The art of design
The designs created by Luca Martorano are produced by the most prestigious brands. The renowned Italian bicycle manufacturers Bianchi and Cinelli are just two of them. The 43-year-old has received numerous awards for his work in the 18 years of his career. He focuses on precision without any frills.
The Bolzano resident by choice is interested in finding the purest design that makes a material, a product, a shape – or indeed all three – the star. Simultaneously, his objects just as consistently follow the laws of functionality: furniture, home accessories, textile designs, bicycles and wheel rims are the result. These days, he works in a team with his Tuscany-based colleague Mattia Albicini. Their company is called “Draw Studio”.
He is also in the process of building a second design-studio for himself, close to the historic centre of Bolzano. “It’s important to me that our creations can also be seen and recognised,” he says. However, this is not easy, especially with his latest work. It has monumental dimensions to match the material used and consists of tables, lampshades and chairs made of solid stone, which the design artist arranged in front of a mirror in such a way that they are visually multiplied to infinity. Fittingly, it is called “Beyond”. The sculpture, as he himself calls it, is 6 m long and was created with the globally operating company Bagnara, which is based in Appiano and specialises in quarrying, selling and processing natural stones. In doing so, Martorano is taking a major step away from the functionality-orientated world of design and moving towards art. The slabs are worked individually and by hand, which is very important to him. Recently, he won the first prize at “A Matter of Stone” from the prestigious trade magazine “Elle Decor”, which has also dedicated an article to the project.
A large number of Martorano’s works, a magna cum laude graduate of the Faculty of Architecture and Design at the Politecnico in Milan, have been highly acclaimed. These include “Folio”, a table that can be manufactured in different types of metal. It has been honoured with the “Archiproducts Design Award” and at the “Wallpaper Design Awards”. The table is inspired by sheets of paper propped up against each other to show off the material to its best advantage, which in this case is polished and blackened brass. A completely different effect unfolds thanks to the versatility of the materials that can be used. The approach to the work of Martorano and the “Draw Studio” team can likewise be seen in this example. They are interested in metal, wood, glass and stone. “We strive for the best and have become specialised in a wide variety of sectors. We look for the experts in their field and we want to build a profitable and lasting relationship with them, always taking a step further than what they have experienced so far.” Once an idea has been developed, they offer it to a partner that is best able to realise, produce and market the idea. “Luckily, in the meantime, we are also being approached by producers directly. That was also the case with the table for DeCastelli, a pioneer in metal processing in Italy,” he says. Incidentally, the expertise of the Bolzano resident-by-choice was also in demand at the University of Bolzano: he worked at the Faculty of Design and Art as a contract professor from 2014 to 2021.
Martorano also has a love for nature and plants. His love of all things green influences his work. This also applies to one particular project: “The Chapel”: A chapel in the NOI Techpark in Bolzano was redesigned in collaboration with the team of architects Barbara Breda and Markus Scherer. “We were given the task of turning it into a multi-purpose room for special meetings, whilst also providing space for recreational activities,” the designer explains. They wanted to preserve the unique church atmosphere, the special aura of the place, and reflect this in the furniture. A sober design that is suitable for a wide variety of different configurations of people. For example, the tables can be joined together depending on the number of guests. Once again, the perfect finish of the table edges demonstrates the meticulous attention to detail and perfection that characterises the designer’s work. Unsurprisingly, this project won first place at the “South Tyrol Architecture Prize” in 2020. And speaking of plants: they flood the chapel. The designers have carefully and passionately selected them. “They are not just decoration, they help improve the quality of the space and they make the living environment comfortable, lively, healthy, enriched and special,” the dark-haired, tall Martorano tells us. In short, the greenery is a design element in its own right, both indoors and outdoors, and occupies a privileged position in his projects. “Nature is one of the reasons why I decided to live in South Tyrol,” he clarifies, as he had lived and worked in London and Milan for several years after completing his studies. However, he finds the contact with nature, the forest and the mountains truly nourishing. Creativity, design and a passion for planning and producing are in constant opposition to the idea of nature, tranquillity and unspoilt landscape. It’s like two sides of the same coin. “I live in search of a balance somewhere between the two opposing poles: natural and artificial. Contemplation and creation,” he explains.
The designer is also able to live out his love of nature through his favourite sport: cycling. For this reason, the bicycle as an object is very close to his heart. He has already designed several bicycles as well as components for renowned and well-known Italian brands: for Bianchi in the past and for Cinelli in more recent years. “It’s thrilling when you see cyclists on the street with them,” he says. He is interested in observing them, who they are, what they look like and how they use them. He rarely gets to see the people who use his furniture.
Three personalised models have been created in addition to the catalogue models. One of which he also uses himself: Mark I, a gravel bike. It was based on the Zydeco King frame, which they designed for Cinelli in 2019. It received the “ADI Design Index” in 2020, yet another award to add to the team’s long list of honours. It is not just the line and the components chosen that meet Martorano’s aesthetic and functional requirements; the colour palette was also carefully selected: it ranges from lagoon blue to moss green and lava grey. The important thing for them was to leave out all superfluous graphic elements, such as lettering on the components, which are characteristic of racing bikes. The focus is therefore on flowing shapes, surface texture and the overall appearance. It goes without saying that the colours, the look and the special composition of the paintwork were chosen after extensive research. Martorano also finds both worlds that he is interested in united in the bicycle: “It is an object that allows you to explore nature in silence and in a respectful manner,” he is convinced.