Citation Sources

Websites:

"Steelcase." Steelcase. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2012. <http://100.steelcase.com/mind/patricia-urquiola/>.

"Patricia Urquiola." Patricia Urquiola. Design Boom, Mar.-Apr. 2007. Web. 10 Nov. 2012. <http://www.designboom.com/eng/interview/urquiola.html>.

"Patricia Urquiola." Moroso60. Moroso, 2012. Web. 10 Nov. 2012. <http://www.moroso.it/home_moroso.php?n=designers&d_id=8&l=en>.

"PATRICIA URQUIOLA." Bonluxat. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2012. <http://www.bonluxat.com/d/patricia-urquiola.html>.

"Patricia Urquiola – Refreshingly Vivacious." The Designer. Hansgrohe, 2012. Web. 11 Nov. 2012. <http://www.hansgrohe.com/en/3095.htm>.

"Judges' Profiles: Patricia Urquiola." Wallpaper* Magazine: Design, Interiors, Architecture, Fashion, Art. N.p., 4 Jan. 2008. Web. 11 Nov. 2012. <http://www.wallpaper.com/design/judges-profiles-patricia-urquiola/2011>.

Raaij, Michiel Micvan. "Barcelona 1: Patricia Urquiola." Interview. Weblog post. Eikongraphia» Blog Archive». N.p., 2006-2011. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://www.eikongraphia.com/?p=2653>.


Books:

Terstiege, Gerrit. The making of design. Germany: birkhauser, 2009. Print.

Urquiola, Patricia. Patricia Urquiola. Cologne: Daab, 2009. Print.

Urquiola, Patricia. Patricia Urquiola: Time to Make a Book. [S.l.]: Rizzoli, 2013. Print.

"Gender, race, sexuality, ideology, and faith are just going to be unimportant characteristics that will not define ourselves."

Urquiola Design Lessons #1:
Patricia Urquiola sees a future where designers are working on a mental comfort, focusing on the smaller details to enhance daily living. To do that, she believes that ergonomics and functionality come secondary to sociability and emotionality. 

To think about what kind of emotion an object will invoke in a person is very unique, especially when most designers primarily think and design around how an object is used. To make something functional or aesthetically pleasing is one thing, but to make people react a certain way from it, whether it is to be in love with the design, create nostalgia, or even inspire, is something that is so unconventional in many designers' goals. I believe that if more designers think this way, designs could make a bigger impact on the world. Similarly, I feel that, if I change my perspective to aspire by Urquiola, my designs would be so different, in such a meaningful way. 


Urquiola Design Lessons #2:
Our identities are personalized and therefore, we need a habitat that suits our personalities that evolves with us. Patricia Urquiola believes that spaces should be moulded to our personalities and not the contrary. 

While designing a space, we naturally try and match the personality of the space to that of our clients'. To take away from the first lesson above, when you design a space that focuses on creating positive emotion from someone, that person will automatically relate to it and it makes your job that much more complete.  


Urquiola Design Lessons #3:
Architecture will be more flexible, adapting to our multi-taking for multipurpose usage, and that use of the space is maximized and used almost 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

What I love about Patricia Urquiola is that she rises awareness on many things that we don't ordinarily think of when it comes to improving our world. I actually never really had much thought in the issue of gorgeously designed buildings not being maximized to use as often as it should be. Its true though, when you think about it. Most spaces, gorgeous or not, are often not used over 50% of a day's worth. Retail spaces, for example, are used perhaps on a 9am-9pm basis, but what I understand from Patricia's words is that, why can't we maximize the space at night, let's say, after closing hours? Interesting food for thought.


Urquiola Design Lessons #4:Urquiola sees a world where objects are not thrown away, but recycled to live a different life; that we will also recycle time and reduce the waste of time; that we will care more about materials and how they interact with our bodies; and that matters will grow spontaneously, mixing man-made with natural or inorganic with organic.

""To work in sustainability is to work in complexity. You don't get all the solutions. It gives you a sense of humility. But we have to take care. We have to give the example. We need to see the right side of the moon."

What I've seen in common with Patricia Urquiola's designs are that she really takes pleasure to experimenting and being really innovative with her choice of materials. I've always been interested in using unique materials in each of my projects. I feel like it should automatically be incorporated in every design because its a sense of responsibility that we have as designers.

Also that she treasures sustainable design and we've looked at an example with the Axor Hansgrohe project, where she designs to emphasize water's preciousness. She took a different approach to sustainability, which inspires me greatly. Instead of using sustainable materials to enforce her concept, she created tubs that were specifically designed to fit one person and to reduce the waste of water. Its a simple concept, yet it has never been done before and it was executed so effectively and beautifully. It comes to prove that sometimes simple does it. It encourages me to think back to basics, but try to stay outside of the box at the same time. She gives me hope to know that design can still be as innovative as she has created it to be. She's not just a designer, she invents new furniture, new architecture. Often as designers, many don't bother to make their own products  and although I've always believed that anyone is capable of making furniture, learning through Patricia's words and works has led me to believe that anyone can change the world through their design if they have a strong belief in what they are designing.
My new goal:
Finding the truth through invention..


and finally....

