Dal caos all'armonia: il viaggio di Situér Milano nel design sostenibile

An irrepressible search for harmony in the apparent chaos of industrial materials is what characterizes Situér Milano, a young but already established brand in the Italian design landscape. Its distinctive signature? The ability to transform the simple act of bending metal instead of welding it into balanced and minimal furnishings, ready to be "situated" in any context. Founded less than three years ago, the brand has deep roots in the world of metalworking, inherited from Castellani, a Tuscan company specialized in the production of industrial shelving and metal furniture. The fundamental idea of bending metal "completely omitting the welding process" emerged from experiments conducted at the workshops of Castellani, a historic Italian producer of metal shelving. After a process of research and experimentation, a distinctive curvature, now patented, was developed, redefining the concept of industrial furniture: "In addition to bringing innovation from an aesthetic point of view, the normal perception of a boundary in an object has also been subverted, traditionally identified with a corner," explained Biagio Castellani and Federica Paoli, the two co-founders of the brand. "Through this process, a plastic boundary has been developed instead, which does not delimit the object but rather becomes an integral part of it." Initially focused on shelving, Situér reinterpreted the classic industrial product, making it hyper-simple, modular and versatile, enhanced by new colorful finishes. Its evolution has led to the creation of tubular steel and curved brass products, including the iconic coat rack, tables, stools, and other furnishings. All share essential aesthetics, industrial appeal, and multiple applications for use.

Situér Milano was born with a clear artistic vision, always starting from the raw material and know-how of the Castellani group but reinterpreting it towards new and more modern aesthetic directions. The "search for a perfect balance between aesthetics and function" is the guiding principle, with a total absence of superfluous decoration in favor of technicalities that translate into furnishings whose simplicity is only apparent, but in the folds and curves of the metal, in the dense colors that cover it, reveals its full thickness. Indeed, in the contemporary pieces of the brand, there are often references to the Bauhaus school and to the great female figures of design, such as Eileen Gray and Charlotte Perriand, not forgetting the masters of the twentieth century, always following the principle of "less is more." Situér's products are the direct result of an essential but rigorous brand philosophy, which includes the principles of modularity, flexibility, and customization derived from the historical activities of the Castellani families, as well as a strong industrial vibe ("How could it be otherwise for a brand that was born together with its products within the production of industrial furniture!," they note with a hint of amusement) as in the case of the shelving system proposed since 1990, constantly updated with the modern e-edition of 2020, which introduces new accessories while maintaining the same rational principles.

But there's more, as for Situér, aesthetics and ethics meet from the very beginning: the innovative "Situér fold" that eliminates the welding phase is not only a distinctive stylistic feature but represents the visible embodiment of the values upheld by the brand. "With this new process, CO2 emissions have been reduced by about 20%, energy consumption has been significantly reduced, and there is also a significant reduction in the duration of the production cycle," explained the founders. In developing their entire design language, they relied on the experience of three generations of managing the Castellani company, "from which we have treasured craftsmanship and know-how, the tradition in metalworking, and the principles of the production of industrial furniture." But implementing sustainability became part of the entire modus operandi of the brand, which strove to create "a circular economy model aimed at minimizing raw materials, consumption, and waste, creating reuse and recovery flows and maximizing the life of the product: in fact, 95% of the material used to produce the furnishings is either metal or wood, which are 100% recyclable. And about 95% of the disposed metal is reintroduced into the production cycle in the form of new artifacts. Almost all the rest of the waste is sent for recycling." Situér also offers a rental service for its furnishings, mainly for events and advertising campaigns, encouraging the product's life cycle and discouraging short-term custom production, thus reducing waste.

Looking to the future, Situér Milano aspires to expand as much as possible (but responsibly) worldwide. According to the founders, "the internationalization process that we have recently undertaken is already bringing some small satisfactions." Situér's design vision, summarized in the motto "a perfect balance between aesthetics and function," is destined to challenge geographical boundaries, offering everyone the opportunity to choose 100% made in Italy, sustainable, and affordable design furnishings. Situér's mission is clear: to combine the craftsmanship tradition of the past with the sustainable innovation of the future.