The Interview: Fabrizio Casiraghi

THE INTERVIEW | MASTERS & MUSES | CABANA MAGAZINE

With his elegant aesthetic, bold use of color and focus on craftsmanship, Italian architect Fabrizio Casiraghi is making waves in the design world. He sits down with Cabana to share his favorite (and least favorite) interiors, his guiltiest pleasures, go-to recipes and greatest challenges, along with the best advice he’s ever been given and why Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is his dream dinner companion.

INTERVIEW BY CAMILLA FRANCES | MASTERS & MUSES | 26 MARCH 2024

An apartment in Paris designed by Fabrizio Casiraghi @ Romain Laprade

The most memorable trip I've taken:

As I reflect on this question, the most recent trips I've taken, particularly those tied to architectural vision, immediately come to mind. However, truthfully, the most memorable journey dates back to my early childhood, when I was around six years old. My parents decided to take me on my first long distance voyage, outside of Italy and Europe, we travelled to Kenya, to a small village with a view of Mount Kilimanjaro. It was an extraordinary experience, my first encounter with a vastly different culture. My senses were overwhelmed by the newness of everything—the colours, sounds, tastes, and smells. While I was old enough to consciously observe my environment, I had yet to form judgments, allowing me to absorb information with pure curiosity. I still remember the colors I saw, the fabrics I touched. This journey marked the first time I found inspiration in a culture beyond my own. 

The best party I’ve ever been to:

I know this might sound corny, but I have to say my own wedding. The atmosphere and universe created was very special to me, and my husband. Everything was very discreet, authentic, honest and charming yet exuded generosity. We didn't aim to fill the entire church with flowers; instead, we opted for one exquisite bouquet as the centerpiece. Each song performed was carefully chosen by us. The dinner and reception took place between two rows of cypress trees in the garden of a villa belonging to a dear friend just on the outskirts of Florence, Italy. The long dining table with wooden chairs and white napkins, nestled between the cypress trees, created an Italian cinematic atmosphere. The party itself was held inside a tent sourced from India, adorned with embroidered fabrics and soft pastel colours against a backdrop of white fabric.We enlisted the services of a DJ we discovered together at one of my favorite bars, an architectural masterpiece "American Bar by Adolf Loos" in Vienna. She is a talented young woman, an incredible DJ, and we enjoyed her music so much that we immediately asked her to play at our wedding.

A moment that defined or changed my career: 

Eight years ago, I found myself in Milan, at one of my favorite bars, Bar Basso, drinking numerous spritz with the person who would later became my agent. It was someone I already knew, having previously worked together at the studio where I was employed. We spoke about aesthetics, objects, the future, before informally deciding to work together. This moment marked a turning point for me. Previously trained as an architect, I had transitioned into interior design, experimenting with roles in various agencies, volunteering at Villa Necchi, and navigating through a series of seemingly random events. However, on that particular night at Bar Basso, everything seemed to align and fall into place. It was then that it finally became clear to me what I wanted from the future. I relocated to Paris, established my own studio, and started sharing the creative visions and aesthetics that had always resonated with me. 

The greatest challenge I’ve overcome: 

For every architect, I believe the greatest challenge lies not only in establishing an artist's studio or atelier but in building a fully developed company, with financial management, team coordination, salaries, rent considerations, and future planning. It involves aspects of management that were often overlooked in our architectural education. Over the course of eight years, I have learned how to manage a team of 20 people, and I aim to maintain this team size, to preserve the intimate atmosphere of our studio. Bringing my studio to its current state has been more than just about pursuing beautiful projects; it has involved addressing both major and minor aspects of running a company on a daily basis. This includes handling personal matters, HR issues, team dynamics, project planning, client relations, as well as deciding which projects to pursue and which to pass on. Ultimately, it all comes down to effective management.

An apartment in Paris designed by Fabrizio Casiraghi @ Romain Laprade  

My proudest achievement:

Every time a project is completed and published, I feel a great sense of pride. Even when a client's initial vision seems not to align perfectly with my own, through open dialogue, we always manage to create something new together. Seeing the client delighted with the final result brings me immense joy, and I am proud to showcase and discuss the project, each time. I have never compromised my aesthetics or the studio's values for for lucrative opportunities. I see clients as challenges that might push me further, make me see things from different angles, make me reflect on paths I haven’t explored yet. My proudest achievement is having established this studio, where with each project's completion, I take much pride in our work.

An object I would never part with:

The small travertine table in our office holds the entire history of my studio. When I first moved to Paris, my apartment in the Marais was charming but small, and all I had was my computer for work. I needed a sturdy table made of a beautiful noble material, it needed to be well-designed and serve as a daily reminder of the quality of work I aspired to produce. So, I went to the market at St Ouen in the north of Paris and found this Italian travertine table from the 1950s. It has a polygonal shape, simple yet elegant, with a beautiful detail—a small molding around the edges. This table has accompanied me through all my apartments, from the early days of working alone to the growth of our studio. Even now, as our studio has expanded, I still treasure it dearly. It symbolises the importance of quality, stability, comfort, and solidity in our everyday work, regardless of the context.

