Background
Born and raised in Milano, Cristina Prandoni draws her inspiration from her hometown’s unmistakable aesthetics and the cultural heritage of the Modernist movement, a very special mix of design and architecture organically intertwined. It comes as no surprise, that the first lighting fixtures she designed were directly inspired by a pair of 1932 Piero Portaluppi industrial steel sliding doors she saw at Villa Necchi, a cultural landmark in Milano. After training at Christie’s and at the Inchbald School of Design in London, Cristina has already worked on several large-scale interiors and lighting projects in Kensington and Notting Hill.
Signature Style
The sculptural quality of her designs, which reflects true craftsmanship as well as a deep commitment to detail. Staying close to the production process is an essential part of her approach, as she enjoys channeling the expressive strength of metal, making it a recurring theme of her work. “I am especially focused on exploring the various stages of metal’s transformation: patina, color finishes, bronzing, which are a constant discovery,” says Cristina.
She loves
The power and simplicity inherent to the industrial modernist movement, the strong impact of basic geometric forms and the juxtaposition of old and new.
Showstoppers
Type 35, a lighting fixture born out of memories of her father’s passion for vintage racing cars. The brushed steel wall-light draws its inspiration from the very dashboard of the car it was named after: A Bugatti designed in 1925. Cristina is now broadening her research to new techniques in metalwork, continuing to steer her design practices toward more sculptural pieces.
The Invisible Collection has the pleasure of presenting a selection of designs by Cristina Prandoni, available for purchase exclusively through us.