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Italian Architect Piero Lissoni

When building a Tuscan retreat for himself and his family, Piero Lissoni decided that simplicity was key. Visited by filmmaker Matthew Donaldson for today’s edition of 'In Residence', the Italian designer and architect created an elementary form that was neither part of the vernacular, nor classic Italian pastiche.  The modernist maestro relaxes at his sun-soaked Tuscan summer home.

Keeping faithful to the size and scale of the surrounding houses, he used a concrete that is mixed with the local earth, giving it a characteristic pinkish hue. The stunning landscape envelops the building, its cool and hard lines playing off against the undulating hills.  His house is filled with a combination of found objects, antique and country furniture, and collected works from contemporaries like James Irvine and Jasper Morrison.

The Milan-born innovator founded Lissoni Associate with Nicoletta Canesi in 1986 and has since created an extensive catalog of designs for brands such as Kartell, Porro, Boffi, Cassina and Flos.  By his own admission, today Lissoni is lucky enough to be able to pick and choose the projects he wants.

 “There is a huge connection between inside and out. I used windows like a super huge screen. I don’t need films here: the theater is outside, the movies are outside.”  ~ Piero Lissoni 








The modernist maestro relaxes at his sun-soaked Tuscan summer home.









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