SPECIAL PRIZE sponsored by PROMEMORIA
2019 Sky Design Awards one of the special prizes sponsored by PROMEMORIA. This is a prize for exceptional design quality. To celebrate unique, innovative, and compelling pieces of design by awards winner, one of the Sky Design award’s winner will collaborate and work with Promemoria to create a brand new furniture piece which will be part of the Promemoria collection.
The Winner is A.N.D
ABOUT PROMEMORIA
The Atelier of Beauty
Love of detail. Passion. Creativity. Promemoria has antique roots. The adventure began in the 19th century in a village on the shores of lake Como, where the Sozzi family ran a business restoring and repairing carriages for the local aristocracy.
A specialised business. Elitist. It was here among the fragrances of wood that the craftsman skill began to take shape. A know-how which continued through the next four generations and which, at the end of the eighties became Promemoria: a world of highly skilled cabinet making, designed by Romeo Sozzi.
In time, a complex manufacturing unit developed which brought together all the various phases of working; from the search for materials to the study of finishings which today is the undisputed pinnacle of décor excellence and gem among Italian and European artisans.
The world of Promemoria promotes high cultural values among a demanding and knowledgeable public, and encourages appreciation of the history of things as well as their intrinsic quality.
CRAFTSMANSHIP
As with haute couture garments, the Promemoria sofas, fabric wardrobes, chairs and tables are objects not only to look at, but also to caress, to smell and even to listen to as they harmonise with woods, glass and metals. Every piece is hand made. Often made to measure and in limited edition. The degree of excellence is certified by severe quality checks.
Attention to detail is matched with the use of exclusive materials. National or exotic wood essences, from Tuscan cypress to “macassar” ebony or sucupira; surveyed, matured and elaborated to the final emotion. The touch and the smell of the surfaces merge in an unrepeatable syntax of suggestion. Then the colours; vibrations of secret spells, shades and combinations, almost tactile as well as visual. They even emit fragrance. The fabrics? Silk, linen, cashmere.... the farandola of noble fibres, promptly reinvented. A unique microcosm, that of aristocratic metals, from bronze to silver and copper often to be found alongside Murano glass or Italian made porcelain to create handles, lampshades, or an extraordinarily fine dining service.
INTERIOR PROJECTS
HEADQUARTERS
Even if the particular esprit of Romeo Sozzi pervades the general headquarters at Valmadrera, he has at the same time been able to inject into the organisation an equally perceivable presence of the new generation throughout the manufacturing process. It is the three sons, Stefano, Davide and Paolo who while working alongside their father, have acquired more and more responsibility and are today developing an ever more complex manufacturing reality.
Starting from the historic Milan showroom, the brand has become global, and Promemoria is now present at exclusive addresses in the world’s major cities: Paris, London, Moscow, New York, Hamburg, Munich, Warsaw and Hong Kong.
PRESIDENT & DESIGNER
ROMEO SOZZI
A notebook permanently in his pocket. Pen, pencil. Romeo Sozzi, the symbol of Promemoria, takes notes instinctively and for passion. He scrutinizes a form and sketches it. It could be the profile of a mountain which will evolve into a handle. Maybe the shape of a wave on the lake which will become the profile of a drawer. Words on paper, even to define the colours noticed in a cloud, in a rock. Romeo likes to memorise colours, to recount them. To make them his.Then, with his inseparable box of water colours, to recreate them. “Intelligent colours”, he says, “to differentiate from the stupid ones which don’t interest me”. Colours with character, whispering, fleeting, silent. A presence of authority which covers without dominating. Almost shyly. Colours ready to blend or contrast with woods, metals, fabrics. Colours which can even take on the transparency of crystal.
Romeo lives the idea, and slowly transforms it manually into a product. He selects and captures the nectar of things and of situations. It is not about “a lot”, nor “everything”, not even“too much”, but it is about only the best, the truly well made, the enthusiasm. “BEAUTY IS GOOD.”
As the third generation of specialized wood craftsmen in cabinet making and restoration, in theseventies, Romeo Sozzi made his debut in interior decoration. Since 1988, he has managed his company, Promemoria, together with his three sons. In time, Promemoria has become not justa producer of internationally high profile furnishing, but a test bed of innovative design. Rigor, discipline but always with a base of enthusiasm and strong personality as bon vivant. Romeo Sozzi’s way of being does not limit itself to the professional sense, it is a continuous flow ofthought which permeates every part of his life, even the most intimate. Creativity is learnt byobserving, making notes, listening to harmonies, breathing fragrances. But also by tasting new flavours, touching materials, travelling the world and making friends across four corners of the globe.
STEFANO SOZZI
Born in 1973. He has a diploma in electrical engineering, and has worked in the family company since finishing his studies.
An ecologist from an early age, he is the cabinetmaker who, as well as many other responsibilities, organises the work ofthe carpentry workshop. A significant part of the production process passes through his hands as he oversees, checks and continuously seeks improvement with tenacious dedication.
For several years now, together with his technical team, he personally looks after the assembly and installation of the Promemoria Collection in some of the most beautiful houses around the world. He dedicates his free time to his passion of paragliding.
DAVIDE SOZZI
Born in 1974, architect and Head of the Technical & Design Dept. of Promemoria, Davide Sozzi lives between London and Valmadrera. A traveller for work and inclination, he is passionate about art and aviation as well as sailing boats and historical motorcycles, that he restores himself.
Davide Sozzi has designed many products for the family company Promemoria and he has developed, with his team, many private residences around the world, providing unique and customized solutions that combine aesthetics and functionality.
PAOLO SOZZI
Born in 1981, married with two children. He began working in the company while he was attending his Scientific High school. A hands-on training, from a young warehouse boy to Head of Operations. For relaxation, he climbs onto the saddle of his mountain bike and explores the shores of Lake Como and the hills of the Brianza Area. Paolo loves to surround himself with the latest cutting edge technology. He has a passion for model cars and motorbikes, and owns a vast collection.
For more information about PROMEMORIA, please visit: www.promemoria.com
In 2019
We are honored to have the following first Prizes for Furniture Design division:
It is a prize for exceptional design quality. To celebrate unique, innovative, and compelling pieces of design by awards winner, one of the Sky Design award’s winner will collaborate and work with Promemoria to create a brand new signature furniture piece.
For Architecture, Interior and Furniture Design division:
One of the exclusive prizes, "Short-listed participants in categories or architecture, interior design and furniture design, will have the chance to work for a property development company on their Japan hotel and resort project in 2020, subject to details and conditions to be announced at the end of May, 2019."
Special Announcement (Jan 23, 2020): Unfortunately, this prize has been canceled based on the property developer's decision. We will be looking forward to another prizes for all the submission and strive to build collaboration and collaborative opportunities for peers in the design industry and suppliers in the building industry.
For Visual and Graphics division:
Since 2011, The exhibition of The Beatles Tomorrow Series was held in different countries such as Shanghai, Seoul, Taipei and attracted more than 450,000 visitors. The winner from the visual categories of Sky Design Awards, Yoko & Miki OUCHI has been selected to work with - The Beatles Tomorrow Series - Japan's exhibition in Tokyo. (Subject of details and conditions to be contacted with Yoko & Miki OUCHI on Feb 2020.)