What is your ideal office?
My actual one. I had always dreamt of a “casa bottega” as they call it in Italian, a workshop-home. I now have my studio, and my home above.
What is the last living thing you fell in love with?
My daughters!
How might you design a piece of furniture for a snake?
Warm and smooth, like the Editions Milano credenza container.
What is your favorite shape at the moment?
I think I do not have a style or a favorite color or shape. Every time I start from scratch, for the purpose of the project, the client, the DNA of the company.
How do you know when something you encounter in life has been well designed?
It gives me a non-forced sensation, a physical comfort as well as a mental comfort.
What makes you laugh uncontrollably?
Ridiculous everyday situations.
What is your most prized item of clothing?
An old pullover, to wear on cold days, that I associate with relaxation.
Where is the most sacred place on earth?
The Asturias coast, in Spain—it is where I grew up, and the sound of the waves of the Cantabrian Sea has a special effect on me.
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Food. We work for some extremely good chefs and they really spoil us. I love to eat at the chef’s table, watching the making of things.
When was the last time you were caught off-guard?
Listening to a fellow designer asking himself whether his work was meaningful.
What track will you always dance to?
I love Cat Power. But I like listening different music, especially when I travel, because it relaxes me a lot.
What is an unexpected source of inspiration for you?
The street. Everything you see in our cities. The nice things as well as the abandoned objects, the things that work well or bad. People.
What household tool has the best natural design?
The hammer. So simple, so helpful.
What is the oldest structure that has had a profound effect on you?
The Pantheon in Rome. It is always a magical experience to be inside. The light passing through the oculus, the void, the proportions, the engineering are incredible. It is amazing how its values persisted for almost 2,000 years.
What would you eat for your last meal?
A hot ramen soup. It would give me comfort and time to think about the good life I had.
