Alessi, the renowned Italian design company famous for its innovative kitchenware, has ventured into the world of furniture with a groundbreaking collection. The “Poêle Collection,” a collaboration with the legendary French designer Philippe Starck, features a chair, a coat hanger, and stools inspired by an unexpected source – the humble kitchen frying pan.
A Long History of Successful Collaborations
Alessi and Philippe Starck have a storied history of working together on successful design projects. Their partnership, spanning several decades, has resulted in the creation of numerous iconic household items. However, the “Poêle Collection” represents a significant milestone in their collaboration, as it marks their first foray into the world of furniture design.
Alberto Alessi, President of Alessi, expressed his long-standing ambition to produce a Philippe Starck furniture collection, saying, “I have been trying to make a chair with Philippe Starck for around 20 years now, and finally, we did it. I asked him if it was possible to design a chair that is manufactured like a frying pan is made using the Alessi cold-press metal high technology. As is always the case with Starck, it started with a subversion.”
The Poêle Chair
The centerpiece of the collection is the Poêle Chair, aptly named as “Poêle” is French for “pan.” This chair, with its elegant and innovative design, is a result of combining humor and technology. Philippe Starck, renowned for his visionary designs, explained, “The Poêle Chair started as a serious joke, with a sketch of a pan with legs and the great idea of adapting an existing high-technology to different purposes. The seat and back inspired by a frying pan, legs as handles, the Poêle Chair elegantly incarnates the most beautiful symptoms of human intelligence: humor and technology. Very much like my relationship to Alberto and Alessi.”
A Tribute to Alessi’s Expertise in Metalwork
The Poêle Collection draws inspiration from Alessi’s unparalleled expertise in homeware and kitchen products, as well as its pioneering work in metal. Alessi, founded in Omegna in 1921, initially focused on metalwork. The Poêle Chair, in particular, is crafted using modernized traditional cold-press metal technology dating back to the 1950s. This blend of traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology is a testament to Alessi’s commitment to innovation.
For Alberto Alessi, the Poêle Collection is a celebration of over 100 years of working with metal and more than 30 years of fruitful collaboration with Philippe Starck. He regards Starck as a visionary who infuses poetry into the realm of industrial manufacture. Speaking of the collection, Alberto Alessi shared, “It has always been a dream of mine to enter the world of furniture significantly. Now, with the Poêle Collection and Philippe Starck, we are doing a serious trial.”
The Poêle Collection made its debut at the Milan Design Week from April 18 to 23, 2023.
Product Information
- Poêle Chair design Philippe Starck, 2023: Monoshell chair in 18/10 stainless steel mirror polished. Structure in brown dye beech wood.
- Poêle High Stool design Philippe Starck, 2023: High stool in 18/10 stainless steel mirror polished. Structure in brown dye beech wood.
- Poêle Low Stool design Philippe Starck, 2023: Stool in 18/10 stainless steel mirror polished. Structure in brown dye beech wood. Chrome-plated metal footrest.
- Poêle Hanger design Philippe Starck, 2023: Coat stand in brown dye beech wood. Inserts in chrome-plated metal mirror polished.
For more information, visit alessi.com
