Photograph by Roberto Boccaccino
Milan: FF 2013 – A Casa 2013. Now in its third edition [acasa] "at home", is an experimental project by the FBR - Francesca
Ballini Richards studio with agronamist Giorgio Colombo, which breaks all the
rules of publicity, offering a welcoming, creative, honest and profound method
of communication. The project does not invite us to observe the design object,
but rather to use it in a creative way. An arranged table, a home, an encounter
between journalists, designers, philosophers and artists whose relationship
deepens and becomes more intimate as they share the same moment, a meal. At a time when our world is saturated with
excess, the [a casa] project “in absentia” offers the opportunity to fill the
void with the existence of a Milan seemingly eager for emotion, landscapes and
warmth. [a casa] also captured unexpected views and hidden details, opening the
doors to unique locations, like the Fornasetti and Ignazio Gardella apartments.
Above. The living room of
the contemporary art and design collector, Mariano Pichler’s apartment in Lambrate. This space is conceived
as a huge container with light flooding in from above to illuminate paintings,
sculptures and installations. It is a place where art is not only there to be
looked at, but also to be used.
At Pilcher’s Home. Host and architect Mariano Pichler, A Casa
founder Francesca Ballini Richards and Abitare magazine's legendary editor in
chief Italo Lupi.
Hostess Giuditta Sala.
Even the hallway is full of art.
Gemma Richards
Co founder of A Casa
Giorgio Colombo offers an apperitivo.
The red wine, Staffato
Sant’Antimo by Azienda Agricola San
Filippo Montalcino, glasses by Iitalia.
Color designer, who designed the colors of the apartment, Francesca Valan
and architect, Filippo Pagliani.
At Pilcher’s Home. The
guest bathroom is full of artworks by Thorsten Kirchhoff, the walls are painted
a green that dominates in Kirchhoff’s works and even the door boasts a painting
of the virtual key, though for the occasion a actual key was placed in the
keyhole.
At
Pilcher’s Home. The dinning room table, also a work of art was
designed by Italian artist Alberto
Garutti and is made in burl wood, in
it’s centre are four cut-outs each one depicting the house plans of the fours
houses Garutti has lived in. The “candle” on table is called Tetatet and was
designed by light designer Davide Groppi. The “crushed” linen table napkins and
mats are by Society and all the plates, glasses and cutlery by Iitala.
At Pilcher’s Home – Cooked by Titta - We Ate
Chickpea and Rosemary
Focaccia
Homemade Buckwheat
(gluten free) Pasta with Fresh Fava Beans, Wild Garlic and Ricotta
Dandelion Salad with
Strawberries, Violets, Lemon Balm and Primosale Cheese
Dark Chocolate Cake
with Almonds and Citrus Sauce
Coffee
As photographer
Roberto Boccaccino captures the moment, AFP, Agence France-Presse’s Milan
bureau chief Amelie Herenstein chats to her neighbour.
Documentary director
Maria Arena.
Moleskine’s CFO and VP Roberto Di Puma.
At Pilcher’s Home –
the chef. Titta peeps out from the
kitchen. Tittacucinaitinerante, after spending years in the
kitchen noting down her grandma's cooking secrets, decided to become a home
chef, bringing the cooking of the Puglia region to Milan, following the rhythm
of the seasons.