Hospitality Design - September 2023 - 47

products profile
By Alia Akkam
Photos courtesy of nanimarquina
Doblecara by Ronan Bouroullec
creates a sense of movement
with subtle linear strokes
Haze by Begüm Cana Özgür
is inspired by the harmony of
colors drawn from nature
Vibrant rugs contrast white walls in the nanimarquina
flagship showroom in New York, designed by Marquina
LIVING LEGEND
Nani Marquina continues to evolve her vision
Nani Marquina's inaugural trip to India in 1994 was a pivotal moment
for the Spanish designer's namesake rug brand. Following her
visits with local weavers, she developed a newfound reverence for
craftsmanship and abandoned her own mechanized manufacturing
process, eventually shifting production to India, Pakistan, and Nepal.
" I also saw that we could help maintain the great culture and traditions
of a country, " recalls Marquina. " We keep learning from ancestral
techniques that we adapt to our contemporary designs. "
Marquina, who launched her career in the 1970s, " never imagined
I would design rugs, as it didn't exist as a textile specialization, " she
says. Founding Barcelona-based nanimarquina in 1987, then, was a
pioneering move, but not a surprising one given that her father, the late
Rafael Marquina, was a trailblazing industrial designer and architect
behind such creations as a non-drip oil cruet.
Today, nanimarquina is a thriving family business-Nani's
daughter Maria Piera is managing director and her sister Carlota is art
director-that showcases a range of handwoven, eco-conscious indoor
and outdoor rugs. Tres, for example, is composed of three separate
panels highlighting different proportions of wool, felt, and cotton,
that Marquina dreamed up with Elisa Padrón. Such collaborations
with fellow designers-including Ilse Crawford, Jaime Hayon, and
Neri&Hu-are plentiful. Take the Doblecara collection by Ronan
Bouroullec, which nanimarquina released earlier this year. The
" carpet with rhythm and simplicity, " as Marquina puts it, is defined by
discontinuous strokes.
Fashioned from recycled rubber bicycle tubes, Bicicleta was one
of nanimarquina's first projects to explore the lifecycle of a rug and
symbolizes Marquina's commitment to sustainability. " It was something
intrinsic from the beginning, " she says. In addition to protecting
economies by aligning with artisans, " we have always prioritized natural
fibers. Our rugs are made with care to last for a long time, so we don't
contribute to the single-use consumption trend. "
The Climate Neutral Certified company also addresses social issues,
joining forces with Care & Fair, the carpet trade organization fighting
child labor, as well as sponsoring the Amrita Vidyalayam school in
Bhadohi, India. " Forty years ago, everything was within our reach and
the feeling was that anything was possible, " says Marquina. " Our work
was based on experimentation and innovation. Now there is a more
responsible attitude in our designs. " hd
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Hospitality Design - September 2023

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