Andrea Trimarchi & Simone Farresin

Which place do you currently call home and where do you work on your projects?

Milan and Lake Maggiore. Milano is where the studio is located. Lake Maggiore is where we have the weekend house, and in July, we usually move and work from there.

Where is your studio located & how does it look?

The studio is located in the North of Milan. It is an old printing facility from 1920. It’s a beautiful open space with a very high ceiling, big windows, lots of plants and all funriniture designed by us. The focal point of the studio is the kitchen where the amazing team of 12 people is cooking daily. The sofa is the reign of Terra, our Italian greyound, the real CEO of the studio.

Are there any projects that are personally important to you, whether recently completed or currently in progress?

We are very selective about the projects we take on, so our first instinct would be to say that they are all equally relevant.

To be more specific, however, their relevance may come from the subject matter, the approach, the client, or the long-term relationship we have developed with them.

In this sense, research projects such as Cambio for the Serpentine Galleries and Oltre Terra have been instrumental in shaping Formafantasma’s practice.

At the same time, our ongoing collaborations with Flos and Prada have grown into particularly fruitful, culturally rich, and meaningful relationships.

Do you have a favorite place in your area where you like to relax and linger?

Yes, in our apartment in Besozzo, very close to Lake Maggiore. It is located in a Renaissance building that we recently restored. We also have an incredible garden, which we are bringing back to life with a great deal of love and effort.

Simone loves hiking, while I, Andrea, love swimming and exploring the surrounding area. It is a truly special place, just an hour from Milan.

Are there any urgent political issues or problems in your region?

We are very fortunate to live in a country that is not affected by war. That said, Italy is currently going through a very delicate moment, with an extremely conservative and narrow-minded right-wing government.
We have certainly had poor politicians in the past, but many of them were simply not particularly interested in culture.

This government, however, clearly understands that culture is a powerful tool for shaping people’s attitudes and beliefs. Unfortunately, it is making deeply damaging choices, introducing regressive ideologies into institutions and spaces that were previously far more progressive. Moreover, Southern Italy has been increasingly overlooked. While the North continues to grow wealthier, the South is losing more and more of its young people.

In your opinion, what has developed well in the last 5 years, and what has not?

It is a very complex question. The introduction of a flat-tax regime for wealthy foreign residents has certainly benefited the Italian economy, but it has also contributed to growing inequality in many of the country’s major cities.

Milan, for instance, has an increasingly unsustainable housing market, with extremely high rents pushing students and families out of the city. Many of the most successful initiatives have come from private organisations, smaller cities, or villages. Central governments, whether on the right or the left, have often shown little interest in addressing citizens’ everyday problems, needs, and aspirations. All are interested in citizen problems or wishes.

Do you know a hidden gem when it comes to local manufacturers, whether it’s arts and crafts, sustainable products or food?

We know many. I can name two in particular.

The first is Lobmeyr, our favourite crystal manufacturer. It is a family-run business with an extraordinary heritage dating back to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

The second is Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, where we were recently appointed art directors. It is an exceptional company with more than 800 years of history. Its product catalogue is incredibly extensive, ranging from fragrances and body-care products to objects for the home.

It is fascinating to explore the archives and discover their extraordinary depth and richness.

Is there anything particularly innovative in your region? Also in comparison to other places you have already visited?

Lombardy is one of Italy’s main manufacturing regions, and many design and fashion companies have their headquarters or production facilities there.

Its strength lies in a dense network of small, highly specialised companies, each focused on a very specific area of production. In Lombardy, it is possible to manufacture almost anything, from tiny precision mechanisms for spacecraft to sofas.

Do you have a secret restaurant tip that you would like to share with us?

Da Nino in Rome and Nuova Arena in Milan are two of our favourite restaurants in Italy. They both serve exceptional food made with the finest ingredients. You can find us ALWAYS there.

Is there a local shop whose products are only available in your region?

Lorenzi is a high-end store located in the centre of Milan. It offers a spectacular selection of objects for the home, all crafted in-house using the finest materials and production techniques.

What are your 3 favorite apps that you use every day and couldn’t live without?

Instagram, Merlin Bird ID—which helps us identify the birds around us—and Windfinder. We love sailing, and Windfinder is one of the most important apps we use for navigation. Apple Notes.

Do you have any favorite newspapers or online magazines? And how do you keep up to date with politics or social and cultural issues?

Internazionale, an Italian weekly magazine featuring a selection of the best international articles of the week; The New Yorker for long-form reading; and The Guardian for news.

Imagine you could be mayor for a year, what would you change?

We would focus on social housing, the creation and improvement of green spaces, the removal of unnecessary asphalt from urban areas, and the development of habitats that support greater urban biodiversity.

One last question: If you could choose another place to live, regardless of financial or time constraints, which one would you choose?

We would never leave Italy. After living abroad for many years, we are now fully enjoying being back. Within Italy, we would consider moving to Rome. It is an extraordinary city, with a wonderful pace of life, beautiful parks, and an incredibly rich cultural scene.