A Dialogue with Lapo Ciatti: Sensitivity for Sustainable Design

September 11, 2024
By: Ar. Priyanshi Shah
SUCCESS STORIES

Building Material Reporter features the “4 M- Man, Material, Mother Nature, Market ” as an exclusive edition where Lapo Ciatti, CEO of Opinion Ciatti, with Ar. Priyanshi Shah shares his experience of curiosity, thoughtfulness, and awareness in design.

How does your artistic process integrate the concept of "Man" into your creations?

CEO Lapo Ciatti: We focused on our artistic endeavours with the idea of Man in design. We evaluate the needs, requirements, and interactions with human experiences with objects and spaces surrounding us. Our notion is to incorporate the feeling of compassion and empathy in the design.

Our goal is to create innovations respecting the environment and promoting the well-being of people, through the use of eco-friendly materials. We want our creations to go beyond mere functionality or aesthetics and to have a positive impact on the lives and well-being of those who encounter them.

What sparked the invention of Opinion Ciatti, and what's the sense behind the choice of its name?

CEO Lapo Ciatti: The creation of Opinion Ciatti was motivated by an affection for creation and to explore new ideas in interior furnishing. The company was established to create unique and ingenious components distinguished by their essence, functionality, grade, and beauty.

"Opinion" is subjective and open to interpretation. It implies that every person can have their opinion and work based on their individualistic nature."Ciatti" is the surname of my family name emphasizing the family values in the building industry.

Can you describe how the materials you work with influence the narratives?

We understand the use of materials and that's why we are consciously aware of sustainable materials we used creating a narrative. Ecological Materials are expressions of texture, tactile sensation and emotions. We work with modern materials to convey a sense of precision.

The combination tells the tale of contrasts, colours and innovations. The use of a polished metal base paired with a metal sheet represents the encounter of tradition and modernity.

Explain the metaphor you've used for "spices and sauces" in describing your collections.?

The metaphor of "spices and sauces" illustrates the collections that we bring to our products. Like spices, we add character to our products and the "sauces" portray the combination of styles in our collections. Whether it's a modern or minimalist style, our products are designed to adapt to the needs of our clients.

What are your inspirations?

We are constantly impacted by the creations of artists from diverse eras and cultures. Visual art, sculpture, and architecture nourish us with a prosperous source of motivation.

Culture: Cultural traditions, patterns, and characters develop our creativity.
Technology: The latest technologies and inventions help us to analyse new methods in design.
Experiences: Our day-to-day life adventures, travels, discussions, and personal reflections

Share a distinctive product where the selection of material was crucial.?

The narration of ILtavolo 2.0 in terracotta was crucial as terracotta is a sustainable material, composed of reclaimed terracotta chips.
It highlights the magnificence and versatility of its rustic texture, evoking sensations of warmness and connection with spirit. The use of sustainable material terracotta was both aesthetic and metaphorical.

Share the experience of making the Hercle table at the 2024 Salone del Mobile.?

It illustrates an example of how we consciously experimented to investigate new techniques. The Hercle table features an imaginative use of material: a cork-based mortar, which we call Corkcrete. It is a sustainable and natural mortar that combines the lightness, flexibility, and thermal properties of cork with the binding properties of traditional mortar.

One of the main challenges we faced during the development process of the Hercle table material was to give the Corkcrete mortar a unique natural material appearance and a soft texture to the touch. We wanted the table not only to be aesthetically appealing but also pleasant to the touch and endowed with a reassuring tactile sensation.

What are the futuristic plans for Opinion Ciatti?

We aim to continue the search for innovation and invention. We will continue experimenting with materials, forms, and innovative concepts to offer our customized pieces and we plan to expand our range of products and commit to keeping a genuine and collaborative dialogue with emerging designers, bringing fresh perspectives.