Patricia Urquiola

MARSOTTO, TESTI FRATELLI, BUDRI, GRASSI PIETRE
(MARMOMACC-Veronafiere)
lighting by iGuzzini

PATRICIA URQUIOLA was born in Oviedo, in the Asturias, Spain. She currently lives and works in Milan. She attended the faculty of architecture at the Polytechnic School of Madrid and then the Polytechnic School of Milan, where she graduated in 1989 with Achille Castiglioni as her supervisor. From 1990 to 1992 she was assistant professor in the courses held by Achille Castiglioni and Eugenio Bettinelli both at the Polytechnic School of Milan and at the ENSCI in Paris. From 1990 to 1996 she was in charge of the product development department for De Padova and co-operated with Vico Magistretti, with whom she signed a few products. From 1993 to 1996 she opened an associated architecture studio focusing on architecture and interior design projects for residential complexes, showrooms, restaurants and stores. Since 1996 she coordinated the design group of the Lissoni Associati studio. In 2001 she opened her own design studio where she deals with design, installations, architecture and communication. In her capacity as designer she works with Agape, Alessi, Artelano, Axor, B&B Italia, Bart Design, Bisazza, Bombay Sapphire, Bosa, De Padova, De Vecchi, Driade, Emu, Fasem, Flos, Foscarini, Gallotti & Radice, Gandia Blasco, Honda, Kartell, Kettal, Liv’it, LG, MDF Italia, Molteni, Moroso, Mutina, Olivari, Paola Lenti, Panasonic, Rosenthal, San Lorenzo, Tronconi, Viccarbe. As far as architecture is concerned, she works on residential, retail, hospitality projects as well as exhibition stands, art exhibitions, museums and projects for public areas including B&B Italia, Bisazza, De Padova, Ferrero, Knoll, Gianvito Rossi, Hermès, Interni Magazine, Laboral Museum, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Merten, Mariott-Ritz Carlton, Mark’s & Spencers, Molteni, Mori Group, Moroso, Reig Capital, Roberto Torretta, Sand, Somma, Starwood, Valentino. She won several prizes including Designer of the Year for Wallpaper Magazine, Elle Decoration, AD Spagna, Elle Decoration International Design Awards, Good Design Awards Chicago Athenaeum, Maison & Objet Créateur de l’année Créateur now! design à vivre, Red Dot Awards. Among her personal exhibitions: Ideal House, Colonia, London Design Museum, Stockholm International Fair, Abitare il Tempo, Verona, Casa Pasarela, Madrid. Guest Editor for the 2007 International Design Yearbook; in 2009 a book by Patricia Urquiola has been published by the publishing house Daab. Speaker in several events including the Festival of Literature in Mantua, Alvar Aalto Academy, Helsinki, Indaba, Cape Town. Member of the jury for many international prizes such as Principe de Asturias Awards, Spain, World Design Capital, Wallpaper Awards. She was the celebrity spokesperson for the launch of the new Boeing 787, Seattle, United States. Some of her products are exhibited in major museums, including the MoMa of New York. © Max Zambelli for Mutina 38