The importance of being “Ernest” is revealed in the spacious sofa that welcomes those who arrive. With organic shapes, like almost everything that stands out, we sat down with Pedro d’Orey and Clemente Rosado, partners of QuartoSala, in the new Poliform Lisboa, the fifth store in its universe, which continues to focus on the Chiado – Amoreiras axis, with two multi-brand spaces in Príncipe Real and two exclusive stores.

After the curatorship applied to the premiere of Minotti in Lisbon, next to the National Theater of São Carlos, it was not easy to find this 2b Rua D. João Va building from the 1940s, “completely twisted, without a single straight wall”, therefore also challenging, but well integrated into the urban geography, strategic and with a charm without edges. “We didn’t want to be in a very difficult situation. bling blingnor have a speech that made sense only for the super, ultra rich. We like Príncipe Real as the center of our operation, it is a neighborhood that brings together what I think is most interesting about Portugal, a foot in the past and at the same time a dynamic of something new that is happening.”

© Ariel Vaz

We don’t know how the future will shine for each of the upcoming pieces, as each curator’s path has a unique outcome. Perhaps improbably, they remember how the armchair from the Up series by Gaetano Pesce was displayed for five consecutive years in the store on Rua do Século, a creation elevated to the category of statement, “which may not be sold every day but is inspiring.” , admits Clemente.

Strictly speaking, what stands out about an intervention like this is not the parts, but the harmony of their sum towards the final whole, what each environment aims to reflect. “We believe and have been saying this for 20 years, that for a person to invest in their home they must start from a concept, and demystify it. Many people think that there is a project and that they are going to transform the entire house from A to Z, and that they will not have the money to do it. No, a project can be something that is thought out and that can be executed in different phases, the essential thing is that there is a thought that allows the person to follow a path in a period of time,” emphasizes D’Orey.

© Ariel Vaz

Present in more than one hundred countries, Poliform was born in Italy in 1970, launched by cousins ​​Alberto Spinelli, Aldo Spinelli and Giovanni Anzani in the famous furniture district of Brianza. The Lisbon expansion occupies 500 m2 on two floors and implements the 360º decoration concept of the brand, which guarantees a integrated design in all rooms, from the living room to the closet. Enlightenment alone does not enter into this puzzle. In addition, of the kitchen systems on the doors and paneledto indoor and outdoor cabinets and furniture, solutions multiply, in this dialogue between architecture and design that is increasingly attentive to small spaces – and a renewed discourse on design itself.

“I think there are a lot of things that are entering the design discourse that are also different than they were 10 or 20 years ago. It is really the issue of sustainability, which is a discourse that can be full of greenwashing, but in practice what we see is that design and the industry are transforming little by little. Aesthetics themselves are being transformed due to new materials that suddenly make more sense, less aggressive. And also the question of timelessness makes more sense and is closely linked to sustainability,” says Pedro d’Orey, without forgetting the impact at the local level. “We have the responsibility of being part of the business fabric of the city. When we can showcase a product for 15 years, it means we are making a decision that will have value to people for many years and is not simply frivolous. There is nothing against frivolity, but there has to be a capital of trust.”

Curiously, the brand emerged in the golden age of plastic, which was once an engine of democratization of domestic consumption and a factor of empowerment. Looking ahead to 2024, if cities are different, the logic of production and consumption will also be reinvented. “I don’t want to throw this away in three months because I don’t like it anymore, like I did then with a piece of plastic. Now, even a piece of plastic is designed to last and have a long history. People are very sensitive to what is fashionable, to what is fashionable, but things do not go exactly there because, in practice, what remains is really Which one is more durable?and that is where people also invest more.”

Incredible “grace”

If 50 years ago the notion was expanding that everyone has the right to have the same ambitions for their home, with more or less budget, Clemente remembers how many objects from that time are today reissued by brands, with new materials, enhanced by the cult . effect. “Grace” isn’t that long-lived, at least not yet, but we’ve lost count of how long it’s been around. It was in 2009 that the chair designed by Emmanuel Gallinaand 15 years later it is still a best seller by Poliform, accompanied by the no less sought-after Concorde table, another contemporary classic. With the baptism of each determining element, emphasis is also placed on the latest collection of outdoor seating, “Magnolia”, “which is reminiscent of nature,” says the designer, who began a relationship with the Italian brand in 2008, and who He joins names like Jean-Marie Massaud in creating exclusive pieces for this house.

© Ariel Vaz

Any of them are created for a prolonged rest, which is like saying to last beyond fashions and seasons. “For me timelessness is that. We do not design for this year, nor to make something that will be obsolete in two years. Modernize and simplify everyday life with elegance.”

Between Milan and Bordeaux, the craftsmanship of made in italy it intersects with the Gallic art of living and connects all the dots in the lifestyle experience, probably, Emmanuel believes, the greatest evolution compared to the concept followed in the post-war period by pioneers such as Achille Castiglione or Vico Magistretti, towards this concept wider.

Speaking of scope, Poliform Lisboa will be a dynamic space with regular hours, hosting book launches, lunches with architects and other events, in an intimate setting. The inauguration took place under the gastronomic direction of Chef Diogo Noronhawho occupied the dark kitchen Available on the ground floor.

The new store will be open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed on Sundays.