another, with an
from the handles to the cabinets, is a design piece. “It was a sort of
obsessive attention to detail. The material appears to be moulded, almost
experiment that has won a number of accolades, including ‘Best Bespoke
carved out, nothing is taken for granted, everything is designed for a
Piece Onboard’ in the World Superyacht Awards”, says Salvagni, “A
specific location where guests are welcomed in refined spaces with a
success, honestly, that was never really anticipated. The owner also
warm, soft and serene atmosphere. And the play of contrasts creates
asked me to design his New York residence overlooking Central Park.
the unexpected. “I always start from a neutral shell with accents that
This was then published in AD USA: a gallery owner and collector read
add a touch of uniqueness. There’s always something that fractures the
the article with interest and suggested I create a line of limited-edition
perfect equilibrium, a piece of art or a design object, the change of a
objects and furniture. That was in 2013, and two years later I dedicated
weave or surface. I tend to create spaces that are never coupled, they
a section of my studio to this passion, and I founded Achille Salvagni
are places where the plaster seems to have been carved out by hand
Atelier. We now have a gallery in Mayfair, London, that showcases
and a plane removes wood to give the original a new life. I also like the
this work and we’re soon going to open a second in New York”. The
idea of softness – I think it’s closer to the human character. Flowing,
limited-edition design furniture is the synthesis of Salvagni’s work, set
rounded forms are to me a way of softening the rigid sign that rationalist
against a background of Roman influences (an architecture degree from
architecture has imposed”. Then there are just a few select materials –
La Sapienza university) with Baroque and Classical elements stripped
gold, bronze, wood, silk and velvet – and many special details, that can
down and “folded” by Swedish design (assimilated during a year at the
also be found on board yachts created with Oceanco, Rossinavi, Azimut
Stockholm Institute of Technology). “Limited edition is the sector that
Benetti and Baglietto . “The 70-metre Numptia made with Rossinavi was
now provides me with greatest recognisability and the freedom to create
really the second project in the nautical sector”, says Salvagni. “The first
Above, an oval dining room in Rome features a custom round table and a black lacquered spider chandelier. Centre, Salvagni’s Rome residence has a soft, natural color palette inspired by Old Master paintings. Right, The hallway in the private quarters of an estate in Southampton features a soft color palette, twentieth-century design
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Above, the main dining room of the superyacht Numptia with the table in the shape of a cuttlefish bone. Salvagni designed this space to be about emotion and style. Below, another interior: Salvagni brings together rich and varied textures, from delicate finishes to polished woods and bronzes
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[ TREND SETTER ] was Mikymar, a 118’ Canados (in 2007), a project offered by a client I was working with on office pavilions. I’d just graduated, inexperienced but full of energy. It was a sort of yacht design that opened the doors to the yacht-building world, a showcase that enabled me to form contacts with owners who are otherwise difficult to reach”. Whether it’s a villa or yacht, Achille Salvagni approaches his work with the same originality and culture. And if it’s true that the line between residential and yachting is increasingly less well-defined, Salvagni says, “You have to be careful not to create monsters…I find it aberrant to transfer the experience of residential design to yachts, because a yacht isn’t a house – it doesn’t have the same compositional logic. A yacht is a system that develops in a theme codified at the outset, like the interstellar voyage on board Club M, while a house can be codified many times. You can modify dimensions, surfaces, colours...then there’s the context…a yacht is an object that moves and constantly changes its setting, but the visual connections between a house and its location are fundamental: an apartment overlooking Central Park doesn’t have the same conditioning as a residence in Cairo or an Alpine valley. I don’t like creating fake settings that seem to have been assembled the day before. And to me, tradition is a springboard for a leap into the future. History is a starting point, a way to conquer what lies ahead in a logic that is always serene. I’m not a shouter, I’m the kind of person who tries do things quietly. Above, Salvagni transformed this interior in Mayfair into a retro-futuristic space capsule inspired by set designs from iconic 1960s science fiction films. Below: The main stairwell of the superyacht Baglietto Club M made of limestone
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