The best gift I ever received:

My grandmother had Austro-Hungarian origins, and before she passed away, she told me that the brooch she always carried around - an Austrian eagle in bronze on mother-of-pearl - she had received from her grandmother. She became very sick very suddenly and passed away. When emptying her apartment, my parents donated many things to the church. Unfortunately, in the midst of this chaos, this brooch was lost. My grandmother intended for me to inherit it, cherish it and pass it onto future generations. The thought never let me go. One day, while celebrating my birthday for the first time with my now-husband, Fortuné, he gave me a box. I opened it, and inside were Austrian jacket buttons with bronze eagles on them. I was astonished. I had only shared this story with him once, but he immediately understood the value of what this brooch meant to me. Now, every time I look at these buttons, they not only remind me of my grandmother but also of my husband: two people who unfortunately never got to meet each other, but together gave me the most beautiful gift I ever received.

My guiltiest pleasure or greatest extravagance: 

I have a profound curiosity about wine. I thrive on experimentation and I'm drawn to wines with an unfamiliar or eccentric character. Much like people, wines can be likened to old friends or new acquaintances. Classic Bordeaux, for instance, is like a long-standing companion - reliable and comforting. The challenge lies in surrounding oneself with a diverse group of friends, each with their own unique perspectives and ideas, much like exploring a variety of wines. While a Riesling or Saint-Emilion may serve as a solid foundation, life is about venturing into the unknown. I'm always eager to discover wines that surprise me, much like encountering new people.

My next weekend-away destination: 

Cortina, Italy — all the ingredients I seek for the perfect weekend-away — the mountains, ski, sauna, the company of close friends, great food and the sober charm of the Italian Dolomites. 

I would describe my childhood as: 

Serene. I grew up in a classic 'petite bourgeoisie' family in Milan, it was a very reassuring upbringing. My father worked for a major Italian newspaper, my grandfather was a politician, my mother worked at a university in Milan, also sharing a keen interest in politics. There were always lively discussions and exchanges at home, not only about politics but also about values, life, and everything in between. This upbringing fostered my open minded approach to discussions; for me, it is essential to exchange points of view, ideas, and opinions. The people who have different points of view from your own are the ones who will help you grow the most.

My favourite flea market or antiques fair: 

1stDibs - I'm not a big fan of technology, but the allure of sitting on your own couch at home and opening up the most beautiful galleries of the world all at once. 

I feel most confident when wearing: 

Loro Piana, there I said it, with a vintage Loden in winter and Furlane in summer. 

My signature scent: 

Incenso Delle Chiese Di Roma by Essenzialmente, the scent of a Roman Church, from the fantastic nose of Laura Bosetti Tonatto. It reminds me of my childhood.  

My go-to recipe: 

Risotto alla Milanese, a recipe that has been passed down for generations in my family. While my mother never cooked for us, whenever my very busy father took the time to cook for us, he would make this extraordinary Risotto alla Milanese. His trick: to give the broth directly to the solid rice, to let it absorb the full aroma.

The best advice I’ve ever been given: 

My mother always said that no matter what you do in life, the most important thing is to define for yourself what excellence means and strive for it. This doesn't imply that you should compete with others, but rather with yourself, no matter the profession.

My all-time favourite fabric: 

Aïssa Dione. She is Senegalese-French and a true magician of fabrics in my eyes. She founded her Atelier in Senegal, where traditionally men only work in the production of fabrics, much different from other cultures. The fabrics have ethnic characteristics but are at the same time contemporary. It's difficult to determine their origins, and I think that's the beauty of it.

The person I call for good advice: 

My husband, he always balances me out. When I get too excited too quickly and  lose sight of rationality, he calms me down, whereas when I fail to feel enthusiasm and overlook things I should be noticing, he opens my eyes and I do the same with him.  

The person I call for a good time: 

My best friend, Marco. He is a surgeon from Venice who lives in Paris, we have very different interests and daily routines. I try to find a perfect fabric for a certain project, while he is saving lives in the operating room listening to Rock music. At the end of the day we laugh on the phone and de-dramatize our problems, which as a true Milanese, is the most important thing in life.   

My dream dinner party companion: 

Margrethe II of Denmark. She worked as a scenographer, costume designer and illustrator, her universe intrigues me. She reigned for 52 years and I am sure compared to other long reigning monarchs like Queen Elizabeth II, Margrethe II would spill all the tea over dinner. 

An Artwork or exhibition that took my breath away: 

Any Lucio Fontana artwork. He masters the power of simplicity and sobriety. He doesn’t give it all away at the first glance, you need to look twice to appreciate its incredible beauty, much like the city of Milan.

Ideal Interiors in three words: 

Elegant, timeless, comfortable. 

Distasteful interiors in three words:

Minimalistic, ostentatious , expected.

A new artist or designer whose work excites me: 

Wendy Artin. For me beauty is always reflecting in a dialogue between the old and the contemporary.  Her watercolor paintings of human bodies who almost seems like the shadow of their own, in their very aesthetically classical poses, for me this is the beauty in the contemporary art.

Hotel la Ponche, Saint Tropez, designed by Fabrizio Casiraghi © Romain Laprade

Just One More Thing...

One master: Josef Hoffmann

One muse: Giulia Maria Mozzoni Crespi

One city: Vienna

One artwork: Ballo sul Fiume, Giuseppe Capogrossi

One book: The Lost Language of Cranes, David Leavitt

One museum: Neue Galerie in New York

One shop: Le Tre Sarte, Rome

One song: Walk on the Wild Side, Lou Reed 

One colour: Green 

One flower: Lily 

One word to describe your style: Effortless 

One word to describe Cabana: Timeless

- - - - - - - - - -

CABANA N21: 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

Fabrizio Casiraghi is a key contributor in Cabana Issue 21, the birthday issue. To read more about Fabrizio Casiraghi's work, and see more of his projects, order your copy of Cabana Issue 21.