Page 67 - Via Condotti

“Italy has understood the centrality of design 75 years step for the design of the line Lamborghini furnishings
ago, long before the rest of the world recognized its produced by Riva 1920”, says Karim Rashid. “The furni-
fundamental role”, says Karim Rashid, one of the major ture collection ref ects the timeless quality of Riva 1920
protagonists of the international design scene, madly in with recalls to the aerodynamic shapes of Lamborghini
love with the Italian lifestyle. “Companies such as Riva cars and their progressive and extraordinary beauty.
1920 and Lamborghini are driven by a great passion You can see a sense of f uidity and a fusion of organic
and constant research in favor of innovation and beau- and pure forms, without never sacrif ce comfort”. More
ty, so I’ve been inspired by them and focused on a sim- than 300 prizes and works in 40 countries, with exhibi-
ple, minimalist and extremely sensual collection”, says tions in art galleries all over the world - including New
the visionary designer born in Cairo and grew up in Ca- York, San Francisco and Paris - Rashid the artist goes
nada, more than 3000 objects put up in production with beyond design, being also a Dj and composer electro-
inf uences from the f elds of interior design, fashion and nic music, with a precise mission: “I want to change the
lighting, and special projects such as the Italian inte- world”. As also says his book published in 2001: a kind
rior of the Stazione Universitaria of the Underground of of manifesto of the new “beauty” that for the design pop-
Naples. “Italy is a mix of endless ideas, concepts, ma- star goes through organic, plastic and sculptural forms
nual craftsmanship and cutting edge production. See in the sign of that “sensuous minimalism” that wants if
the art of robotics, meticulously combined with artisan possible, to make life more enjoyable, if not even make
work has impressed me and has been a fundamental the world a better place.

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