A Muller Van Severen creation for the lemon tree garden
Villa Medici - garden side
Sam Stourdzé, the visionary director of Villa Medici in Rome, commissioned the designers Muller Van Severen to design, in partnership with Tectona, an exclusive range of outdoor furniture for the lemon tree garden. A wise and just dialogue between heritage and design.
Villa Medici is one of those mythical places that leave a lasting impression on every visitor. The Renaissance-style architecture, the exceptional panorama of the Eternal City and the seven hectares of gardens, populated with stone pines and citrus trees, make it an incomparable cultural treasure and a unique source of inspiration.
Reenchant, with a contemporary spin
As part of the “Reenchanting Villa Medici” programme aiming to showcase design, art crafts and the restored site, Muller Van Severen were commissioned to design a new furniture collection for the lemon tree garden, rehabilitated by landscape garde- ner Bas Smets and architect Pierre-Antoine Gatier. The Belgian duo, formed by Fien Muller and Hannes Van Severen, like to question our relationship with space and architecture, to explore the frontiers between art and design. They design functional and sculptural furniture, and their signature touch is airy lines and strong colours. Having won several prizes and exhibited in the biggest museums and the most pres- tigious galleries, Muller Van Severen are deservedly recognised today as key figures in contemporary design.
The duo named the new collection Cosimo de’ Medici, in honour of the Grand Duke of Toscany Cosimo I, a collector of rare citrus trees. It consists of metal pieces – tables, chairs and sun loungers – featuring minimal lines and sleek forms enriched by a subtle graphic detail: the triangle. “We imagined a composition with a rhythm set by repeating metallic blades, each ending in a triangle. This design choice draws in your eyes and also evokes the triangular forms of the garden and the lozenge motifs found throughout Villa Medici,” they continue. A skillful and pertinent tribute, made possible by the savoir-faire of Tectona.
Creative dialogue between culture and design
With this collection, fabricated by Tectona, the designers participate in a gentle metamorphosis. They imagined a subtle balance between aesthetics, usage and durability. Their furniture does not seek to compete with or defy the place; rather it seeks to establish a dialogue, to echo, as if it had always been there. “The collection seeks to be an obvious reference to this iconic place and its incredible architecture,” they explain.
Three colours in dialogue with the landscape
They are also known for their mastery of colour. Here they chose a palette consisting of light green, dark blue and white, delicate and timeless hues that blend in harmoniously with the poetic lemon tree garden. In sum, Muller Van Severen have succeeded in inserting their pieces in an exceptional setting with finesse, imbuing the furniture collection with a strong timeless character. As such Cosimo de’ Medici is also an invitation to a contemplative pause.
