Cover Saporiti Italia realised the interior Design, fit-out, decoration and furnishing of the clubhouse and lobbies of The Reflections at Keppel Bay condominium in Singapore (Photos: Saporiti Italia)
Saporiti Italia realised the interior Design, fit-out, decoration and furnishing of the clubhouse and lobbies of The Reflections at Keppel Bay condominium in Singapore (Photos: Saporiti Italia)
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Marrying form and function, the stunning creations from Saporiti Italia feature many innovative uses that are perfect for modern living
The first thing that grabs the eye about the Gong Fu Cha table from Saporiti Italia is its intense red lacquered facade. Beautifully smooth to the touch, its glossy finish is impossible to look away from, beckoning one to draw nearer and scrutinise the table’s solid wood construction and monolithic form.
Upon closer inspection, this remarkable piece reveals its hidden surprises, just like a giant puzzle box: it opens to showcase a set of integrated chairs and serving trolleys, complemented by two induction cooking units on the tabletop, water storage and waste basins, and even an LED screen to display videos or pictures. It is, as the Italian brand puts it, a “sophisticated and elegant tool, designed to prepare and offer precious teas in style.”
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A vibrant array of Omaggi chairs from the Italian brand
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Also available in a blue version, Saporiti Italia’s eastern-influenced Gong Fu Cha table amalgamates all the necessary furniture and accessories for the Chinese tea ceremony effortlessly. Developed together with renowned architectural firm Studio Fuksas, and first presented at this year’s Find: Design Fair Asia, the table is part of Saporiti Italia’s new East Meets West collection, encompassing luxurious furniture that melds elegant designs, exclusive materials and intelligent features for modern living.
Representing the “west” part of the collection is the Wine, Liqueur and Cocktail cabinet, which comprises three cylindrical columns for storing bottles of spirits, glasses, and accessories. The central column is refrigerated via a sophisticated Peltier cell system, which cools the cabinet without vibrations or noise. The design, colours and materials of this bar unit match the style of the tea table to form a cohesive, modern set designed to prepare and serve both Eastern and Western drinks according to age-old rituals and traditions.
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The Jumbo chairs by Alberto Rosselli feature space-age design influences
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Founded in 1948, Varese-based Saporiti Italia has long utilised innovation as a differentiating factor. Guided by the credo “where vision meets knowledge,” the family-owned firm positions itself as a “design service provider” that takes pains to understand clients’ needs so it can develop perfectly customised solutions that meet their requirements. “While we bring our Italian culture and expertise to clients across different countries, we also look at our clients’ personalities, culture and wants,” says Raffaele Saporiti, chairman of Saporiti Italia.
The group comprises three divisions: furniture-maker Saporiti Italia, Saporiti Interiors, its contract division servicing furnishing projects for residential, commercial and institutional clients, and architectural and design arm Saporiti AED. The firm launched in Singapore in 2008, and currently operates an office and showroom here. Its overall scope of work spans from concept drawings to technical design, production, installation, and after-sales service. Locally, its designs can be found at luxurious residential developments such as Reflections at Keppel Bay, Le Nouvel Ardmore, Gramercy Park and Nassim Villas, among others.
“In addition to the customisation of furniture, we also realised our Singaporean clients have a deep appreciation for the sophisticated use of materials in unconventional ways,” says Saporiti. This has encouraged the firm in its own unique creative efforts, for example, by incorporating marble in cabinet doors, utilising laser-carved marble for 3D effects, or applying special finishes or advanced lacquering techniques to metal. “This expands its usability and changes its usually hard and cold features with a soft and warm touch,” he adds.
Above The limited edition Singapore-inspired fabric design for the Miamina chair by Saporiti Italia
Above Another version of the Miamina chair
The limited edition Singapore-inspired fabric design for the Miamina chair by Saporiti Italia
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Building on its East Meets West collection, Saporiti Italia is planning to launch various other pieces that bring together cutting-edge design, functionality and smart technologies in 2024. These include a desk, a smart bed, and a musical armchair, which explore the integration of smart functions within interesting furniture pieces.
The desk will include integrated storage space as well as a locking system that secures the desk when the user is away via automatic, remote-controlled or biometric means, an especially useful feature to safely store important documents. It will also feature wireless charging for mobile phones and other battery-operated devices, along with a series of touch-based functions to operate the lights in the room.
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Saporiti Italia’s Gong Fu Cha table by Studio Fuksas cleverly combines various components that can be concealed when not in use
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Similarly, the bed set will incorporate smart functions in the headboard, mattress and accompanying bedside tables. Users will be able to operate the night lights via touch sensors on the bedside tables, which will also feature wireless charging capabilities for gadgets. An integrated audio system featuring sound transducers will convert music into sound waves directly emitted by the bed headboard, enveloping users in a very pleasant way, says Saporiti. Other features could include cooling control of the mattress, as well as adjustable settings for the mattress’ firmness and support.
The upcoming musical armchair will draw on two similar pieces the brand produced in the past: Song, created with Japanese designer Toshiyuki Kita in 1995, and the Woofer Chair, a joint effort created in collaboration with Singapore’s Ministry of Design in 2011. Both chairs featured speakers and vibration units in their headrests and frames, and had to be connected to musical sources by cables and plugged into an electrical socket. For its newest incarnation, Saporiti Italia aims to utilise new wireless technologies and lithium-based rechargeable batteries to liberate it from all cables, besides incorporating other innovative new functions. The result will truly encapsulate smart living.
Visit Saporiti Italia at 152 Beach Road, #09-01 Gateway East, tel: 6276 0018, saporiti.com
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