Urquiola Design Lessons #4:

"We are not going to have goals or live for results but will enjoy our travel no matter how long or intense it will be."

Well, that speaks for itself.

Hosu

 One of Patricia Urquiola's most recent completed works, her concept for these chairs is mobility that you can spread out on. As work moves around, it often needs to spread out. She pictured using this system at home, universities, hotel rooms, even in creative business environments.

Hosu encourages spreading out. This unique single seat or sofa is meant to provide one with a comfortable personal space to relax and productive. The seat folds out and transforms the Hosu into an ultra lounger to spread out legs as a footbed. The sofa seats two, comfortably bringing two people together even if they are focused on different tasks.

Both seats feature rear and side storage pockets and allows cable to pass through. Whether its for computer, ipad or phone, the cable pass through allows one to continue working without having to get up to charge at a different location. These are offered in six exclusive colours  that will productively improve any environment!

When in Spain.....

Named the best hotel project of 2010 by Interior Design Magazine, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Barcelona was one of Patricia Urquiola’s latest projects, which featured and highlighted her bathroom series from Axor Urquiola.  

Located by Antonio Gaudi’s Casa Batlló, the lavish Mandarin Hotel is well suited for the stylish and avant-garde city of Barcelona and Patricia Urquiola was able to do this through her modern aesthetics. The same charm, chic and sleek contemporary design of her bathroom series is featured all throughout the rest of the luxury hotel, in the hallways, restaurant, and in all 98 suites of the Mandarin Oriental. Urquiola created this vibrant space using the same fresh, unusual shapes that were found in her bathroom pieces and she was able to compliment the bathrooms by fusing the bathroom’s minimalist pieces and modern aesthetics throughout the hotel.

Axor Urquiola

As the first woman to design a project for Axor Hansgrohe Company, Patricia designed to represent the modern age, with attention to today’s economic concerns to benefit the environment at the same time.

This isn’t just a bathroom, it’s a room that is separated from the bedroom, a space for relaxation and rejuvenation. For this collection, Patricia really focused on the function as well as the needs of both the user and the ecosystem at the same time. She produced a soaker tub as well as a vessel sink, faucets and other little accessories to make the bathroom more pleasant.

As you can see, there are two relatively smaller bathtubs instead of one giant one. Patricia thinks its ridiculous to fill up a whole bathtub just to bathe one person, so she referenced these tubs back to the traditional methods of single bathing. The shape was interpreted through old-fashioned washtubs that were large enough to fit and bathe one person, but small enough to not be wasteful. Additionally, the look of the tubs were motivated through the shape of a bucket with handles that let you carry it. The shape helps resemble a sense of water’s preciousness.

“when you fill a bucket, you think of quantity.”

The slot-like openings also act as a functional purpose for where you hang your washcloth or towel. The vessel sinks match the tubs with its gentle curves and side openings. The slot openings continue to show on the faucet handles as well, featuring a subtle wave. The handles coms up flawlessly and organically from one side like a branch of a tree.

Bohemian

The Bohemian series if a family of sofa, bergere, chase lounge, armchair and pouf. The lines of these chairs are very fluid, conveying soft, irregular, enveloping, casual lines as if the fabric were melting over the frame. The upholstery comes in fabric or leather is fixed to the shell frame with press-studs.

Like the Volant series, the sofa is personified as a human being. The sofa is appeared to be “wearing” a shawl blanket thrown over its shoulders. The structure bends backwards to further accentuate this feature. Furthermore, the seat is meant to be layered upon, like extravagant fashion statement outfits, with assorted cushions, fabric blankets with unalike textures and textiles and faux fur. 

The result is a classically refined, contemporary and sophisticated furniture displaying layered and mixed cultures and traditions, colors and textiles, with a sense of lavishness and modern richness. Patricia Urquiola took a classic design and turned it into a modern form. These are currently manufactured by Moroso

Antibodi

Patricia Urquiola has created another piece that unique and so full of spirit. She draws many of her inspirition from nature, flowers in particular. The design of this chair blossoms from a “cellular” breed of petals. These petals are sewn in angular connecting shapes, creating plenty patterns all over the surface of the chair where one actually sits on.  The “petals” are made from felt and wool fabric or wool and leather that is reversible and creates a comfortable supper covering a stainless steel metal frame. The petal cover has flexibility with two different types of looks: petals facing upwards for a more feminine, unconventional mood, or facing downwards for a fixed quilted look.

Volant

Volant armchair

Volant chair

Patricia Urquiola created many series of seats in her career, but I would like to share with you some of her most popular and my most favorite pieces along with her concept for each of them.

Here is a series that she designed for Moroso. Its part of one of her projects that she’s been working on, the research of the “skin of objects.” The Volant series includes a range of sofa, armchair, chair and stool with altered proportions.

