Meet Olafur Eliasson, Massimo Bottura and Elena Foster on Cassina Out of the Box

“Let’s recommence, with the awareness that our home has taken care of us.
Let’s rethink about our domestic space and new habits.
Let’s redesign together.”

Out of the box, inside the box, around the box, beside the box – use as many prepositions as needed to define the box, but we know we need to define it, to question its position. The box being ‘design’ in this case needs to be ‘unboxed’, rethought and redesigned. At a time when the world is slowly and painfully recuperating and battling COVID–19, we are forced to think of how design plays a role in reviving the world and its systems.  

Italian design manufacturer Cassina prides itself on its luxury furniture and interior design collection, with a focus on delivering world class products. Moments of Affection: Milanese Alliances, a STIR original series hosted a month ago saw a few of the world’s most sought after design leaders mention Cassina as one of their favourite brands at the Salone del Mobile.

Cassina is hosting a series of live, educative conversations on its official Instagram channel, where Art Director Patricia Urquiola talks to a selection of guests such as artist Olafur Eliasson, art curator and publisher Elena Foster and chef Massimo Bottura, “who transcend the design sector according to the company’s cultural values.” Cassina Out of the Box also traverses softly into the personal and professional lives of these creative individuals, discussing how their lives have been impacted with the lockdown and what lies ahead.

The renowned Spanish architect and designer, known for her bright, poetic forms, moderates discussions on the design industry’s creativity, innovation, its responsibilities and its future. The series also urges its audience to ‘recommence, rethink and redesign’ at a time when we rely on the digital and deliberate over the built narrative.

Patricia Urquiola in conversation with Olafur Eliasson

“Evidently a lot of things are changing, especially with regards to how people see the world and how they perceive reality. I don’t have any answers, but I am curious about whether this will influence the way we shape the world or design the world, and how we design its systems. In a long term scenario, how will this change art and design? Will we change a lot? Will things go back to the way they were or is it going to be different?” – Olafur Eliasson

54 mins watch

Patricia Urquiola in conversation with Massimo Bottura

“We need beauty! We need the collective beauty given by architects, designers, artists and chefs, as I believe that we can really make a difference. I say this because when you create beauty, beautiful space with beautiful furniture and beautiful food, it’s the perfect way to reveal the dignity of people, to reveal and enjoy our meaning in the world. As Camus puts it, “Beauty, no doubt, does not make revolutions. But a day will come when revolutions will have need of beauty.”” – Massimo Bottura

40 mins watch

Patricia Urquiola in conversation with Elena Foster

“Creatives from different disciplines need to commence, to create the way forward for the cities of the future, which I think, won’t be the cities that we are living in currently.” – Elena Foster

52 mins watch

Follow @cassinaofficial Instagram channel to listen to industry experts discuss and reflect on creativity, innovation and thoughts for the coronavirus-free future.