Category Archives: End to End

Some thoughts on “How to spend it”: quality, Made in Italy, bespoke and… a modest proposal.

How to spend it - Sole24Ore

There’s new magazine of the Il Sole 24ore Editorial Group, in Italy: “How to spend it”.

This use of the English language in the name  in an Italian magazine sounded me strange to me at first…

Then I understood: it’s a magazine created in Italy, together with The Financial Times, which has been distributing it for 20 years in UK.

Some questions arose spontaneously.

The first one: spending what? Time or money?

Flipping through the pages, I think i got the answer: it’s for people who have a lot of both… good for them! :-)

Second question: do we really need such a format, in these hard times where recession of domestic consumption seems so  overwhelming?

Maybe yes, because – as I quickly found out – the magazine promotes widely both Made in Italy brands and the Made in Italy approach to goods and lifestyle.

Speaking of Made in Italy heroes, in a few minutes I ran into a pearl of wisdom that made me forget all my thoughts.

The following quote appeared to me like a message: something to be shared and discussed, with a strong tie to the times we’re living.

A concept appealing to all: entrepreneurs, common people, young generations.
A message regarding our future.

Here’s what Maurizio Marinella, of the historic company of ties and accessories based in Naples, told journalist Roberto Napoletano, in his “Passaporto Italiano” column:

“The message I got from the ones who came before me is departing from Naples, but never leave Naples. Depart from Naples and stay here in Naples”.

Maurizio Marinella - Ermes Ponti blog

(Thank you Mr. Marinella for your inspiration, I wish I could meet you one day).

In my personal opinion, this is exactly what we have to do!

And we of Ermesponti do it. Actually, we do it every single day.

We depart from Italy, continuously (last trip Germany, but also Asia, New York, UKall over the world, we go where someone asks for an end-to-end solution to an interiors problem), but never leave Italy.

We work worldwide from here. 

We design and produce bespoke interiors assuming control of the whole process, from starting idea to turnkey delivery for clients and locations all over the world.

Every time we bring with us the values of the Italian culture and the Italian lifestyle.

This reminds me of another Sole 24 ore editorial content I always follow: the radio program “La Fuga dei Talenti” (Talents’ escape) regarding Italian youngsters going abroad to build their carreers.

In this regard, what I’d like to suggest to Mr. Napoletano – radio24 director – is to focus on a positive attitude, which is still possibile, if we change point of view.

Young people need reasons to stay or come back to Italy, not only to escape from our country!

Let’s all give them new, positive examples! Shouldn’t we try to follow Barbara Santoro’s inspiring example?

Our country still is able to produce high levels of excellence, in alla regards.

As fare as we are concerned, we think that there is a high demand of the highest level of luxury: the perfect customization.

A home fitting you perfectly, like a bespoke suit, exclusively designed for you can really improve your lifestyle and makes you feel better.

Living immersed in beauty and harmony, in a space that represents you perfectly, can really change life from hell to heaven!

In brief, we believe the revolution of the “designed for” instead of the “design-by” it’s coming soon and we are proud to be part of it.

And here’s the modest proposal I’d like to share with Il Sole 24 Ore’s manager Mrs. Nicoletta Polla-Mattiot:

The right header for the Italian edition of this prestigious English magazine must be different from the English one: How to spend it, better!

So, dear Mrs. Nicoletta Polla-Mattiot, when can we expect the new “bespoke issue”?

Interiors project for a German luxury brand? Won with a handmade prototype. A true story.

This is a true story and – most important – a good one.

A story where Italian craftsmen’s skills prove to be ahead of any competition when it comes down to bespoke interiors.

Here’s what happened.

One day, from our office in Mantua, we call the headquarters of one of the top worldwide luxury brands, based in Germany.

We  offer  our services as a bespoke interior company that is able to design and manage the whole process.

Surprisingly enough they’re interested! We quickly arrange a meeting in Hamburg.

Once in their offices, it takes us no longer than half an hour to explain to them why the ermesponti method in bespoke interiors is much more cost-efficient than any other.

