On the occasion of the 15th edition of the Florence Biennale, scheduled from 18 to 26 October at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence, Patricia Urquiola – architect, designer and art director of the Cassina company – presents the exhibition Transitions, an installation that reflects the heart of her design method. The exhibition, within a dedicated exclusive space, guides the public on a journey between form, function and emotion, inviting them to cross space and matter, to grasp their essence and imagine new possibilities. The exhibition is defined through a semi-transparent wall, built from recycled fir wood and polycarbonate. A filter that allows a glimpse of the structure and invites us to change perspective, to grasp connections that emerge only by moving in space. The pieces on display are presented as stages of a research that crosses materials, forms and processes. Each one arises from the curiosity to experiment and from the constant dialogue with clients with whom Urquiola has collaborated for years, intertwining industrial techniques and artisanal gestures, innovation and memory. Among his creations on display, the Mon-Cloud armchair for Cassina stands out, which reinterprets the concept of hospitality with soft shapes and particular attention to circularity. Composed of a metal skeleton wrapped in recycled polyester fiber padding and soft recycled polyester cushions, Mon-Cloud is the result of a design approach focused on the theme of circularity. Thanks to experimentation with innovative materials, the use of polyurethane has been reduced to a minimum, limiting itself to inserts in CIRCULARREFOAM®, made with a percentage of recycled polyols. Furthermore, no part is glued: the armchair can be 99.85% disassembled, promoting the recovery and recycling of materials at the end of their life. Alongside these presences that will enrich the context of the Florence Biennale, Gruuvelot for Moroso is also included, a modular system that behaves like an organism in transformation. The organic volumes and freedom of configuration amplify the sensorial and symbiotic component: the surfaces do not limit themselves to welcoming, but seem to grow and adapt, as if the object itself were constantly changing. This metamorphosis is also reflected in the coatings, made with a water-based printing technique that reduces water consumption by 90% and greenhouse gas emissions by 80% compared to traditional processes. The Vieques tub for Agape also finds space in the itinerary, born from an architectural project on the Caribbean islands. From an element designed for a specific place it has become a product, keeping that memory alive. The object takes the image of the old tubs, with the enamelled metal structure wrapped in iroko wood slats, and reinterprets it in a contemporary key, transforming a familiar archetype into an essential and timeless object. If Mon-Cloud recounts a decisive design advancement for the furniture sector, thanks to its material and construction innovation, Mutina's Mater surfaces address the same theme through ceramics: glazed relief tiles in which each piece brings with it slight variations, traces of the manual process that become an integral part of the product, making the material alive, unique and never repetitive. Finally, the Babar table for Glas Italia takes the theme of transformation to a radical level: 100% recycled glass is reassembled into a new and organic material, obtained from glass grit and vegetable resins. In this contrast between natural and artificial, between randomness and design, Babar finds his expressive strength: each piece is unique, with irregular surfaces and colors that change with the light, generating ever-changing landscapes. In addition to the pieces already mentioned, other works created by Urquiola for companies such as Andreu World, B&B Italia, Bitossi, Budri, CC-Tapis, EDIT Napoli, Flos, Kartell and Kettal will also be exhibited inside the Fortezza da Basso. We remind you that on Thursday 23 October at 5.00 pm, in the theater area of ​​the Florence Biennale (Spadolini Pavilion, Fortezza da Basso, Florence), Patricia Urquiola will receive the "Leonardo da Vinci" International Lifetime Achievement Award (Design), in recognition of her exceptional contribution to contemporary design. The awards ceremony will take place in the presence of the designer, as part of a special event. PATRICIA URQUIOLA: BIOGRAPHY
Trained at the Polytechnic University of Madrid and Milan, where she graduated with Achille Castiglioni, today Patricia Urquiola works with great versatility in fields ranging from product design to architecture, from graphic design to interiors. Since 2015 he has been Art Director of Cassina and collaborates with important design companies such as Flos, Moroso, Driade, GAN, Andreu World, Glas Italia, Kartell, Kettal, Kvadrat and international groups such as, among others, Haworth, BMW, Boeing, Louis Vuitton, Missoni, Mandarin Oriental Hotels, Four Seasons, Marriott Group, Starbucks, Ferrari and Swarovski. In Spain she was awarded the Gold Medal of Fine Arts and the Cross of Isabella the Catholic. In 2023 she received the distinction as one of the new Honorary Ambassadors of Marca España. In 2024 she was named a member of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. In the same year, she was awarded the title of Knight of the Republic by the President of the Italian Republic in recognition of her merits. In 2025,Patricia Urquiola received the National Design Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and University. Awarded with numerous international awards and recognitions, Patricia Urquiola was named Designer of the Year by Wallpaper, Elle Décor International, AD Spagna, Architektur&Wohnen and many other publications. His creations are part of the permanent collections of some of the most important museums in the world including the MoMa in New York, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, the Museo della Triennale in Milan, the Museum of Design in Munich, the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, the Vitra Design Museum in Basel, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the Design Museum in Zurich, the Stedelijk Museum of modern and contemporary art in Amsterdam, the Design Museum in Barcelona and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. For more information on the program of the 15th edition of the Florence Biennale visit the website https: //www. Florencebiennale. Org/