The power of craft: in conversation with AMDL CIRCLE and Pedrali

Photography: Filippo Romano and Ottavio Tomasini

This year Pedrali hits 60, celebrating through the inauguration of the Pedrali Pavilion designed by AMDL CIRCLE and Michele De Lucchi. Taking the form of a large, raised roof resting on solid wooden legs, the Pavilion finds it homes nestled next to the Italian manufacturer’s Headquarters in Bergamo.

“The need for Pedrali to create a temporary pavilion immediately led us to envision an “architecture with legs”, comments Angelo Micheli, AMDL CIRCLE’s managing director. “It would declare, through its form, the importance of constructing nomadic architecture easily transferable, to preserve the territory from new, often superfluous constructions.”

The rectangular Pavilion’s main structure consists of arched portals, connected to one another by horizontal beams, and is crafted in its entirety from PEFC-certified wood. “Wood is the best suited material to express the concept of temporariness in architecture,” says Micheli, “through its transformative process, including oxidation and natural ageing, it develops a character that enriches its emotional value, symbolising the very essence and evolution of life.” Housing two levels for exhibitions and events, a staircase doubles as tiered-seating, leading to the portico at the front – inspired by the loggias of ancient public buildings which were once at the centre of northern Italian towns.

Combining traditional artisan craftsmanship and product innovation, the structure has the capacity to be continuously renewed in the future, embracing the key themes that lie at the heart of the Italian company’s core values. We speak to Micheli and Pedrali CEO Monica Pedrali on the power of craft and designing for legacy.

Why is traditional artisanship worth preserving?

Angelo Micheli: Craftsmanship represents the domain in which architects and designers can freely experiment, supported by the extraordinary heritage of artisan culture. It embodies research and quality, the art of creating by hand, fostering a direct relationship with materials and what is produced, and signifying continual evolution. Craftsmanship breathes life into objects of profound artistic value, imbued with a human quality that industrial standardization cannot guarantee.

Monica Pedrali: In Udine, specifically in Manzano, where our wooden furniture manufacturing is located, we benefit from the expertise of individuals who know this material better than anyone else, an advantage dating back to 2005. Here, despite the use of state-of-the-art machinery, the selection of pieces, wood brushing, and surface preparation before painting are in the hands of experienced artisan professionals.

Starting from 2019, we began introducing chairs, armchairs, and sofas handwoven by skilled craftsmen – it can take between 4 to 8 hours to weave a chair. We have always supported the expertise of these artisan workers, and we convinced them to teach the younger generation this profession to preserve it and pass it down through the generations. Today, these products are highly successful, and we can only be proud of our contribution to safeguarding this craftsmanship that might otherwise have disappeared. We believe that one of the most important challenges for the future in the furniture industry is to transmit the heritage of Italian craftsmanship, protecting artisan activities.

How can craft be combined with modern innovation?

 AM: Craftsmanship can continue to be characterised by the high quality of its products, as a result of an ongoing curiosity towards technical possibilities, a deep-rooted humanistic sensitivity and a new focus on sustainability. Technological innovation can provide tools for an evolving craftsmanship that, by combining traditional techniques with technological advancements, succeeds in providing stimulation and human quality to products.

MP: Mario Pedrali started 60 years ago, driven by his passion and the desire to realize his dreams by producing wrought iron furniture. Now, the chair frames made of metal are cut using CNC machinery and welded by robots, alongside artisanal processes, such as the upholstery of the seats. Several products require unique fabrics, which is why the upholstery must be worked on, cut, and sewn manually by expert upholsterers. The automation of the factory has, in this way, supported craftsmanship, giving value to the work of individuals. Our company operates as an industry, but each order is custom-made, and every project includes finishes and customized product variations.

Innovation and technology are advancing, but it’s thanks to the people who contribute every day and put their expertise and craftsmanship at the company’s disposal that we create real added value.

How can we design for legacy?

AM: One must first think in anticipation of tomorrow’s needs and potential scenarios in an ever-changing world. Since 2018, we have been carrying out a research project on the future of architecture, the Earth Stations, a reflection on the design of architectural objects aimed at inspiring our minds and ways of interacting, fostering the enhancement of relationships between human beings and of man’s connection with nature to shape a gentle future.

MP: The challenge for the future will be to design spaces for people’s wellbeing and adapt to the rapidly changing market, driven by the speed of today’s society. This is possible through a continuous and constant exchange of ideas among the various players in the Pedrali Community: the product designers who collaborate with us to develop products, our technicians, craftsmen, suppliers who create machinery, and interior designers who plan spaces.

These exchanges and discussions take place within the factory, which, for us at Pedrali, symbolises a hub, a place where internal and external individuals come together, each bringing their own knowledge and experiences to generate new ideas, laying the groundwork for our future. I like to think that the Pedrali Pavilion can be used for this purpose in the future.

Find out more at pedrali.com/pedrali60