Who knew? Well, we certainly didn’t. But then again, Luca Guadagnino‘s movies always ooze a strong aesthetic quality, either in dialogue, portrayed emotion, or, even more palpable as in Io sono l’amore (2009), by way of an elegant designer wardrobe for the adulterous protagonist. We’re talking Guadagnino’s new side job as an interior designer and his very first assignment for Aesop. Interestingly, the Italian filmmaker had been playing with the idea to launch a design studio, and by chance he landed this assignment which accelerated a new kind of exposure. The Aesop boutique is situated in the heart of Rome, occupying a compact space which previously housed a dodgy electronics shop. A far cry from the previous setting, Guadagnino’s newly established design studio took cues from the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina, an ornate fifth century structure across the square, to create the cultured oasis it is now. Using its colours and materials as the foundation for the interior design, it’s arguably best reflected by the geometric pattern of the travertine floor and slabs of coloured marble captured by a sales desk and two wash basins. Rows of cabinets with marble tops line the walls on both sides of the retail space, and are paired with shelving in hues that not only reference film director Pier Paolo Pasolini‘s legacy, but also anchor a distinct contemporary element in the setting. In stark contrast with the solidity of the materials used below, the ceiling is made of straw that’s artfully tweaked into a pattern of blocks, referencing the thatched roofs of houses in Agro Pontino, a rural area just outside Rome, and specifically Pasolini‘s film Edipo Re. The new Aesop boutique carries the brand’s full range of products.
Aesop
Piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina 28 (Tridente)
00186 Rome
Telephone: +39 6 37897509
Tue-Sat 10.30-6.30
Publishers Note
Just to be clear – superfuture® is a design blog and not a political commentator. No surprise there. The scope of our content has always been global and borderless, however that can often mean covering projects in countries where we will not agree with the politics or actions of those countries. In a world that’s as screwed up as ever right now, the focus of our support is to those designers, architects and other creatives who aim to make the world a more liveable one – as opposed to people that try their hardest to destroy it. So if a project hits our desk and we like it based on its design credentials, we may choose to publish regardless of its location or creators nationality. superfuture® has always been inclusive and hopes for all current wars, aggression, violence, hate and extremism to end.
