« Confluences »

MAN
I’m 78, French face, Italian profile, in his thirties and already experienced. After entering college he crosses paths with a drawing professor who ignites in him a love for Art. Living in Nice, he is naturally drawn to works of sculptures of his region like the compositions of Cesar, the accumulations of Arman and of the New Realists. Without priority he borrows the course of study in graphic design and interior design. Bac12, English and Spanish. He obtains his diploma in applied Arts in Lyon, then his Masters in design at the Boulle School in 1997. He leaves for Italy without speaking the language, he interns at DeLucchi. He mumbles in English and prepares numerous design models. Very quickly he creates his own models and associates with architecture. Since then, this independent designer lives in Milan and travels frequently. At one moment, we cross paths on a certain Thursday in November in the streets of Paris trying to answer a call…in perfect Italian.

OCCUPATION
Italy is his office
Born in the 1960’s, this “profession” finds it’s origins in L’Art Nouveau, Bauhaus and designs from the 50’s , 60’s and 70’s. From the beginning, the intersection between engineer and architect radicalized to the point of becoming hermetic for most people. Translated from the English term “designer”, in French, becomes a proper and improper name for all interpretations, applied without complex (complication) to numerous disciplines such as industry, fashion etc… So, while his designation is not quite exact, Philippe Nigro likes the practical side of it. The idea of creating an everyday object so that it can be of immediate use. But also, later on, see it realized in greater volumes And especially the idea that each object that surrounds us was designed to this end/in a way to be produced industrially for a series of editions.

ENCOUNTER
Barely having begun working for Ligne Roset, Philippe Nigro discovered a new world. Generally in Italy, all stages of creating an object are realized in sub-contracts. This way, all the work eludes, or escapes the creator. So when for the first time Philppe Nigro discovered the Roset know-how (savoir faire) and with it, that way of writing the history of a piece of furniture from conception to presentation while stopping by production, fascinated him. This famous Ligne Roset which was established in L’Ain by an innovative great grandfather in the “canes and umbrellas” business has since drawn up an almost 150 year family institution. Today his great grand children Pierre and Michel follow his path with passion and with rigorous maintenance of this house where all strive to developpe the best projects. Two brothers who not unhappy to be taken by her, also bear the name.

FURNITURE NAME
From the start, Philippe Nigro designed the project Confluences and presented it to the VIA in January 2008. When Michel Roset , responsible for the research and developpement of the Roset group that assures the relationship with the designers, discovered Confluences, for him, the decision to develop this project was immediate. He liked it from the beginning of its initial stage. He named it Intersections thanks to the genuine interlocking of one piece to another, giving the illusion that once connected the pieces give birth or bear one color. Pierre, heading the economic and financial division and Michel handling the artistic side of the project, achieved this illusion without trying/betraying the idea to produce something more concrete. With their service, a giant machine of production and the three men achieved the break of the century by creating first of all a finished puzzle that when broken down could wane into infinity.

IN HIS HEART
Blocks, forms, angles we love, we take, we sit or we want because we can! On the seat, under over, from the side, side and also from the front and back all is material. Compared to play dough served in pieces… Philippe Nigro under the benevolent eye but without compromise of Michel Roset, molds the forms. That each is apt to knead in it’s own way! Following his instinct, his tastes and his demands to obtain the form desired. Colors more inviting than the next…To each the pleasure of imagining a space in a museum hall circling around certain favorite works of Philippe Nigro, artistic conceptual creations like Tom Friedman, Gordon Matta Clark or even Pistoletoo Penone and the instillations of the Japanese Kawamata…!

ORIGIN
The origin of Philippe Nigro’s sofa was truly of Intersections. Different when seated, choice of ranging back heights and colours that can mix. In the end, appeared Confluences. That’s to say, 9 pure asymmetrical sofa forms that interlock into one another followed by multiple combinations and varities, form a stunning range of colors (27 perscribed by Philippe Nigro himself). Color for an Art vivant? Yes through the goodwill of Philippe Nigro wanting to undertake the human race to cross paths. In hopes of two beings to meet in the loveseat this hybrid furniture from another time. But from little, their conversation becomes grand. At the end, the family looses itself in the maze/labyrinth of the sofa with four places.

THE LONG PART OF THE SOFA
Born in the warehouse Roset a Briord near Lyon where the artisans, upholsterer and saddlers alk highly skilled make works of passion in their daily lives. With free will they use materials that are environmentally friendly, they also found in a chilly country a magnificent wollen felt from the Danish company Kvadrat… Where the importance of colours, materials and environment to make a durable product. So evidently Philippe Nigro dreams of a real relationship in a time to developpe this accessibility directly with Ligne Roset as it appeard evident to him that the potential of manufacturer is without limits/unlimited when true professionals invest in their field of liking. Stong with these Confluences, the first innovated results that please in general but also pleases him because the people find it good and use it to laugh, sing or even dispute and why not like it and find it warm.

ACCESSORIES+
Phillipe Nigro, annee 2009, c’est…1/Label VIA (Paris), 2 / Red dot award est of the Best (Germany), 3/ Permier prix Young and Design (Italy), 4/ Selection pour la collection du FNAC (National Contemporary Art Fund) 5/ Good design 2009 (Chicago Museum of Architecture and Design) In this moment, he develppes with Ligne Rose other projects, like the universal base with dimensions that change in height from one table that follows the detours of choices in life, tour of the world by car, vacations in minivans, luxurious house in Nice or in the city. Never forgetting the walnut colored sofa in Flax that unveils the spirit of tradition. and to finish, less romantic but always useful exists for Confluences, the purpose to rest a book, an elbow or a back.

POUF
-If you have to choose between different Confluences, which ones would you prefer at your home?
-It’s important to have a sofa! However, at my house it’s small, answers Philippe Nigro, none would fit!
-and the pouf?
-Ah maybe, says our talented designer laughing, at the same time, I don’t dream of owning one of my sofas. In any case, I don’t know if I would want to own anything that I designed myself. I would choose an Eames or a Gaetano Pesce. But, lets be serious, talking about sofas, it’s important but it’s no vaccine above all.
-And you, would you like to have one? he askes me after a lengthly time of reflection.
-Yes I would adore one.
-Ah really?

©"Portrait-en-mots" Stéphanie Cohen Chaptal