Design

Stories from the road
October 4, 2018
Ferrara, Italy

Italians are known for being good designers. Think about Gucci, Armani, Versace, Prada, Bvlgari, and Ferragamo. In the car area how about Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, and Lancia. Vespa scooters with their simple elegance have been around a long time.

The Italians also do a wonderful job with space. I am always amazed at how they can take a little space for a shop and make it look inviting through presentation and color. The smallest meat or gelato shop typically has an alluring, boutique feel to it. They make a closet look like a ballroom.

The cities and towns themselves are engineered creatively around space. Large and small squares can be found in many cities. They bring people out to talk, eat, and drink espresso. Often if you pass a home and look carefully, you’ll see a driveway which leads to an inner courtyard. Frequently these interior spaces contain beautiful gardens and are in sharp contrast to the concrete acreage just yards away.

The Italians also create functional uses of space. A sidewalk can quickly become an extension of a restaurant or a parking lot. The usual zoning laws we have in the states seem to be absent here or not enforced.

Food is a whole other area. Not only is the food great in Italy, but the chefs present it in artistically pleasing ways. Sometimes I don’t want to wreck a culinary design by eating it. The use of color is paramount in preparing a plate. A breakfast buffet is like walking through a fine garden!