In Conversation with Rothelowman: Reflections from Salone del Mobile

“The opportunities to discover and discuss new product create an engagement between designers and manufacturers that is truly exciting.”

Each year, Salone del Mobile offers a moment to step inside the thinking behind the world’s leading design brands.

While in Milan, we sat down with Conrad Lowry of Rothelowman, one of Australia’s most respected architecture and interior design practices, to reflect on the energy of the fair, designing across sectors, and what’s shaping their work right now.


     

Pedrali at Salone del Mobile

For those who haven’t been, how would you describe the energy of Salone del Mobile to someone experiencing it for the first time?

As the world’s largest design fair accompanying the world’s most inspiring design week, the Salone del Mobile has a scale and enthusiasm from participants and visitors unlike any other event in Global design. While the scale is daunting, the opportunities to discover and discuss new product offer an engagement between designers and manufacturers that is truly exciting.

Rothelowman works across such a diverse range of project types from multi-residential to hospitality and student accommodation. How do you approach Salone del Mobile differently knowing you’re designing for so many different end users?

All design is about understanding how our end users engage with our environments and therefore being mindful of the products and technologies that will most suit and benefit them.

Gandiablasco at Salone del Mobile

What are you most hoping to be inspired by or discover at this year’s event? Are there any particular designers, brands or conversations you’re actively seeking out?

We have been specifying now across a number of projects for furniture required for Seniors’ Living, which has defined needs for making this cohort's lives the most comfortable they can be. Engaging with these manufacturers to discuss the products and the possibilities to collaborate to understand the needs and adapt and improve the product has the most importance for me personally, but also the chance to discover product that I’ve not come across that has potential to elevate both the quality of our design and the experience of users is the most visceral experience of the fair.

Milan often sets the tone for where design is heading globally. Based on what you’re seeing and hearing, what do you think the next big shift in interior and furniture design looks like?

A continued blending of relaxed forms with elevated materials to provide elegant environments that are nonetheless inclusive and seemingly effortless.

Ton at Salone del Mobile

When you return from an event like this, how does that inspiration translate into your work?

The depth of the relationships formed allows a continued improvement of the selections we make and the elevation of the design for the residents we design for, and the opportunity to collaborate more deeply between the manufactures and our clients.

How does the relationship with furniture and fit-out partners like Innerspace help bring those ideas to life?

Without the bonds formed over decades with manufacturers and deep knowledge of the products in each range and sector, the introductions to the designers and decision makers of many of the firms, often still family members of the founders, would not be possible, and certainly without the guidance required to have meaningful discussions and outcomes.

What inspired you most from this event?

The depth of commitment to quality, the strength of the design community and the desire to engage and collaborate.

Frigerio