Patricia Urquiola

Patricia Urquiola (born 1961) is a Spanish architect and designer based in Milan who has become one of the most influential figures in contemporary furniture and interior design. Her work for brands including B&B Italia, Moroso, Cassina, Flos, and Kartell combines warm textures, innovative materials, and approachable forms that resist the cold austerity sometimes associated with contemporary design. She also serves as art director for Cassina, stewarding the legacy of Le Corbusier, Gio Ponti, and other masters. Urquiola's interiors and furniture are distinguished by their tactile richness and emotional warmth. Her Bend-Sofa for B&B Italia, Tropicalia woven chair, and Shimmer tables demonstrate a mastery of craft techniques—weaving, knitting, quilting—translated into industrial production. Her hotel and retail interiors layer colors, patterns, and textures with confident sophistication. She represents a generation of designers who prove that contemporary design can be both rigorous and deeply sensory.

Key Characteristics

✓Brings tactile warmth to contemporary design
✓Translates traditional craft techniques into industrial production
✓Masters color, pattern, and textile integration
✓Designs for major Italian furniture brands
✓Creates inviting, human-centered hospitality interiors
✓Bridges the gap between comfort and contemporary aesthetics

Types & Variations

Bend-Sofa for B&B Italia

Tropicalia woven chair for Moroso

Shimmer Table for Glas Italia

Fat-Fat tables for B&B Italia

Mandarin Oriental Barcelona interiors

Common Materials

Woven technical fibersQuilted textilesDichroic glassNatural woodMarbleHand-braided cord

Works Well With These Styles

Contemporary Modern Scandinavian Mid Century Modern Minimalist

Placement & Usage Tips

Urquiola's furniture adds warmth to minimal interiors. Layer her textured pieces over clean architectural backgrounds. Her woven chairs work beautifully in both indoor living rooms and covered outdoor spaces, bringing a resort-like quality to residential settings.

💡 Pro Tip

Patricia Urquiola demonstrates that texture is as important as form in creating inviting spaces. When a room feels cold or institutional, adding tactile elements—woven chairs, quilted upholstery, textured rugs—transforms the atmosphere without changing the layout.