www.thedesignermagazine.com 39
One
of the leading product It is through his work with the in-house
designers from a country that design team at Gessi, however, that Rasulo
has become synonymous with world-class has conceived some of the best-selling
design, Prospero Rasulo of Italy has been products of the Gessi range.
working with the Gessi Design Studio to Rettangolo is an extensive collection
produce exclusive products for the bathroom featuring the J, T, L, XL, colour and Cascata
for more than 10 years. ranges totalling more than 300 products in
As part of his remit with the luxury a variety of configurations and finishes. The
Italian brassware brand, he has been Quadro, Ovale and, most recently, the brand
instrumental in conceptualising not only new Goccia range have been conceived by
some iconic brassware designs, but some Rasulo working to a creative brief from
of the characteristically plush Gessi stand Gessi and based on exhaustive research and
designs for the Cersaie Show. development into trends.
It is his experience from the early 1980s
as a set designer, painter and sculptor that BUYING INTO THE DREAM
gives him the ability to create stunning The Rasulo-designed ranges have proved
exhibition spaces. popular with a number of top resorts and
During the same period Rasulo was spas, including Guerlain Spa, the Town House
honing his design skills with the studio Galleria in Milan, Hotel Punta Tragara in Capri
Alchimia, where he collaborated with and the Baglioni Hotel in Dubai, as well as a
famous architect and designer Alessandro host of yachts and high-end private properties.
Mendini. This period culminated in the Rasulo’s creative role is seen as important
iconic Redesign and Banal Object (L’oggetto in helping Gessi to anticipate trends. This is
banale) exhibitions. illustrated most recently by the addition of
In 1987, he founded the Oxido Gallery Rettangolo XL to the range. The imaginative
of Design, Art and Architecture, whose and unusual sculpted design has been
mission was to combine purpose and created in a range of finishes including black
innovation in art. A collection of art-based and white, pre-empting the trend for such
furniture and objects was produced under colours to make a comeback in the bathroom.
the trademark Oxido Zoo. Gessi’s designs with Rasulo tend to be and valves becomes the focus of the space.
minimalist in style. They fit into a broader Customers buy into the dream of luxury and
DESIGN EXCELLENCE perception shift from, for example, a tap as perfection.”
Throughout his career, he has been involved a mere fitting to an object of art, aspiration Rasulo draws from a broad pool of
with cutting-edge cultural events such and decoration. ideas for his designs. “Inspiration is drawn
as ‘Sexy Design’, ‘Thrash Furniture’ and Rasulo says: “The philosophy is to look from many sources, including the purity
‘Arbitare con Arte’ (Living Artistically). These beyond the mere functionality of a product; and clarity of water itself, the catwalk, the
days, however, with a reputation for design it is more to understand the personality contemporary art world and many classic
excellence that stretches far afield, he works of the space for which its products are design references.”
as a successful industrial designer with intended and produce a conceptual look. Rasulo believes that to stay ahead, it is
leading Italian firms, which, as well as Gessi, Co-ordinating accessories, showers, taps, plus critical to innovate – whether technologically,
include Zanotta, Terzani, Glas and Rosenthal. the little extras such as body jets, wastes aesthetically or with processes and products. ➔
“DeSIGn IS THe ‘SOuL’ OF SuCCeSSFuL COMPAnIeS”
Gessi.indd 39 21/11/08 09:51:39
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