Francesco Balzano’s “Tessuto” Collection for STUDIOTWENTYSEVEN
From the Villa Medici to Tribeca, designer Francesco Balzano distills centuries of Roman history into a contemporary furniture collection
Rome, Paris and New York converge in “Tessuto,” a new limited-edition furniture collection that turns European heritage into a contemporary form of design. Commissioned and produced by the New York-based collectible design gallery STUDIOTWENTYSEVEN, the pieces were conceived by French designer Francesco Balzano during his residency at the magnificent Villa Medici in Rome.
The storied palazzo and its gardens are home to the French Academy, where Balzano spent several months in residence. The building is recognized as one of the most iconic examples of Italian Renaissance architecture, originally built in the 16th century for Cardinal Ferdinando de’ Medici. Its facade, columns, arches and decorative details served as the starting point for Balzano’s collection, which includes a series of cabinets, tables, chairs, sofas and room dividers. Here, the traces of history have been distilled into essential lines, forming a bridge between ancient magnificence and contemporary refinement. Nacho Polo and Robert Onuska—founders and curators of STUDIOTWENTYSEVEN—fell in love with the project and chose to add the collection to their gallery’s portfolio.
Reflecting its ties to the Eternal City and the French Academy, the collection was photographed this past April in the loggia of Villa Medici, where we had the opportunity to preview it. Balzano explained that the pieces were entirely handcrafted in France by the prestigious Ateliers Saint-Jacques and the Fonderie de Coubertin, located just a few kilometers from the Palace of Versailles in the Coubertin domain. The lacquered wooden structures are upholstered in jacquard from the Italian manufacturer Rubelli. The fabrics reference the tradition of Toile de Jouy, featuring a palette inspired by the colors of the Villa: pale pink, sage green and soft yellow.
The “Tessuto” collection can now be viewed at STUDIOTWENTYSEVEN’s 7,000-square-foot Tribeca gallery from 14 May to 12 June. Each piece is produced to order in a limited edition of 12, plus four Artist’s Editions. In the gallery, Nacho Polo and Robert Onuska also showcase the work of several international artists and designers, including Anthony Guerrée, Maxime Boutillier, Mauricio Aguirre, Jan Garncarek, Luca Stefano, Stéphane Parmentier, H. Ulrich & K. Vogt, and Simone Fanciullacci.
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