Comfort yes, but also aesthetics and customization.
The William series by Zanotta
, which owes its design to English designer Damian Williamson, is made up of one-piece sofas, modular sofas, armchairs, ottomans and shelves, elements designed to dialogue with each other and help the user “build” his or her favorite end product according to his or her tastes and available space.
The William collection debuted at the Salone del Mobile 2010 and has been enriched over the years with new components that have made it increasingly functional and comfortable, thanks to the presence of multiple layers that convey the idea of comfort at a glance, but also elegant and modern. In fact, the minimalist appearance of the various elements conceals a great deal of richness, given, for example, by the polished steel alloy feet or goose down padding.
HISTORY OF DESIGNER DAMIAN WILLIAMSON
A collaborator with Zanotta since precisely 2010, which was the year that marked the debut of the William series, Damian Williamson was born in London in 1974 before graduating in his early twenties in 1998 from Kingston University after studying Product Design, which concluded with a thesis that focused on “advanced materials.”
After his early years of working with various clients, the British designer decided to open his own design studio in 2004, based in Stockholm. His projects constantly strive to find a marriage between innovation and technological research, without sacrificing inventiveness and originality-it is Williamson himself who declares that it is strong ideas that are the starting point of creative processes, further emphasizing his interest in “finding well-reasoned answers to continuous questions.”
Finally, in 2005, Williamson returned to education as a guest tutor for the Industrial Design course at LTH University in Sweden.
WILLIAM SOFA FABRICS AND GEOMETRIES
The essence of Zanotta’s William collection is encapsulated in the words of its creator Damian Williamson, according to whom the series stems from the idea of “deconstructing the sofa into ‘layers of comfort,’ not just visually but literally.”
This concept is perfectly reflected in the structure of the sofa, with two or three seats, which consists of an elastic base at the bottom layer, a middle layer of polyurethane foam and, finally, the top layer of goose down: this combination gives an immediate perception of comfort, what Williamson calls “the sense of touch.”
The three layers invite the user to develop a physical relationship with the sofa, which is supported by a steel frame with springing on elastic bands that seems to make the seats float, further increasing the idea of softness communicated to the viewer.
The seat cushions, back and if desired the armrest are filled with goose down and covered with a totally removable fabric or leather cover.
William, however, is not only represented by the one-piece sofa, but by the many possibilities offered by the modular modules, which have been enriched over the years and now include a dormeuse, single armchairs, ottomans, provision for attaching a shelf made of canaletto walnut or solid oak, and even a backless upholstered seat, which allows sitting on either side.
After its debut and great success in 2010, in fact, Zanotta decided to revamp the series in 2015, completing within five years what Williamson himself calls “a complete, modern and elegant collection that offers a wide range of choices for every need for comfort in the living room.”
SHOWROOM MILAN OFFICIAL RETAILERS ZANOTTA
William, as well as many other products and collections of the company,
can be found in our showroom
Sag’80, at 4 Giovanni Boccaccio Street – Milan.
