A&W Designer of the Year 2012 : goes to Milan-based Patricia Urquiola from Spain

There is virtually nothing that she has not designed yet: from a sofa to a tap, from a stool to a lamp, from the bathroom to the bedroom – she created a whole universe of unique furniture and living accessories, all bearing her special handwriting and style. A&W visited the Spanish citizen and 2012-award winner in her hometown-of-choice Milan and created a portrait of her design in an unusual context.

Urquiola's studio itself is located in a former warehouse on Via Seneca, a quiet street. The designer’s working desk is located in a surprisingly bright basement (“no computer mind you! To me, working is discussion, interaction”), next to the desk of her husband and manager Alberto Zontone (with a computer this time). In between: furniture and design magazines, prototypes, models, successful designs, two Eames chairs.

As far as the 'Salone del Mobile' – the largest furniture fair in Milan – is concerned, one can easily come to the conclusion that the fair has been nothing more than a celebration of Patricia-Urquiolo in the last couple of years, the rest is just a mere decorative addendum on the side. She designed booths for manufacturers such as Moroso (not without contributing a handful of furniture designs to the current assortment herself), just completed the most important new release of B&B Italia, shows plastic chairs at Kartell, carpets at Paola Lenti, lamps at Flos, an outdoor range at B&B Italia – Urquiola is omnipresent.

Patricia Urquiola: “Furniture pieces are the tools for living, life itself. They have to be fun.” Well put indeed. For the magazine's full interview with the designer go to their website.

A&W (Architecture & Living) has been awarding the A&W designer of the year award since 1997 and dedicates a large exhibition to the winner, designed according to the respective designer's own ideas. The exhibition takes place parallel to the Cologne Furniture fair IMM.

Patricia Urquiola's exhibition is on show at the Alten Pfandhaus, Kartäuserwall 20, 50678 Cologne, from the 16th – 22nd of January 2012, 11am–8pm. As part of the exhibition, the award-winner nominates a design talent for the Audi-mentor award by A&W. This year, the newcomer award goes to Benjamin Hubert from London.