Behind the scenes of Suite: AtelierNanni designers tell us about the collection

This year our Suite collection turns 5. Let’s look at the most important steps, how it came about and evolved, revealing its successes and “behind-the-scenes” stories.

Since 2016

In 2017, after a year of ideation, design, and development, the Suite armchair made its debut as the star of the new collection by AtelierNanni. Since the creation of its first seat, the Suite collection has increasingly expanded, becoming one of our most beloved and recognized collections.

During 2018’s Salone del Mobile in Milan, we presented the first extension of the collection, which included a table, lounge seat, and coffee table. During the following edition of Milan’s renowned event, we exhibited the second extension of Suite, with a desk and bookcase.

We asked designers Emilio Nanni and Cesare Ehr Nanni what secrets lie behind such an unmistakable, contemporary and successful collection.

What inspired you most in designing the Suite collection?

«At the basis of the Suite collection is the reference to the Torii, the traditional Japanese gate, the quintessential symbol of Shintoism, which represents the eternal connection of the human world with the divine.»

On the left the traditional Japanese Torii, on the right our Suite armchair, design AtelierNanni.

«Its elementary structure features 2 vertical support columns and, on the top, a horizontal pole, usually painted in vermilion color. We took this essential and elegant symbol as a starting point for the armchair’s structure that later inspired all the other elements in the collection: armchair, lounge chair, table, side table, writing desk, and bookcase. In particular, we see a clear reference to the Torii in the bookcase.»

On the left a detail of the Suite bookcase, on the right a sketch of its design by AtelierNanni.

The other important element we focused on while designing Suite was the use of leather and, most importantly, how the leather of the backrest could bond to the armrest with continuity.

«This step is the focus of the Suite collection, actually achieved and turned into a winning product by Midj.»

Production and manufacturing of Suite’s leather backrest.

What is the real secret of this collection’s success?

«We believe that the success of the Suite collection is due to the fact that the result of each individual insight has generated an original and iconic whole. Moreover, Suite fully represents our way of designing, which is composed of intuition, innovation, and formal attention.»

On the left our Suite armchair, on the right a sketch of its design by AtelierNanni.

«It is at the same time the manifestation of Midj’s ability to believe and make the Suite collection its iconic representation on the market, capable of expressing all its realization intentions, expressing its know-how and confirming its belonging to the designer world.»

On the left a sketch of the Suite bookcase, on the right the Suite bookcase, design AtelierNanni.

The innovation, craftsmanship, and culture that lie behind the Suite collection all manifest high quality and Italian know-how. The study of materials and shapes guided the handcrafting of all complements, creating a refined and versatile material continuity.

Are there any artistic disciplines besides interior design that stimulate and inspire the ideation of your collections?

«Our education is related to the International Style period, and we are aware of the importance of cultural education. But we believe that reading and understanding contemporaneity is equally essential. It is an assortment of elements: art, fashion, cinema, music, politics, society, custom, mainstream, and many other things.»

We try to combine all of this into a design that reflects our signature and the historical time we live in, becoming, paradoxically, a timeless object.

The Suite collection in the world

The handcrafted beauty of our Suite armchair goes all the way to Turk Faith Tutak, the first Turkish restaurant to earn 2 Michelin stars. Its relaxed and refined expressiveness invites guests to have a seat.

Suite armchairs at Turk Fatih Tutak restaurant, Istanbul - Turkey.

The interior is a triumph of mirrors and stained glass, warm colors, and natural materials.

In the large room of Turk Faith Tutak, the Suite armchairs connect the contrasting colors and materials. The cold marble flooring complements the brown colors used for the walls, thanks to the leather and wood tones of the seat designed by AtelierNanni.

The Suite armchairs at Turk Fatih Tutak restaurant, Istanbul - Turkey.