Paola Navone: Who else?

Graduated in architecture in 1973, at the polytechnic of Turin , Paola Navone is a unavoidable name when it comes to interior design. She’s been in the business for over 30 years now and it all started in beginning of the 80’s when she was working with Alessandro Mendini and Andrea Banzi in the group “Alchimia”, who tried along with the Memphis movement to break the establishment who was limiting design only to the functionality of the objects.

Nowadays she splits herself in several tasks: architect, industrial designer, interior designer, teacher and product consultant. Her creations are usually characterized by soft colors shapes and materials that offer you a visual confort, many times inspired in traditions and the mixing of West and East sides of the world.

Along with many, many creations, our favourite is still the “Secret Garden”. Within the Orto Botanico, in milan’s brera district, Italian glass manufacturer Barovier&Toso and Italian marble company citco came together to present this project, with two separate installations, one from by Paola Navone and the other from the british architect Zaha Hadid.

Paola’s installation was woven from 11.000 hazelnut branches and this work for Barovier&Toso is a cosy, protective space that encloses the colored murano handmade chandeliers. You can also find blue nests hanging, inviting visitors to peak underneath. To guide the visitors along the path, the trail is made by small glass figures holding a lamp shade, proving that any material can be used in a modern way, even if it’s traditional. All together, it gives a bit of Alice in Wonderland feel, with the blue mushroom stools for the visitors to sit, the lights, it’s a fantasy world and Lewis Carroll would have liked.

Paola Navone’s work is endless, since she made a little bit of everything from designing kitchens to internal lighting armchairs, rustic or super modern, this lady earned her respect amongst men and we always look forward to see her next work.