M.a.s.s.a.s. Armchairs by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso, 2012, Set of 2

Born in Oviedo in 1961, Spanish architect and designer Patricia Urquiola studied at the Polytechnic University of Milan and the Technical University of Madrid, graduating in 1989. From 1990 until 1996, she was Assistant Professor to Achille Castiglioni and Eugenio Bettinelli at the Polytechnic University of Milan and E.N.S.C.I. in Paris. Also during this period, she worked in product development at De Padova, where she and Vico Magistretti created the popular Flower and Loom Sofa designs, among others.

Next, Urquiola became head of Lissoni Associates design group, where her housewares and furniture clients included Alessi, Flos, Cappellini, Cassina, and Kartell. In 2001, she joined forces with Martino Berghinz to open her own studio in Milan, where she continues to live and work today.

Urquiola’s designs combine clean, modern aesthetics with traditional Spanish and Italian crafts (often textiles). She draws upon eclectic cultural elements to humanize her designs. Her architectural work includes hotels, retail locations, and homes. Her product design clients include Foscarini, Cappellini, and B&B. Famed projects include the Fjord chair for Moroso (2002), the woven Flo chairs for Driade (2004), and her Crochet rug for Paola Lenti (2005). Urquiola’s work continues to focus primarily on design and architectural projects as well as exhibition concepts.

Udine, Italy-based Moroso was founded as a small-scale, artisanal upholstery company in 1952 by Agostino Moroso, who served as director until the 1990s. At that time, Agostino’s children, Roberto and Patrizia Moroso took over and began to transform the traditional, regionally-focused family business into the innovative, internationally renowned furniture manufacturer it is today. In the role of Creative Director, Patrizia Moroso in particular has not only reinvented her company’s mission but also has had a lasting influence on 21^st-century design discourse through her frequent, high profile collaborations with some of the world’s most talented designers. In 1988, while still working under her father, she invited Israeli-British designer Ron Arad to produce his now-iconic Big Easy Chair, which helped to launch his career and set Moroso on a path to become one of the biggest players in contemporary design.

Moroso defines its approach to design as a laboratory for experimentation that underscores the value of communication, differentiation, and diversity. The values embraced by the brand are visible in the daringness of their lines of sofas, chairs, tables, accessories, and more. Highlights from the Moroso collection include Australian designer Marc Newson’s Gluon series (1993), Spanish artist Javier Mariscal’s Los Muebles Amorosos series (1995), British designer Tom Dixon’s Serpentine Sofas (2003), British designer Ross Lovegrove’s Supernatural Chairs, Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka’s Bouquet Chairs (2008), Japanese studio Nendo’s Kub Tables (2009), as well more recent additions, such as Arad’s unconventional Glider Sofa (2015) and architect David Adjaye’s Art Deco-influenced Double Zero Chair (2015).  Moroso’s ongoing relationship with Spanish architect-designer Patricia Urquiola has generated a number of highly successful pieces, like the Fjord (2002), Bloomy (2004), Antibodi (2006), Tropicalia (2008), and Fishbone (2012) series. In recent years, Moroso has contributed to a global awareness of African design and craft through the M’Afrique project and collection launched in 2009 in collaboration with Urquiola, Dutch designer Tord Boontje, and other design greats.

In addition to its domestic furniture and accessories output, over the years, the brand has expanded into the hospitality, education, healthcare, and corporate sectors. Drawing on the worlds of industrial design, contemporary art, and fashion, Moroso has also created temporary installations for Venice Biennale (2013), Art Basel Miami Beach (2010), and Palais de Tokyo (2006).