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www.apresfurniture.co.uk
GamFratesi:
a beautiful blend
By: Wessel Stoltz
When one thinks of the phrase “Italian design”
the immediate connotations it conjures up
is that of flair, quality and style. During the
1950’s, when Italian design really took off,
most of the designers were in fact either
architects or engineers, which saw the designs
of the time imbued with an innate sense of
functionality as well as elegance.
The Italian’s Nordic counterparts, on the other
hand, are also known for their clever functional
design, but whereas the Italians add that little
touch of flair, the Scandinavian design scene
has (especially during the 50’s with the likes of
Modernists Hans J. Wegner, Arne Jacobsen and
Poul Kjaerholm) focused on clean minimalist
design.
When, however, these two schools meet in real
life, something special is born…
Enter GamFratesi. Established in 2006, Gam
Fratesi Design Studio was founded by the
couple Stine Gam (born 1975) and Enrico
Fratesi (born 1978) who belong to the latest
generation of furniture architects.
Stine is Danish, while Enrico is Italian and
together they represent a new interpretation of
the meeting between Danish and international
design traditions. Their work takes its creative
drive from a fusion of tradition and renewal
as well as their experimental approach to
their chosen materials and techniques. By
understanding the two respective traditions
and actively addressing it in the workshop,
it becomes possible for them to expand and
build on it.
Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, their designs
are a crosspollination that reflects the tradition
of Danish and Italian design but also features
a unique blend of stories and symbols that are
incarnate in their minimalist designs.
One such design is their Musculo Chair. As the
name suggests, the Musculo Chair is strong and
masculine with its expressive and characteristic
backrest which is supported by a light metal
frame. But as the dichotomy (at least at first
glance) in a blend between Italian and Danish
design would suggest, it’s not all testosterone
with this chair: apart from its aggre