Officine Gualandi: colourful ceramics and design made in Rome

Hidden away in the residential neighbourhood of Monte Mario lies a small workshop filled with colourful, ceramic beads, accessories and objects. Here, designers Tania and Renato surround themselves with upbeat furniture projects and statement accessories. Together with other artisans, they want to brighten up the areas outside of Rome’s city centre.

Officine Gualandi – ceramics and independent design
Via Alessandro Avoli 2b | Rome
3276157040

Mo – Sa | 10:00 – 13.30 and 16.00 – 20.00

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Designers Tania and Renato receive me with a warm welcome as I enter their light and modern studio in Monte Mario, Rome. Tania is working on her laptop at the wooden table in the middle of the room, while in the back, Renato is realizing a ceramic sculpture by hand. He’s working on a piggy bank in the shape of an imaginary animal. “We were inspired by the Salvabestiari, books from the Middle Ages that describe animals that lived between the real world and the imaginary,” Tania explains. “Based on that idea, we created these fantasy monsters that guard your savings.” Every piece is unique: Renato adds the different shapes and forms to the ‘body’ of the monster by hand before enameling it in a beautiful, bright colour.

A new start

The Gualandis started their design studio in 2012 from their garage. At the beginning of their creative collaboration, they still had fulltime jobs: Tania in the organization of events and exhibitions and Renato in industrial design. But they felt like a new kind of challenge. “Even if I have to work harder for it, I prefer to build towards a future for myself, creating products that I believe in,” explains Renato. He convinced Tania to join him. “It’s actually quite romantic,” she smiles. “When we got together twenty years ago, we already promised each other that one day, we would create something together.”

Thousands of ideas, one style

Renato and Tania started Officine Gualandi as a furniture design studio, realizing projects such as wooden tables and the colourful, wooden Phos lamp, inspired by old photo cameras, that can direct the light in different directions. They started incorporating ceramics into their work as well. “We don’t want to limit ourselves to one product. Instead, we propose a certain style that is the common thread in all of our designs,” the couple explains. That style can best be described as a bold mix of materials and colours with maxi shapes in a minimal, geometrical style counterposed by natural materials like ceramics.

The Gualandis use a combination of traditional and modern techniques: for instance, the moulds that are used to realise the ceramic shapes are 3D-printed, but all ceramic elements are finished and coloured by hand. “You’re never done learning about this technique,” says Renato. “It takes practice and a lot of experimentation. For instance, you never know how the colour is going to come out of the oven: it may completely change during the baking process.” Their big inspiration when it comes to ceramics? Architect and designer Ettore Sottsass, who was fascinated by the ceramic techniques used throughout history in cultures all over the world and created many colourful ceramic sculptures in the sixties.

Maxi accessories, minimal weight

The duo’s flagship product is their bright maxi necklace made of electronic wire and handmade, brightly coloured ceramic beads. Lovers of this bold style can adapt the necklace to their own taste by choosing their favourite combination of shapes and colours. I pick up one of the necklaces and am surprised by its lightness. That’s something typical of the work of the Gualandis: the opposition between what you see and what you feel. “I like seeing people’s faces when they’re attracted by the bold design and colours of our necklaces and decide to pick them up,” says Renato. “You can see the surprise in their eyes when they feel the necklace is not as heavy as you would expect at all.” Tania suspects people like the necklaces because they are an instant mood booster. “Ceramics put a smile on your face. It’s a warm, natural material.”

Made in Rome

From the first weekend of February, Officine Gualandi will open its doors to the public with an event that they call Le Manifatture Urbane. Besides their own product, they will offer the space of their workshop to 14 other local designers to show visitors the creativity of Rome’s artisans. Tania: “We want to make the neighbourhoods outside of the city centre more interesting, that’s why we decided to remain in this zone, where we’ve worked and lived for years.” The duo believes everyone should live, work and produce within their own territory. They want to show that even Rome may not be famous for its artisanal design, there are many interesting initiatives going on. They just hope Rome’s design lovers will take the effort of commuting to the Monte Mario area. I say: get out of your own neighbourhood for a change and make the trip. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by what Rome’s local design scene has to offer.

All images © 2020 Liza Karsemeijer