Iconic Worlds
Universos mediterráneos
At the southernmost tip of Italy, set towards the Orient, the Salento peninsula is a land steeped in history and art. Ethimo collections wind their way between rural landscapes bathed in silence, and the splendour of the city of Lecce, where the baroque style reigns supreme.
From the perfect microcosm of the "masseria", historically designed to meet the requirements of farming and self-sufficiency, to the nobility of baroque palaces in Lecce, a supremely effective world is mapped out.
In the history of Puglia, the dialectics of indoor and outdoor living are spelled out between fantasy and rationality.
Ethimo adopts this intellectual and spatial formulation, flowing and engraved in the past, as a stage on which to present its collections of outdoor decor.
From the "Masseria"…
In the repertory of the "masseria", water, stone, the cultivation of olive trees, vines and wheat embodies an identity both cultural, architectural, artisanal and agricultural.
In its physical form and for its practical purposes, the "masseria" seems rather like a forepost of a town in a rural area.
Traditionally combining living accommodation and work facilities, its format seems to embody new codes for organizing outdoor living and leisure activities which inspire research pursued by Ethimo.
From spontaneous to domesticated nature, from individual to collective living space, outdoor projects explore negotiations between people and the habitat as an approach well-suited to communal living.
The structure of the "masseria" as a world in itself reflects questions explored by the designers.
Their need for practicality creates an esthetic vocabulary harmonizing with an unfettered, natural and sophisticated way of life. There where the agricultural landscape offers itself as a synthesis, the subject's active purpose becomes a reality.
…to the Baroque Palace
In Lecce, the triumph of baroque adds radiance to the town. Suspended between past and present, this composite baroque style presents reminiscences of a clearly Spanish imprint rubbing shoulders with exuberant testimonials to overlays imposed in subsequent years.
The baroque in Lecce does not adhere to conventional stylistic codes: it is the exaltation of all that is sensational and instinctive. Agricultural naturalism and figures of devotion adorn the steps in front of churches and noble residences while following all possible paths to freedom.
The powerfulness and self-evidence of architecture in Lecce's delicate stone in warm, honey-coloured tones can be seen on facades that perpetuate the mystery. Within urban cartography in which time strides onward, does one step to one side, agree to a telescoping of styles, invite design? What could be more natural! More baroque!
Through secret doorways and inner courtyards, the illusion of all that is baroque forges an intimate link with Ethimo's outdoor furniture celebrating harmony and awesomeness. On this erudite journey, the repertory of shapes in the collections maintains a balance between restrained sobriety and a burst of lyricism.
From each detail to its entirety, form exalts materials to arouse a strong emotional response. In a wealth of subtle finishes, fusion between precious woods bearing the FSC label and natural stone, red and green marble, enamelled lava, multicoloured wrought iron, worked upon in keeping with Italian tradition, makes them unique products of craftsmanship, often edited in limited series.
The universal value of the baroque age resides in remarkable ornamental language to which Ethimo creations respond with a bold vocabulary. Open to innovation, Ethimo incorporates an explorative approach into its projects in the fields of textiles and weaving, with specific know-how in the world of the great outdoors.
From sketches to the release of a new collection, legacies of the past and Mediterranean landscapes are vividly decipherable. To be lived on an everyday basis, they clearly embody the virtues of generosity and sharing.
In Lecce, Ethimo's secret garden nestles beneath an age-old ficus tree. An ideal backcloth nurtured by the goal of humanistic meditation. There where scenographic effects rely on the expressive resources of light, design and audacity, it is clad in noble materials to look, in all awareness, towards a sustainable future.
