How do you transform furniture into art while addressing the evolving needs of a sophisticated global market? Emanuel Colombini, president and chief design officer of the Colombini Group, shares insights into Febal Casa’s groundbreaking collaboration with the renowned Zaha Hadid Architects. At the heart of this partnership lies the ONDA collection — a stunning fusion of architectural innovation and nature-inspired design that captures the rhythmic beauty of the Adriatic.
From redefining manufacturing excellence to shaping sensory experiences, Colombini charts the strategic and creative journey behind the collection and reveals how such collaborations set the tone for Febal Casa’s future in the international market.
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Fairchild Studio: How does the collaboration with Zaha Hadid Architects align with Febal Casa’s long-term strategic goals and how do you envision it influencing the company’s direction in the international market?
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Emanuel Colombini: The collaboration with Zaha Hadid Architects fits perfectly within our long-term vision, which is to establish Febal Casa as a global benchmark in high-end furniture. Working with a firm of such caliber has strengthened our identity, bringing a distinctive architectural approach into our production process while making it scalable on an international level.
The ONDA project is a tangible expression of this synergy. More than just a design concept, it showcases Febal Casa’s ability to anticipate industry trends by focusing on innovation, manufacturing excellence and a strategic vision with the potential to make a meaningful impact on the global market.
Fairchild Studio: The ONDA collection emphasizes a blend of nature and design. How did this concept originate, and what were the key challenges in transforming this idea into tangible products?
E.C.: Our design approach, meticulous in detail and rooted in functionality, came together with the vision of Zaha Hadid Architects, a firm renowned for translating the fluidity of nature into organic, dynamic forms. It’s where two worlds come together: the precision of design, and architecture that transcends static boundaries.
Nature is our primary inspiration. The wave that inspired this project is that of the Adriatic, characterized by a fluid, continuous motion shaped by the contours of the seabed. We wanted to capture this essence and translate it into a design element capable of evoking harmony, elegance and a sense of well-being within living spaces.
This inspiration emerges in a collection that introduces a new stylistic dimension, where every line is designed to convey balance and sophistication. With the ONDA collection, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, Febal Casa thus reimagines home design, infusing everyday living with the beauty of movement and the dynamic nature of form.
Fairchild Studio: In terms of design and functionality, how does the ONDA collection address the evolving needs and preferences of your target market?
E.C.: Design is never an end in itself. Now more than ever, design must go beyond aesthetics, creating products that resonate emotionally and respond to an increasingly global and sophisticated market.
This project is a perfect synthesis of design and industry. Our production capacity is what transforms an iconic piece into a product ready for the global market, optimised to interact with a holistic approach to spatial design, without foregoing the identity of the original concept.
Thanks to innovation and our expertise, ONDA is the perfect balance between form and function, between vision and tangible results.
Fairchild Studio: Can you discuss the importance of material and light in the design philosophy of the ONDA collection and how these elements contribute to the sensory experience of the end user?
E.C.: This project has transformed classically shaped elements into fluid, dynamic surfaces that interact with light and space in a completely new way, offering a unique sensory experience that transcends the static nature of traditional furniture.
As I mentioned, the inspiration comes from the low, flowing ripples shaped by the sandy seabeds along the eastern coasts of our peninsula. This softness, this natural rhythm is what we sought to capture and translate into a collection that goes beyond mere functionality, bringing with it a sense of pure emotion. Because at its core, design is just that: a narrative, a feeling, an invitation to experience space in a new way.
The sculpted forms of ONDA transform matter into movement, giving life to a collection where light and spatial perception become an integral part of the design. Glass surfaces, traversed by gentle waves, evoke the depth of water and its ever-changing reflections, offering a constantly evolving visual expression.
Fairchild Studio: Looking toward the future, how does Febal Casa plan to innovate while maintaining the balance between aesthetic appeal and functional utility in its offerings? What role will partnerships like the one with Zaha Hadid Architects play in these developments?
E.C.: Febal Casa has always worked with a clear vision: design, innovation and craftsmanship.
Collaborating with internationally renowned architectural firms allows us to take this approach even further, blending our culture of precision and attention to detail with a design language that, as in this case, draws inspiration from the organic beauty of nature.
Partnerships of this caliber are incredibly important to us and are made possible by the perfect balance between cutting-edge research and manufacturing excellence. Our industrial expertise allows us to optimise even the most complex designs, preserving their integrity while effectively adapting them to the demands of international markets.
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