The fifth edition of the special Contract by Domus talks about the world of large contracts through the voices of some of the main protagonists of the production scene. The intent that moved us was to try to understand what its current boundaries are and what strategies are adopted to amplify its potential, in different product sectors. But we also wanted to look ahead, identify and tell the logics of contract that move specialized service companies and new departments within large platforms that have appeared on the market, more and more numerous, in the recent years.
The stories of the experiences of entrepreneurs, CEOs and contract division managers of five companies – Artemide, Cappellini, Duravit, Kvadrat and UniFor – provided us with a solid basis for analysing the state of the art and the problems of the lighting, furniture, bathroom, textile and office sectors. The result was a theme-based analysis, accompanied by the most recent projects of the groups involved. Beyond the differences in vision and approach, some shared points emerged, points that can help to trace a useful path for companies that want to develop their contract potential. Quality and know-how are certainly the cards to focus on to establish themselves in this sector, in addition to sustainability, in terms of energy consumption and production processes.
In a sector regulated more than others by legislative and technical constraints, it was essential to investigate the characteristics, requirements for contract applications and customization of the different materials involved in large orders. We have chosen five of them – wood, ceramics, fabrics, veneers, laminates, metal – and we have analysed them by consulting as many specialised producers: Abet Laminati, Cotto d’Este, De Castelli, Dedar and Listone Giordano. From this technical and design analysis, the importance of working on research and innovation emerged, learning from the comparison with the architects of major projects and trying to anticipate trends, always with an eye on market demands.
Domus Contract: the production scene
The fifth edition of Contract, supplement of Domus 1040, talks about the world of large contracts through the voices of some of the main protagonists of the production scene.
of large glazed apertures whose size and configuration change based on the type of use inside – hotel, offices or apartments. This page, from top: the large courtyard at the centre of the building has a brightly coloured graphic decoration that continues indoors over walls and floors; the reception area; the games area on the ground-floor. Photo Marcus Bredt
Text Marina Jonna
Text Cecilia Fabiani
In the picture: WeWork: Founders: Miguel McKelvey, Adam Neumann. Founded: 2010. Usage: offices. Locations: 836. Cities: 126.
Text Valentina Croci
and Listone Giordano. They explained the materials' characteristics and terms of use for contract work and customisation. From this technical and design-oriented perusal emerges the importance
of working on research and innovation; learning from architects who build big projects; seeking to anticipate trends; and always keeping an eye on what is required by the market. In the picture: different finishes of the Polaris laminate by Abet, available in 0.9, 1, 1.2, 10 and 12 millimetres and 10 colour variants, highly resistant to scratches, heat and fingerprints.
Text Cecilia Fabiani
and Listone Giordano. They explained the materials' characteristics and terms of use for contract work and customisation. From this technical and design-oriented perusal emerges the importance
of working on research and innovation; learning from architects who build big projects; seeking to anticipate trends; and always keeping an eye on what is required by the market. In the picture: Echo pavilion by Pezo von Ellrichshausen made in De Castelli polished stainless steel at Palazzo Litta, Milan during the 2019 Furniture Fair. Photo Michele De Candia
Text Cecilia Fabiani
Different logics from those of large product companies move other actors in this particular sector: new business formulas that come to ‘interfere’ with the traditional dynamics that regulate contract supplies – thanks to the direct relationship with the end user through the Net. Examples include Airbnb Luxe, which provides a range of services from 5-star hotels to villas/apartments, or Common.com – a platform that offers services from location research to interior design, renting and daily services – and Lago Design Network, which offers design services in various sectors, thanks to which the company makes its know-how available. Or Wework, specialized in coworking and workspaces, or chains of hospitality such as Generator. And it is precisely in the hospitality sector that the example we choose as the emblematic realization of an innovative way of proposing design on a large scale moves: the new hotel of the chain The Student Hotel opened in Berlin in October, which combines styles Retro, Memphis and Berlin of eighties in 450 design rooms, an outdoor cinema, a coffee shop managed in collaboration with Concierge Coffee, a co-working area and a restaurant of the chain The Commons.
In the heart of Berlin lies the new Student Hotel designed by the firm KSP Jürgen Engel Architekten, conceived as place of encounter and transgenerational sharing, just like the other TSH's now scattered around Europe.
In the picture: Southwestern view of the new nine-story Student Hotel in Berlin on the corner of Schicklerstrasse and Alexanderstrasse. The white cement facade has a strict structure
of large glazed apertures whose size and configuration change based on the type of use inside – hotel, offices or apartments. This page, from top: the large courtyard at the centre of the building has a brightly coloured graphic decoration that continues indoors over walls and floors; the reception area; the games area on the ground-floor. Photo Marcus Bredt
What is it like to work in the field of contract supplies today? Are there tight-ropes to walk? What's new? Are there strategies for the future? We asked businesspeople, chief executives, and the heads of the contract division at five companies – Artemide, Cappellini, Duravit, Kvadrat and UniFor – for their analysis of five sectors: furniture, offices, lighting, textiles and bathrooms. In the picture: For the Parliament of Malta in Valletta (RPBW, 2015), customised UniFor desks were designed to enhance the geometry of the parliament chamber. UniFor also produced the Parete RP partitions with screens of technical fabric, the MDL System workstations, the Naòs System meeting tables and executive desks with personalised finish, and the Neutra archive cabinets. Photo Mario Carrieri
Shared homes and offices offer multiform services to make people's life easier. New business formulas are disrupting the traditional dynamics that regulate contract furniture supply – mostly thanks to direct Internet contact with end-users.
In the picture: WeWork: Founders: Miguel McKelvey, Adam Neumann. Founded: 2010. Usage: offices. Locations: 836. Cities: 126.
Laminate, ceramic, metal, fabric and wood are the five materials we analysed by consulting with five specialised manufacturers: Abet Laminati, Cotto d’Este, De Castelli, Dedar
and Listone Giordano. They explained the materials' characteristics and terms of use for contract work and customisation. From this technical and design-oriented perusal emerges the importance
of working on research and innovation; learning from architects who build big projects; seeking to anticipate trends; and always keeping an eye on what is required by the market.
In the picture: different finishes of the Polaris laminate by Abet, available in 0.9, 1, 1.2, 10 and 12 millimetres and 10 colour variants, highly resistant to scratches, heat and fingerprints.
Laminate, ceramic, metal, fabric and wood are the five materials we analysed by consulting with five specialised manufacturers: Abet Laminati, Cotto d’Este, De Castelli, Dedar
and Listone Giordano. They explained the materials' characteristics and terms of use for contract work and customisation. From this technical and design-oriented perusal emerges the importance
of working on research and innovation; learning from architects who build big projects; seeking to anticipate trends; and always keeping an eye on what is required by the market.
In the picture: Echo pavilion by Pezo von Ellrichshausen made in De Castelli polished stainless steel at Palazzo Litta, Milan during the 2019 Furniture Fair. Photo Michele De Candia