These are basic and self-sufficient upholstered chairs where the upholstery fabric is not just a cover, not just fabric, but also an element that actually defines and creates the product. 

Concept: “It has something of a Balenciaga dress or a Shogun’s robe. Using the body as a basis for transformation. Hiding the legs. Lined for greater comfort, greater beauty. An extremely elegant evening dress.” - Patricia Urquiola

Volant Sofa

Patricia Urquiola describes these chairs as "wearing" magical “evening dresses” and with dresses, there are a lot of flexibilities with the personality, style or look according on the mood of the person using it. The seat is transformable by changing the upholstery or “dress”. For a less formal, short outfit, the seat may be “dressed” in simpler upholstery. Additionally, for a more fitted look, remove the extra fabric to show off the seat’s casing, showing off the frame and highlighting its shape.

The frame base is a shape of a trapezium, connecting the back and the seat. The shape is a contrast between regularity and irregularity, with sharp angles and a clashing illusion of right angles. The seat looks flat, but in actuality is has curved sections to provide extreme comfort. The seat is made of polyurethane foam for added comfort.

Back view of the volant chair

      

Philosophy

Patricia Urquiola has been focusing on Italian design from an early date and is very much influenced by the mentors of her past. For one, working with Vico Magistretti was an important experience in her career. Legendary Achille Castiglioni was also important in her career in that he taught her how to directly and intuitively approach a project and to develop pleasure from her work. Patricia Urquiola claims, and it is always mentioned in her interviews, that these two men were the most important guidance to where she is today, not only with theories and ideologies, but also with playfulness and perception. She says that the main reason why she is so hardworking now and so able to hop from one project to the next is because Magistretti and Castiglioni have helped her avoid style constraints and inflexibility.

Lights designed for Foscarini Caboche

Urquiola is all about flexibility and adaptability. She enjoys focusing on design of interchangeable components without using modular features. Her strong belief in good quality innovations results in pieces with a strong sense of function and practicality with a lot of freedom. Being interested in “behavior structures”, she likes to think in different scales at the same time.

Urquiola's work is about creating new ways of living. She’s not interested in the old meanings of living or traditional uses of conventional objects; she is concerned only with new and refined ways of living. Her goal is to create environments designed to encourage positive feelings and company. She loves to further reach this goal by creating design that is environmentally friendly and topping off almost everything with a fun color or graphic print.

Dinnerware designed for Rosethal and Unica home

Her designs are inspired by an array of different aspects. For example, the works of the Eame’s, the Scandinavians and Franco Albini, as historic motivation. Contemporary designers Jasper Morrison, the Bouroullec brothers, and Konstantin Grcic also inspire her. Certain designs can also be stimulated from memory or aspects of her life, sometimes emotional other times more simple.

Bohemian Rhapsody

 

Bohemian Chaise Lounge

Tropicalia armchair

I have to admit, I wasn’t instantly too crazy over her pieces when I first looked up Patricia Urquiola, but after researching about her personal style and philosophies, I have grown to adore her, and most of all, her designs. Funny story, there's this sofa that I've had my eyes on for months now and I have been begging my boyfriend to buy for our new loft, but he has been rejecting the idea of purchasing a sofa that costs over $8000 dollars. Recently, I've pulled out the catalog, trying to convince myself that it's not worth the money, and it turns out that its one of Patricia Urquiola's designs. I thought to myself, "Ah, of course - it all makes sense now!" Is it awful that I want it even more?

Anyway, it comes to prove that you can’t always judge someone’s designs at first glance. Urquiola takes great passion in her works and many of her pieces originates from the heart. After all, there is a reason why she was honored the most influential female product designer for several decades.

Tropicalia cocoon

She likes to describe her personal style as eclectic, varied and diverse. I see her designs as spontaneous and playful, her motto especially fitting to that idea: "Design as the mood takes you." She also describes her style as "vigorous and free"Many of her crafts are drawn upon ethnic cultures, mainly Spanish and Italian traditions. She uses this technique to soften up some of her bold designs and add more of a cultivating touch. Without trying to imitate the one culture or completely adopting it, she loves to create a fusion mix driven by different cultures and traditions.

Antibodi

By brilliantly combining cultures and periods, Patricia’s style results in slick, contemporary, refreshing, and unconventional looks. To add to her multicultural flair, she articulates feminine and floral references, all collectively with a minimal approach. Her passion is incorporated as attention to detail is visible in every piece.

All her styles in interiors, architecture and product designs have a similar luxuriousness catering, but not limited to, the cosmopolitan conservative. Her design style is distinctively known to be a touch of extravagance, diversified with a traveling Bohemian chic.

Her style of clean lines, several playful elements, feminine graphic and sense of freedom is unmistakable. Experimenting with both form and material, her position in the modern world is to be creatively inventive, using a strong force of function and practicality.  She loves creating intriguing and imaginative products that not only one can live with, but that can improve one's life. Crowned designer of the year in 2006, Patricia Urquiola has created and is continuing to create many innovative furniture to enhance the lives of people across the continent.