Material-driven design: Monostudio’s path to sustainable interiors

Monostudio weaves interior design and material research together to tackle environmental challenges, focusing on sensory experiences and well-being through evocative, material-driven design.

In this 7th episode of our Behind video series, we explored the work of Monostudio, a Milan-based interior design firm founded by Elise Evaso and Luca Guglieri in 2005. Seeking new ways to address the ongoing environmental challenges, the studio broadened its focus in 2020 by integrating material development and research into its practice.

This evolution gave rise to Monoferments, a parallel initiative that focuses on experimenting with discarded materials, rather than immediately introducing cutting-edge innovations into client projects. The intention behind this venture was to craft a palette of natural, biophilic, and circular materials, embodying Monostudio’s conviction that incorporating waste into the design process has become indispensable in contemporary practice.

Material experimentation has always been a cornerstone of Monostudio’s approach, where the emphasis on sensory interactions between materials and human experience reflects their ongoing commitment to promoting well-being in interior spaces. Following an open call to Italian companies, which invited them to contribute material scraps, Monostudio has since used these discarded elements as the starting point for numerous design explorations.

Their material-driven design philosophy allows the materials themselves to dictate the creative process, guiding each stage of development and fostering a dynamic relationship between the studio and the raw materials they work with. This methodology, which is both experimental and rooted in a primitive sensibility, involves the creation of custom recipes and a continuous series of tests that gradually reveal when to proceed and when to pause in the transformation of these materials.

Beyond technical exploration, the designers immerse themselves in a deeply sensory engagement with the materials, using their senses to touch, smell, and imagine the potential for innovative applications in future design projects. Monostudio consistently places well-being at the core of its design philosophy, believing that interior spaces should not only provide comfort but also establish a profound connection between individuals and the natural world.

Their research into the use of natural, tactile materials aims to evoke strong sensory experiences, grounding users within their environments in a way that is both physical and emotional. Through this empirical and material-driven approach, Monostudio consistently produces designs that are unique in form and texture, blending functionality with emotional depth while demonstrating the studio’s dedication to sustainability and its distinctively evocative design language.

Collaborating closely with local artisans, such as ceramic furnaces, the studio integrates traditional craftsmanship with modern design principles. Using elemental processes like burning and glazing, they craft materials that are both grounded in nature and innovative in their application, reinforcing the intricate relationship between design, the environment, and human well-being.