Studio Kueng Caputo evoked the architecture of Fendi’s headquarter

For Design Miami 2019, Studio Kueng Caputo evoked the architecture of Fendi’s Headquarter

Since 2008 Fendi has teamed up with Design Miami to support limited edition design and creativity. For Design Miami 2019, Fendi asked Swiss studio Kueng Caputo (Sarah Kueng and Lovis Caputo) to create a collection of objects to decorate the outer colonnade of its iconic Roman headquarters, Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana.

Designed by architects Giovanni Guerrini, Ernesto La Padula and Mario Romano, Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana was inaugurated in 1940 and since then it has become one of Rome’s most well-known buildings, often referred to as the “Square Colosseum”. In 2015 it also became Fendi’s  headquarter.

Sarah Kueng and Lovis Caputo designed a collection of ten colorful and experimental pieces called Roman Molds. They worked on the juxtaposition of planes, arches and columns to evoke the travertine-clad loggias of the Palazzo.

Studio Kueng Caputo evoked the architecture of Fendi’s headquarterStudio Kueng Caputo evoked the architecture of Fendi’s headquarter

For this project the studio analyzed the ways in which the building and Fendi interact. The Roman Molds collection captures Fendi’s traditional approach that combines craftsmanship, technology and innovation. Driven by this idea, the designers used two completely different materials: Fendi’s iconic Selleria leather and artisanal bricks.

Studio Kueng Caputo evoked the architecture of Fendi’s headquarterStudio Kueng Caputo evoked the architecture of Fendi’s headquarter

The famous soft leather Selleria has been transformed into a structural material, giving it solidity and resistance and a completely different feel from what we would expect from leather. The leather has been combined with artisanal bricks that were carved and shaped with an innovative process, more similar to fabric cutting than to the traditional techniques used in brick construction. The bricks were then treated with ceramic glazes.

Studio Kueng Caputo evoked the architecture of Fendi’s headquarterStudio Kueng Caputo evoked the architecture of Fendi’s headquarter

The bold, vibrant and uniform hues chosen for the collection create blocks of color that reference another Fendi signature look.

Studio Kueng Caputo evoked the architecture of Fendi’s headquarterStudio Kueng Caputo evoked the architecture of Fendi’s headquarter

A canvas version of the brand’s iconic ‘Peekaboo’ handbag was also presented to complement the collection

Studio Kueng Caputo evoked the architecture of Fendi’s headquarterStudio Kueng Caputo evoked the architecture of Fendi’s headquarter

Photography by Omar Sartor

https://www.kueng-caputo.ch

https://basel2020.designmiami.com/




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