Andrea Morgante is the founder of Shiro Studio a London based design practice established back in 2009. Andrea is passionate about creating unique designs and architecture by integrating materials, purity of form and coherence. He believes that architecture should be evocative, unexpected and yet tactile and approachable. His studio name comes from the Japanese word for white, indicating the purity of design Andrea embodies. He has been featured in publications, including Wallpaper, Casabella, and The Independent. So we are proud to bring you the Designer Insights of Andrea Morgante.
Image Credit: 1) Mutina 2) Agape 3) Rosenthal 4) Issey Miyake 5) Carpenters Workshop
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1) In your own words describe your unique style and creative aesthetic?
Calm, haptic, serene. I don't really care for a style rather I care for an attitude of honesty towards materials, the value of tact and most of all kindness towards the user, whether is an object or a building.
2) When starting a new project, what is your creative process?
The process is often non- linear and unpredictable. But I have some priorities which I constantly monitor and check from the very beginning like innovation, user-empathy, honesty of materials. Each project is informed by one of these qualities.
3) Out of the creative people you have worked with, who is it that you respect and admire the most?
Jan Kaplicky (1937-2009). Jan was and still is an important figure in my life, not only because I worked with him for 8 amazing years but because, like a real master, he taught me about architecture, art and life. His legacy and vision are still so relevant today and many of his teachings and whispered advices are still with me in my work, every day.
4) When looking for inspiration is there a particular thing you do to get inspired?
Two sources of constant, powerful inspiration are Nature and Art. Nature is silently teaching us values like efficiency, zero-waste, balance, kindness. Art, on the other side, is the most sublime, uncorrupted manifestation of human intellect and creativity. Everything lies between these two opposites.
5) What has brought you to this point in your career? And what is your advice for people looking to follow in your footsteps?
Sheer curiosity I guess. Passion feeds curiosity and curiosity feeds your knowledge, whilst determination makes you move forward despite the adversities (many) that are thrown at you in this profession. So my heartfelt advice is to always nourish your curiosity and never run out of determination.