We still keep the quality bar at the highest possible level, thanks to the Italian Master Artisans working with us. We emphasize, in particular, how our approach involves all stages of the project:

  • listening to client’s needs
  • on-site survey
  • overall cost estimate, including 100% end-to-end solutions, from first idea to turnkey delivery
  • executive plan and drawings
  • on-site building work (no outside contractors involved)
  • designing and making bespoke furniture
  • on-site fitting
  • on-site fine tuning

All of these are under one single supervision, ours ;-)

From then on, it’s no longer a matter of words and meetings!

We get down to the real stuff, and next time we meet we bring with us a handmade prototype table just for them – personally crafted by our beloved carpenter Daniele Compagnoni – with improved integrated led lighting, and a general quality that is just above their very high standards.

They are so impressed with the loving care of the prototype table that shows every aspect and feature. They decide that ermesponti is the right partner for the retail interiors they need in Europe.

MBLshowcase

Why do they choose ermesponti, over the long list of German companies they have been working with until then? The reason is simple.

A small but highly specialized Italian company like ermesponti –  is able to work according to the highest artisan standards and follow a detailed design project.

The firm has no rivals in Germany or elsewhere.

There is attention to detail, knowledge of materials and mastery of working processes.

All these  are added to tipycal Italian taste.

This is how ermesponti wins an International assignment for a top quality retail interior… making the client fall in love with a prototype table!MBL showcase detail

How would you design the interior of a house? Materials? Furniture? Design? No, sir: talking to who’s supposed to live there.

New York Interiors by Ermes Ponti

Whoever works in the interior designer industry, like us, can choose different approached to a new project.

She can choose to go the famous-design-object way.

She can choose to design and manufacture bespoke furniture.

Or else, all this can be left aside, to sit down and talk.

Talk and understand. Not only the residents’ needs, but also their taste.

Look around. Try to get the feeling.

Find the aesthetic and functional solutions for that specific person.

It may seem trivial, but almost everythng we see around is designed and manufactured with different criteria, often standard.

Something taking no account of the people who actually will leave in that space.

Take for example the house of an American writer, on 5th Avenue in New York, a project carried out thanks to the network Design-Apart of which we are partner (the project of “living showroom” head office of D-A on the 23rd is our work too – case history here).

It’s a flat with significantly particular tastes – far from our own, to be honest – but by no means despicable, of course.

Bright colours, ethnic flavor, different materials: many objects from all over the world, mixed together, for an environment with a defined personality, expression of the eclectic tastes of the hostess.

The project was born spontaneously as a reinterpretation of her own tastes, of pre-existing structures and its contenitive and functional requirements.

We have selected for her just a few samples, the ones you see in the picture:

Sample 1: a rare sycamore frisè shellac lacquered (natural gloss finish) with an hot orange-red colour, with an almost exotic flavor, suited to her ethnic taste

Sample 2: a very light – almost iridescent- sycamore grooved (flute), reminiscence of the Parisian decorations of the thirties of our colleague J-E. Rulhmann.

Sample 3: stone gray Sahara (on the top) suggested by the colour of the kitchen’s floor

New York Interiors by Ermes Ponti

The writer was thrilled to recognize herself in the choice of her designers, who came from Italy to propose her a kitchen retrieving the design of her beloved column.

She appreciated the selection of mixed colours and materials so consistent with her tastes and with the essences, materials and objects of art of her apartment.

Now she can say to have an apartment unique in the world; her best portrait! Finally!

NY Residential interiors by ermes ponti

Sounds easy enough, right?

Not so, appearently.

Each time is a surprise for us to find that very, very few work truly consider the real needs and tastes of customers.

A method that – if applied by the principle, from the beginning of the project – combines the advantage of a “tailored” job to the pleasure of a unique solution in the world, even for a house of two rooms.

