An Interview with Rovena Giorgi - On Designing The Residences At Antognolla

A2Zen is where ‘personal touch and extra attention make the difference’, says Rovena Giorgi, co-founder of the design firm.

Ms Giorgi founded A2Zen together with Massimo Paradisi in 2006, fusing her international upbringing and former career in asset portfolio management with Massimo’s experience work- ing in his family’s Italian high-end furniture retail company.

Over the years, A2Zen has grown internationally but still maintains its Italian essence. Although it is a large, well-established firm with offices in Asia and Europe, A2Zen is not corporate; it has held on to its boutique style, blending the best of both worlds together. Now, A2Zen is bringing its extensive experience in high-end design and Italian character to Antognolla.

Ms Giorgi spoke with us about the inspiration and Umbrian spirit that went into designing the Antognolla residences. Read on for a glimpse of four walls made of wine, oil, and sun.

What came to mind when you first set foot in Antognolla?

It was a very long time ago, and I immediately fell in love with the energy, the tranquillity, and I hoped to work on the project. After so many years working overseas, we loved the opportunity to work on something so close to our heritage and to bring out the most traditional traits which would appeal to an international market.

What was the process of designing the residences like?

It was a long process, as we had to combine many aspects: the operator’s requirements, the client’s requirements, our vision, and the architect’s design. Our main inspiration came from the design of Podere Colleprato, a standalone farmhouse in the centre of the golf course. We then developed the design to suit the residences.

What makes the design you’ve created unique to Antognolla?

Everything for this project was designed bespoke. Even the proprietary pieces were customized to our requirements. We strived to maintain a sense of place at all times, and this can be found in the finishes we used, especially the white stone, the wrought-iron details, and the use of natural, textured wood. We juxtaposed the traditional elements with modern lines and contemporary comforts but always maintained traditional finishes such as linen fabrics and wool carpets to ground the design.

Q: What Umbrian themes did you use in the design?

A: We focused on three main themes which are fundamental elements of the Umbrian rural landscape: wine, oil, and sun. Consequently, the colour accents fell on olive greens, shades of burgundy, and a touch of yellow.

Q: How did you select collaborators?

A: We have worked with artisans from the region for a long time and were well acquainted with them. This was our added value as designers. We greatly enjoyed working with the local ceram- ics company Rometti to produce the unique bedside table lamps which we designed and which they skilfully handcrafted.

What are some items belonging to the Antognolla residences that cannot be found anywhere else?

We especially enjoyed designing the bespoke rugs to replicate the intricate Cotto patterns traditionally used for flooring or wall decorations.

What does sustainability mean to you?

Sustainability means supporting local small businesses as opposed to large multinationals. It means reducing our carbon footprint by sourcing locally produced materials. We achieved all of this with flying colours in our design of the residences.