Towards New Horizons by Platinum Media Lab

A L U M I N I U M

ALU MIN IUM

I S S U E

•

n° 3 0 •

2 0 2 2

- € 10 30 - 202 2 ISS UE - n°

IN THE

SPOTLIGHT

As part of its exploration of new design areas the studio Zuccon International Project presents Jacques-Yves, a highly versatile, personalisable modular seating system that formally marks the entry of Bernardo and Martina Zuccon into the field of product design, with the prestigious collaboration of Poltrona Frau

Towards New Horizons by Désirée Sormani

Bernardo and Martina Zuccon have been at the helm of the studio founded in Rome in 1972 by architects Gianni Zuccon and Paola Galeazzi. Zuccon PH. GIOVANNI MALGARINI

International Project stands out for its multidisciplinary approach in number of fields, including civil architecture, and is one of the most authoritative design studios in the luxury yacht industry

The modular seating system provides outstanding flexibility and versatility, available in a range of details, materials and configurations. The storage spaces inside the seats are a legacy of nautical design

ever stand still, always look beyond current horizons and

But where exactly is the interface between furnishing and yachts? “The

take on new challenges. This seems to the philosophy

real element of similarity in our approach to a project that was so diffe-

adopted by Bernardo and Martina Zuccon, who head the

rent from those we usually work on was exploiting all the experience

famous design studio, founded in the 1970s by their fa-

we built up in the yacht-building sector to design a sofa that was ge-

ther Gianni and their mother Paola Galeazzi. Because for them a new

nuinely capable of responding to the problems involved in its unusual

challenge has appeared, creating a link between two worlds, residential

location – a setting that moves across the water”, the designer says.

and nautical, which may seem far apart but are in fact very closely

Jacques-Yves is a versatile, flexible modular system that can be used

related. The new adventure is called Jacques-Yves. Not just any na-

both indoors and out. It enables an almost infinite variety of configu-

me, but one chosen to define a full-blown modular seating collection

rations that are ideal for all locations, whether it be on board a yacht

created for Poltrona Frau, the famous brand with many connections to

or in a home or hotel. With a timeless, sober and essential design it

the yachting world. Its history goes back to the 1930s when it created

establishes a harmonious relationship in a minimal or less stripped-

furnishings for the luxurious transatlantic liners of the time.

down setting, adapting to a wide range of styles.

“Designing a sofa for the yahcting market was an unusual yet fascina-

The square lines develop horizontally with generous volumes in com-

ting challenge”, says Bernardo Zuccon, “Especially as it’s been carried

pact dimensions, designed to take up as little space as possible inside

out in collaboration with an internationally-recognised company like

the yacht with arms and seat depths reduced to a minimum without

Poltrona Frau. In our approach to the project I’ve tried to identify the

compromising on comfort and harmony of forms. It is, of course, totally

basic requirement the object was to fulfil, just as we were taught by the

personalisable reflecting the demands of the yachting market and the

renowned industrial designer Charles Eames, who said, “Recognising

Poltrona Frau philosophy.

the need is the primary condition for design”.