New York Interiors by Ermes Ponti

[Photo gallery + video] The new Corneliani’s extension in via Montenapoleone, Milan

How did you spent your summer holidays? Seaside or mountains? We chose Milan, Via Montenapoleone. We only had month to do all the site works – furnishings included – for the opening of the new additional wing of the Corneliani’s boutique in Milan fashion high street (btw, the PoddaPontiArchitetti Studio mentioned on Corneliani’s website is… us: an architect firm within a handicraft workshop). 1-foto iniziale During the last week of July we gradually removed the fittings and demolished the wall to open and enlarge the ground floor space on the right side of the entrance. We did a thorough survey and started the furniture production. In the meanwhile, we organized the works on site from floor to ceilings, from lighting to plants. On August 22nd everything was ready to start the installation of our furnishing.

You’d never guess how difficult it can be to work together – bricklayers, plumbers, electricians and carpenters – in such a small room… But as we accepted the project, we knew perfectly how things should have been done.

panoramica alberto scala Despite all the problems of the site – including the problematic height of the stairs – we  were finally able to fit everything in a perfect way. All the cables behind the wall panelings, the air conditioning diffusers perfectly aligned with the ceilings and the furniture, impressive handmade wooden details on the new brand wall… dettaglio

Have you seen the brand wall, do you recognize it ? We designed this pattern for the first time for the facade of the Corneliani flagship in Shanghai reinventing it from the famous Mantegna‘s fresco of the “Camera degli Sposi” at Palazzo Ducale in Mantua.

After that, Corneliani decided to use it in his next winter collection and soon it became the new Corneliani brand pattern, also for the strong bond with the cultural heritage of Mantua, where the company is located. In Milan, you can find the brand wall in front of the entrance doors. It is built by backlit ebony circles and iron bracelets fixed on a chessboard of leather panels decorated by special drawstrings sewed on its backside (produced by our friend Berto Salotti in record time for us!). Please take a look at the impressive details of the ebony frame junction: we must thank our master carpenter Alberto for making them with such a loving care! brand wall The opening day was scheduled for the first week of September, but we were ready almost a week ahead! The Corneliani Creative Director – Mr. Sergio Corneliani in person – opened the doors of his renovated Montenapoleone store on Monday September 1st and, while doing so, was perfectly aware about the key figure to credit for such a perfect job: his trustworthy architect Paolo Ponti! foto finale

“God is in details”… maybe even in the details of the work of our artisans

Listening to the sayings, many things are hidden into details.

We are talking about the more or less common proverbs “the devil is in details” (of uncertain origin, it seems the favourite motto for a pop musician), “God is in details” (attributed to Mies Van der Rohe, but also Gustave Flaubert and Michealangelo), “difference is in details”, “beauty is in details” and so on.

In Ermes Ponti, what we put in details is certainly a remarkable amount of effort and attention.

We are real maniacs for details as we believe that the beauty and the validity of the whole – of an environment as of an object – is the sum of many harmonic perfect details.

Some examples?

The panel below is a “martyr” panel, used to hold another panel which has to be shaped by the numerical control machine.

The “P” is then coated in clear micro fiber and matched to form the accessory that holds belts in a men’s fashion boutique.

Ermes Ponti bespoke interiors

ermes ponti retail design

Another one: this wall paneling with stylish frames in burnished brass will frame mirrors leather-covered… because Ermes Ponti not only works with wood, but also with high quality leather!

ermes-ponti-bespoke-interiors-1

ermes ponti leather paneling

One more, the closeness between the design stage and the production stage enables some creative sparks like this. Do you like it?

It’s a tattoo on wood, we called it Wood Tattoo and it’s a creation as part of a “business” work, the interior design is our brand for a retail fashion industry.

It’s an oak wood on which it’s apllied an adhesive before being finally treated with a pickeld effect.

So, when we say “end to end process”, it’s not theory, but daily practice! Even better, it’s the Ponti method.

Tatuaggio su legno, by ermes ponti

lavoro artigiano by ermes ponti: tatuaggio su legno

 

Our company bears this man’s name. An interview with Mr. Ermes Ponti.

We start today an open conversation with Mr. Ermes Ponti, the man whose name is also the company name.

His presence is always discreet, but nevertheless clearly perceived, more through actions than words, especially towards the young people in our company.Mr Ermes Ponti, of Ermes Ponti bespoke interiors (Italy)

For whoever works in the manufacturing industry, as we do, the generations who opened the way to our crafting activities are a constant reminder of technical abilities and approach to entrepreneurship, elements of our everyday life.

