INDUSTRIAL VISION
Samer Alameen’s Milan residence tells curiosity-provoking stories through its unique design
屬Samer Alameen擁有的米蘭住宅透過獨特設計反映引發好奇的大小事
Industrial designer Samer Alameen has chosen one of the liveliest quarters in Milan for his residence, which boasts the dream layout he always had in mind for his home. Located on the top floor of a building that preserves its original features, this home, studio and gallery is flooded with natural light and a large terrace and has quickly become his headquarters.
Samer studied and worked in Beirut until 2012. After working in the graphics and advertising industry, and having founded his own studio that organised events for major brands, Samer came to realise that he was most interested in design – so he moved to Milan. "When I left Lebanon, I could have moved to London, where I didn’t need to learn a new language," he says. "But design is in Milan."
Working on the design premise of the classic Thonet chair, which he observed had been replaced by cheap plastic chairs around the world, Samer decided to return it to glory through the use of steel and embellishments. His Khayzaran chairs were an instant success; the design was covered in many prestigious publications and taught in classes at Milan’s
工業設計師Samer Alameen選址米蘭活潑地區為家，那兒更擁有合符他夢想家居要求的佈局。這個兼作住所、工作室和藝廊的空間位於大樓頂層，仍保留著原來裝潢特色，Samer的家不但擁有源源不絕的天然光，更附建一大個陽台，很快也就成了他的總部。
2012年以前，Samer一直在貝魯特唸書和工作。任職過平面設計和廣告界後，又在貝魯特創辦自家工作室，為多個著名品牌舉行活動，Samer明白到自己還是對設計最感興趣，故選擇搬到米蘭。他指：「離開黎巴嫩時，我本可以選擇倫敦，更不用再學新語言。但設計之都畢竟是米蘭。」
“WHEN I LEFT LEBANON, I COULD HAVE MOVED TO LONDON, WHERE I DIDN’T NEED TO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE. BUT DESIGN IS IN MILAN”
Scuola Politecnica di Design, and Samer held his first exhibition at Salone del Mobile 2014. He explains its success with a hypothetical question: "Who wants to buy a dining table when you can be invited for dinner and experience life with a desired object?"
Samer’s home is a living example of his sense of provocation. In the first room of the house is an installation, where the stools and tables use an "all-you-can-seat" approach. A geometric motif complements this, with a nature-inspired decoration that climbs the walls. In the large living room are two Marbellous tables – which allow you to alternate three different tops, made of three different marbles – accompanied by Khayzaran chairs.
他的創作設計均以經典的Thonet座椅為本，但後來卻愈覺發現它竟被便宜的塑膠椅環球代替。Samer決定利用鋼材重新演繹座椅，再多加潤飾，重拾舊有華麗。他的出色成果Khayzaran椅最後獲多家著名出版商收錄，並在米蘭Scuola Politecnica di Design課堂上分享，Samer更於Salone del Mobile 2014舉行首個展覽。他透過這假設問題說明了自己的設計為何能大獲成功：「要是人家能邀請你享用晚餐，與美麗作品共存體驗生活，誰又會想買餐桌？」
From here, you continue on to the large terrace, where you can enjoy your time on Samer’s Leaf Me Alone seats; they can also be combined and used as an outdoor bed. To access the bedrooms and the study, you pass through a corridor, guaranteeing extra privacy. Meanwhile, in the smallest room, devoted to relaxation, the owner has chosen a strong colour that covers the sofa and the wall behind it, seemingly with a goal of confusion, while the rest of the house is illuminated by white walls. "I can stay in a baroque hotel, but the house must be white, like the canvas of a painter," explains Samer.
他家就是活生生的好例子。屋內第一間房就是裝置，當中的凳、桌也圍繞著「任你坐」的原則而行。幾何圖案與天然主題裝飾攀牆而上。大客廳放有兩張Marbellous桌，方便你根據當下心情選用三款不同大理石面料，並伴著Khayzaran椅而放。
你可在此走到大陽台，安坐Samer的Leaf Me Alone設計上享受放鬆時刻，組合起來更可成戶外睡床。如你要前往睡房和書房，則可走過走廊，更添額外私隱。小房間則為休息而設，主人為沙發和後方牆身選用了鮮明色彩，試圖混淆兩者。家中其餘地方均以白牆照亮。Samer解釋：「我大
Throughout the home, all of Samer’s furniture designs fill the domestic setting very naturally, almost as if the space had been specifically created for them. Some of the pieces express a slightly surreal irony, such as the Ego mirror. Others, like the Light-and-Seek floor lamp – included on The
New York Times’ list of the 10 most interesting lamps at Salone del Mobile 2016 – reveal a more conceptual nature. Modularity and scalability are essential to the syntax of the designer, who likes to propose a broader view – and Samer’s own home is undoubtedly in this mode. //
可以打造出一間巴洛克風酒店，但房子必要有如畫家的純白背景。」
家中所有傢具全由Samer設計，自自然然填滿各處空間，房子就好像專為它們而設。部分作品帶有稍為超現實的諷刺意味，如Ego鏡，其他作品如Light-and-Seek地燈——收錄在紐約時報Salone del Mobile 2016十大有趣燈飾之內——也展露出概念化性質。組合性和規模伸縮性屬Samer的設計重點，他總愛提出眼界意義更廣的視野——Samer的家就是最佳證明。//