[ DESIGN DISTRICT ]
ANDREA LUPI CREATIVE DIRECTOR ANTONIOLUPI by Marta Bernasconi
antoniolupi is a Tuscan company that has been designing and producing bathroom furnishings for the Italian and international markets since 1950. The Lupi family’s corporate decisions are driven by a passion for superb quality and a bespoke approach to production which means the company’s collections are fully personalisable.
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So what is antoniolupi’s idea of luxury? Over the last decade in particular, bathrooms have become hugely representative and demonstrative. They send out an unconscious message: if we don’t take care of ourselves, we certainly won’t have time for others. A luxurious bathroom to me means an elegant functional environment where you care for yourself in a space that is almost liturgical, silent, harmonious, natural. So it is absolutely a place to live rather than simply pass through. Which materials, shapes and functionalities are you centring your offering around? antoniolupi has been investing in research for years. We’ve been innovating and anticipating trends through leading-edge materials and styles. In 2011, we were the first company to offer hand-basins and shower trays in Corian. We introduced stone in 2003 followed by Cristalplant in 2007 and then Ceramilux. Our research into technology and innovation led to the introduction of Flumood, Cristalmood and the very recent Icemood, all absolutely new generation materials that are compact, eco-friendly, nonporous and non-toxic. What are your icons of your own style now? Sono molti gli oggetti diventati cult per antoniolupi, il primo è There is a whole slew of cult antoniolupi products: the first is definitely the 2001 SLOT sink designed by Nevio Tellatin which is still very popular on the market – we hid the drain and the overflow. Other iconic products are the ceiling-mounted Meteo shower head and the Reflex bathtub in Cristalmood. antoniolupi aboard: what does that mean aesthetically and performance-wise? Just as is the case in the home, bathrooms are the most intimate spaces aboard where we can devote ourselves to looking after our body and our well-being. Regardless of where a bathroom is, antoniolupi always has a contemporary take: a space that is meticulously planned to the last detail in which light, colours and materials all contribute creating a sense of wellbeing, intimacy and comfort. Could you tell us about your latest new products? At the 2022 Salone del Mobile, we presented the results of our R&D into new materials and forms designed over the last two years. Cristalmood and Icemood are materials we created and patented and which we have used to make many of our new products. We brought along two new furniture collections plus the Ofuro bath tub designed by Carlo Colombo, the singlepiece Carrara marble Wave hand basin designed by Doriana and Massimiliano Fuksas, a long list of accessories and lights by Brian Sironi and Gumdesign.
