Philippe Nigro

He avows deep admiration for architects and the discipline they practise. And yet, these are the pieces he designs. Precisely, elegantly. Without ever doing or saying too much. Only what is necessary. It must be said that he attended a good school : ten years spent with the Italian maestro Michele De Lucchi, before opening his own studio in 2009. "The multidisciplinary approach of the Italians of that generation, says Philippe Nigro, the global culture of the project originating from architecture which then streamed through all aspects of the build – from the organization down to the smallest details : lighting, door handles, furniture, etc. – very much left its mark on me."

"I worked on all types of projects : architecture, industrial design, experimental, gallery, scenography. And then Michele’s workshop was a little like a school, even if he himself didn’t have the attitude of a teacher. Each worker was free to benefit from the studio setup when working on their own projects and research. It was rare for things to run this way, even in Italy, the country of design." And it was thus, in this free, fertile context, that Philippe Nigro developed his own approach, peacefully. From project to project. Personal projects were put into production, with one of the first, the Confluences settee (2009), sealing a lengthy collaboration with Ligne Roset. A seating system based on a principle of interlocked coloured modules which may be freely arranged according to requirements, lifestyle, space.

A number of models followed : the Flax armchairs and settees, Philéas, the Hémicycle range, in collaboration with the Mobilier National where the designer served as the link between two areas of extremely high calibre French expertise: that of the exceptional craftsmen in the Mobilier National’s R&D team for metalwork and cabinetmaking, and that of Ligne Roset for fillings, foam, comfort and upholstery.

Their latest creation : Marechiaro, another system, this time one of storage, also developed in collaboration with an exceptional craftsman, Alessio Bernardini. Another meeting, more convergence. Is this what design is ? "There is a human question in all of this", responds Philippe Nigro immediately. "In a project, what attracts me is the meaning one gives it in a particular context. Even more so when we are working with family businesses, since one is sharing a sensitivity, an eye, a desire to do things, together. My work thus consists of taking the culture of the business in a broad sense and translating it in a slightly more personal way." This says it all. The appropriateness of the proposition stems from this.

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