Sharp Silhouettes

Minimalism is alive and well in Luca Cipelletti’s “XYZ”, an exhibition of tables, desks and two-legged consoles currently on view at Galleria Giustini Stagetti, Rome.

The Milanese architect, museologist and designer – founder of studio AR.CH.IT – has stripped back the unnecessary matter from a table to expose its bare structure: the simplest combination of Cartesian coordinates that define space. Yet, depending on which angle you look at them, the sharp edges of Cipelletti’s designs appear more like elements of picture frames than components of three-dimensional objects.

A meticulously designed internal joint system embedded in each corner allows large freestanding surfaces without any central support – achieving minimum thickness and weight of the material employed.

In the tradition of craftsmanship, the collection is entirely bespoke and comprised of solid wood – rich mahogany, oak, cherry and rosewood – the choice of which tells a great deal Cipelletti’s sensibilities.  To accompany his tables and desks, the architect has also curated a selection of lamps by Italian designers active between the 1940s and 1960s, including Franco Albini, Gino Sarfatti and Vittoriano Viganò.

Luca Cipelletti: XYZ runs through 1 March 2019

Galleria Giustini Stagetti: Via della Fontanella di Borghese 38, Rome