Responsible for the new face of the Rampoldi, unanimously acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic, we sat down with Piero Manara to discuss the magical architecture being created. Casamanara’s work is free of trends and is in keeping with the times, with balance, elegance and rigor. 

How do you define Casamanara?

PM: It’s a state of mind, which can be summed up by the desire to do the “right thing”. Elegance, discretion and listening are the pillars of our work. We live it every day, whether at the agency with all our employees, on the construction sites, or in our exchanges with our clients. This creates a special atmosphere that I define as “beauty” in the project.

And in terms of style?

PM: Not a style, but rather a way of working. We have the same relationship with our clients as a doctor has with his patients. This is a creative profession, but it is a long-term one, and we stay away from fashion and trends as much as possible. For the magic to work, our projects must make sense, remain relevant and provoke emotions.

Has the pandemic changed the demands and expectations of your customers?

PM: Our sites are mainly located in the south of France and Monaco, as well as in Paris, London and New York. Our clients’ demands have not fundamentally changed in two years; rather,  our proposals have evolved. In particular, we try to work locally whenever possible, both in terms of the craftsmen and the materials we use. It is obvious that if we install a marble bathroom, we start by finding local suppliers, in order to ensure consistency of style and an environmental approach. Our customers are totally in line with this approach.

You are considered a residential decorating specialist. Do you use the same work methods when you work on a restaurant or an office?

PM: Residential projects form the basis of our activity. When we deal with restaurants, stores or offices, we do so keeping in mind that these are more theatrical projects, where the staging of the human element knows fewer constraints. This personal touch is dear to us, we try to get away from the standards of commercial design.

You created a buzz in 2016 by reinventing the Rampoldi in Monaco. What was your guideline?

PM: The basic idea was based on a question, what is an Italian restaurant? We were inspired by the world of opera, as well as the architectural paintings of the brilliant Giorgio De Chirico, who was one of the founders of metaphysical painting. We wanted the result to be theatrical, so we designed the restaurant as an opera stage, with its backstage, and we equipped it with plaster bas-reliefs and coffered ceilings. I remember we had a lot of trouble finding the right balance between too much and not enough, because the wish was to realize a place with a soul, born “old” without looking like any other restaurant.

Your secret?

PM: Constantly questioning myself! The world is evolving, the real future issues go far beyond decoration and we will have to deal with issues that will affect urban planning and the environment in a broad sense. I couldn’t limit myself to interior design, which is why I went back to school three years ago and obtained a double master’s degree combining architecture and urban planning at the Ecole Spéciale d’Architecture, in Paris.

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