Brand Story
Realising Giorgio Armani’s signature style and philosophical approach to living in different contexts, the Armani/casa Interior Design Studio lets its work speak for itself with an impressive line-up of bespoke projects around the world
Armani/casa Interior Design Studio lets its work speak for itself with an impressive lineup of bespoke projects around the world
In the world of fashion, Giorgio Armani is a name universally associated with crisp suits and glamorous gowns tailored to perfection, often spotted on the red carpet adorned by some of the brightest luminaries in Hollywood. Founded in 1975, the Italian fashion house has since expanded its empire to a broad range of collections, from haute couture and readyto-wear labels to leather goods, accessories, scents and cosmetics. As a designer, Armani’s passion and talent do not just stop at fashion. A self-proclaimed enthusiast of interior design, the Italian icon went on to launch his luxury home furnishings label Armani/casa in 2000, with the aim to create a complete concept of an Armani lifestyle at home. “I want to create interiors which improve the aesthetic quality for people, making them feel at ease. I view the home as a perfect shelter, a place where I can totally relax within a harmonious structure of colours and shapes that influences my feelings and mood to foster a sense of inner calm,” Armani once expressed. “They reflect my tastes and my passions, my aesthetic code and my profound need for comfort and functionality.” With an emphasis on sophistication and style to evoke a warm and welcoming ambience, Armani/casa comprises a curated collection of furniture and furnishing accessories, including lamps, decorative objects and exquisite fabrics designed in collaboration with Rubelli, in addition to stylistic and innovative kitchen systems in partnership with the Molteni Group under the Armani/dada label. The rapid success of Armani/casa led to the establishment of the Armani/casa Interior Design Studio, a bespoke interior design service which goes hand-in-hand with the furniture collection to bring Armani’s vision of a holistic living concept to a full circle. Under the artistic direction of Armani, who adopts a hands-on role in supervising projects together with his design teams in Milan, London and New York, Armani/casa Interior Design Studio provides complete interior design services, from the conceptual phase to the outfitting. Describing his perfect environment as “an intimate and sophisticated space in which to relax, unwind and entertain guests surrounded by beauty manifested through furniture and objects for
the home”, Armani takes great measures in ensuring each design is unique and perfectly integrated into their settings with custommade furnishings and objects. Now, more than a decade since the inception of Armani/casa Interior Design Studio, the brand boasts a prestigious lineup of international projects under its belt for private clients and property developers, ranging from high-end residential complexes to exclusive apartments, exotic holiday villas and private yachts. On a larger scale, some of its most prominent projects include Maçka Residences in Istanbul, Century Spire in Manila, the World Towers in Mumbai, Smart HeroCentral Park Plaza Residences in Beijing, Harbaa Towers in Tel Aviv and Art Residence in Chengdu. These works were put on display for the first time ever at the Salone del Mobile in Milan this year. Showcased within a creative installation concept that highlights the aesthetics of the atelier, it offered a rare and intimate behindthe-scenes access into the studio’s working methods and various phases in preparation of each project. Sketches, renderings, plans and cross sections, photos, scale models, layouts, samples of fabrics and materials all detail the meticulous processes involved in project, from conception to completion. Armani explained, “For the past decade, my interior design studio has been working on outstanding projects all over the world, coming up with new creative solutions in which an aesthetic of luxurious simplicity is interpreted through the local culture and ethos. In this exhibition I wanted to present this very complex, wide-ranging experience, a voyage through innovation in hospitality and the dream of living, working with great masters of contemporary architecture.” The installation marks the 10th anniversary of Armani’s partnership with Emaar Properties PJSC to launch the Armani Hotel collection worldwide. The first Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa in Dubai opened its doors in 2010 and is home to a gorgeous showcase of all things Armani from top to bottom. His second eponymous hotel soon followed suit in Milan a year later. The exhibition was also an outstanding showcase of Armani’s design prowess and his ability to assimilate his signature aesthetics into diverse environments, cultures and
“I WANT TO CREATE INTERIORS WHICH IMPROVE THE AESTHETIC QUALITY FOR PEOPLE, MAKING THEM FEEL AT EASE”
requirements. Stellar examples include the Queen’s Gate Place in London, a 19th-century townhouse restored to its original splendour where the intricate details of its architecture was brought out through a contemporary approach; the integration of India’s traditions and customs via modern iconographic elements in the World Towers in Mumbai; and the Maçka Residences, an exclusive residential project in Istanbul that splendidly captures the Old City influences with sculptural staircases and majestic curved walls. As the Armani/casa Interior Design Studio continues to blaze a trail across the universe from one remarkable project to another, one thing is profoundly clear: wherever he goes, Armani effortlessly leaves his trademark aesthetics and design sensibilities, infusing living spaces with luxurious simplicity, refined tastes and his unmistakable style.