The co-founder of Ludovica+Roberto Palomba works on dozens of projects each year with his wife; he discusses the importance of designing products that are made to last and the influence of the family unit on his furniture collections
Like most fathers, thoughts about the future weigh heavily on the mind of Italian architect Roberto Palomba. “When I became a father, I was no longer only thinking about my life,” says Palomba. “I was thinking of what I leave to this world; that changed my perception of responsibility.”
This regard for the future extends to his design approach: “My generation grew up with the mistaken thinking that natural resources are unlimited and that is absolutely not true. Eco is not a trend, it is a necessity. We have to try to take this responsibility onto ourselves, as designers and companies.”
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Together with his wife Ludovica, the co-founder of Ludovica+Roberto Palomba works on dozens of projects each year. Their most recent work includes sofas for Poltrona Frau, playfully named after the chart-topping hits by The Beatles; each collection presents the sofa as the social centre of the home.
What inspired the decision to start a studio with your wife?
Roberto Palomba (RP) People seem very surprised that I have worked with my wife for 25 years. But it’s absolutely normal. We talk, we share; sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad, sometimes we agree, sometimes we don’t.
We met in the university and we grew up together, always talking about our passion. Architecture and design are both a job and a passion, and that’s the best part; you’re involved not only as a designer but as a person. It’s quite normal that if your wife is an architect, too, you share your ideas and opinions.