The project is made possible in collaboration with the French Academy in Rome, with the support of the Mobilier National
Fendi widens its design portfolio beyond just its iconic baguette bag. This month, the Italian luxury label gives a makeover to six historic Salons in Villa Medici in Rome. The project is made possible in collaboration with the French Academy in Rome, with the support of the Mobilier National.
The Villa Medici is the result of a historical stratification that gives it a unique architectural and decorative identity, beginning with the Renaissance and continuing through the centuries, right up to the work of the artist Balthus in the 1960s and 1970s and the designer and scenographer Richard Peduzzi in the early 2000s, both of whom took on the task of running the institution.
Led by Kim Jones and Silvia Venturini, Fendi’s artistic director of couture and womenswear artistic director of accessories and menswear, respectively, the restoration centers on color. The original tones of the wall painting have been a starting point in choosing the palette for each room, reflected in three custom-designed hand-knotted carpets with graduated shading and entirely crafted from recycled French wool. Completing the look of the salons is a selection of pieces by Italian designer Chiara Andreatti and by the French designers Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec and Toan Nguyen gives
Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance drew his inspiration from Rome’s distinctive shapes and materials: the outline of the umbrella pines appears in his “Borghese” table, which he adapted for the Salon des Pensionnaires, while the paving of the Via Appia Antica inspired the tables he created especially for the Salon de Lecture and the Salon Bleu. The “Virgola” chairs by Chiara Andreatti are present in the Salon Bleu and Salon de Lecture, while her “Welcome” sofa and armchairs for Fendi Casa decorate the Salon des Pensionnaires. Following the shade of the wall painting, the “Sandia” sofa designed by Toan Nguyen and produced by Fendi Casa is colored in a warm orange-rusty tone and is the protagonist of the Petit Salon. The “Belleville” armchairs, designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec and produced by Vitra, are given pride of place in the Grand Salon at Villa Medici.
This ensemble of new furniture will dialogue with pieces of heritage furniture chosen or transformed by Balthus, geometric lighting creations by Richard Peduzzi, and prints of 18th-century casts of classical works by former artists Fellows of the Academy, from its own collections. Meanwhile, Mobilier National brings several modern and contemporary tapestries, mostly by women artists, to Villa Medici.
Finally, this refurbishment was also an opportunity to upgrade the sound of the Villa Medici’s Salons with the partner Devialet, which drew on its expertise in cutting-edge acoustic engineering to create customized acoustic panels installed behind the tapestries of the Grand Salon in order to enhance the sound experience of the place without altering it.
“Fendi endorses its commitment toward the preservation of the artistic patrimony through this exclusive partnership and patronage, fuelling the Maison’s ever-lasting connection with the Eternal City, throughout the whole initiative, a major source of inspiration,” the label says.
Check out the new look of the salons at Villa Medici below:
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