But now let’s hear from Mr. Ermes Ponti.

– Mr. Ermes, how did the company begin its activity?

Ermes Ponti – 

 – It all started on the banks of the Po river, in a small town right outside Mantua, San Giacomo Po.

At the end of the ’30s, my father bought the first machines to start a carpenter shop; the story goes that he rode his bicycle to Milan, and when the trucks with the machinery arrived in our village everyone came out of their homes, thinking the new bells for the church had arrived!

 – How did the carpenter shop grow, later on?

Ermes Ponti – A few years after the end of the war , the shop moved to San Biagio, where we are now, inside an old power powerhouse. We were an industrial company at that point, many people knew us for the modern furniture we would propose, something none around here did at the time.

Mr Ermes Ponti, of Ermes Ponti end-to-end interiors (Mantua - Italy)In 1957 we have been the first ones in Italy to be able to put polyester paint on furniture, getting the idea from a car hood someone showed us.

On April 12th – I still remember the exact date – we showed it at the Milan Fair, and it was a huge success. For many years after that we developed projects derived from the new polyester paint, which is still in use, by the way.

When the ’60s came by, it came my time to join the family company.

We decided to call a great architect, someone who could design new collections for us. I sat down with my wife Gabriella – to whom the Gabriella chair is dedicated – and wrote a letter to Mr. Gio Ponti, with whom we started immediately a long collaboration.

Mr. Gio Ponti designed for us a brand new furniture collection, based on an innovative home concept: the Apta series.

Unforgettable times: Gio Ponti has been for me a true role model.

– When did the company the company headquarters took the actual shape?

Ermes Ponti – It was in the ’70s, when we broadened the premises and built the actual laboratory; in that period we got important assignments, mostly very big hotels and private villas.

– With which important brands did you get involved?

Ermes Ponti – We worked with many, crafting high quality pieces designed by the most famous architects, one name for all: Driade.

–  Does this mean you specialized in design?

Not really, we specialized in… well done jobs.

Later on – mid ‘ 90s – we got in touch with the fashion industry, with the MonteNapoleone Corneliani boutique, in Milan.

After my son Paolo and his wife Daniela, both graduated in Architecture in Florence, joined the company, Corneliani offered us the chance to work on the first projects of integrated design; initially a small showroom in Paris, then a boutique in Russia, and so on… until they decided to rely on us for the entire London New Bond Street project, and Milan Montenapoleone project.

To this date we have realized over 50 Corneliani shops all over the world.

– In the recent years, which have been the main projects?

In the last ten years we have worked mainly with fashion industry, designing and building great flagship stores, both mono-brand and multi-brand, worldwide.

The whole process – from the very first idea to the turnkey realization – is managed by us, and guarantees the client a constant reduction of resources employed, optimizing the whole project in terms of:

  • functionality
  • architectural aesthetics
  • handicraft furniture quality (drawings, samples etc.)

Thanks to this new integrated method of design and building, we have acquired important assignments in luxury retail and top brand yachting.

– The yachting industry: everybody says that it has been hit badly by the economic crisis…

Ermes Ponti – It’s true, but – as strange as it may seem – the hard times have pushed many people towards our company.

When we approached this industry, a few years ago, the crisis was already at its worst… but our method helped reduce consistently the resources needed to complete a project.

For instance, we have been able to cut by 50% the delivery schedule of a 94-feet boat, by reinterpreting the drawings and optimizing the building times.

– Crisis as opportunity, then?

Ermes Ponti – The crisis has taught a lot to us.

It asked us to evolve, by diminuishing time and costs, and increase quality.

My son Paolo has been working in this direction for 10 years now, putting into practice many equally important elements: his architectural culture, his practical and organizational intelligence, the passion for his work, the commitment to his community, the daily sacrifice.

I think that these are the values of the “small” Italian companies, something that have made “great” the Made in Italy in the world.

Personally, I think that such values are still relevant, and maybe the economic crisis has helped us to re-discover them.