# DEspotlight // interview
By ANIRUDH DATTA DESIGN ESSENTIA MAGAZINE // DE INDIA
Arianna and Chiara , the principal designers at Milan based Studiopepe , where the language they use for their projects is stratified , it combines poetic vision with a strong iconographic identity .
Studiopepe deals with international commissioned projects as retail , hotels and private commissions with a team of 15 professionals among architects , interior designers and product designers .
Studiopepe ’ s vision is based upon experimenting , continuous research on colors and materials and the contamination with the contemporary language of art . Installations , study of formal archetypes , experiments with materials and the dialogue between opposites are some of the themes developed by the Studio .
AD : WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE A CAREER IN ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN ?
ARIANNA & CHIARA : We both are creative at heart and we would follow artistic studies . Architecture and design would represent a good compromise between creation and praxis . To have te possibility to improve the life of peole with the means of design is very challenging .
AD : WHO WERE YOUR EARLY DESIGN HEROES AND ROLE MODELS ?
ARIANNA & CHIARA : Many are the icons who have inspired us ( and still do !), such as Bruno Munari , Ettore Sottsass , Giorgio Morandi and the Arte Povera movement . We really like the Italian aesthetic of the late 50 ’ s and on , the ‘ educated and sophisticated raising middle class ’ style who was very well represented by masters such as Caccia Dominioni and Gio Ponti , combined to a more brutalistic approach but still extremely elegant and visionary as the one of Carlo Scarpa , or radical and strong as Gae Aulenti ’ s one . We think that the key in our style is a layered vision .
AD : TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY IN THE INCEPTION OF STUDIOPEPE .
ARIANNA & CHIARA : We have known each other since university . After our graduation we both went on vacation to Mexico – not together – and in a secluded beach on the Pacific coast , where there wasn ’ t really anything but the hammocks , we met by chance ! We spent the rest of the trip together , and after many ideas and vision shared , once back in Milan we decided to collaborate . After few works together we decided to open Studiopepe .
( ON LEFT ) BOTANICA COLLETTIVA at Salone del Mobile in Milan , Italy by STUDIOPEPE . Photographer : SILVIA RIVOLTELLA
January - February 2022 Edition // Design Essentia // DE INDIA | 33