Nomansland Olive Rug by Antilla Di Lauro

Born in Oviedo in 1961, Spanish architect and designer Patricia Urquiola studied at the Polytechnic University of Milan and the Technical University of Madrid, graduating in 1989. From 1990 until 1996, she was Assistant Professor to Achille Castiglioni and Eugenio Bettinelli at the Polytechnic University of Milan and E.N.S.C.I. in Paris. Also during this period, she worked in product development at De Padova, where she and Vico Magistretti created the popular Flower and Loom Sofa designs, among others.

Next, Urquiola became head of Lissoni Associates design group, where her housewares and furniture clients included Alessi, Flos, Cappellini, Cassina, and Kartell. In 2001, she joined forces with Martino Berghinz to open her own studio in Milan, where she continues to live and work today.

Urquiola’s designs combine clean, modern aesthetics with traditional Spanish and Italian crafts (often textiles). She draws upon eclectic cultural elements to humanize her designs. Her architectural work includes hotels, retail locations, and homes. Her product design clients include Foscarini, Cappellini, and B&B. Famed projects include the Fjord chair for Moroso (2002), the woven Flo chairs for Driade (2004), and her Crochet rug for Paola Lenti (2005). Urquiola’s work continues to focus primarily on design and architectural projects as well as exhibition concepts.