Interview with Luca Barengo

Inspiration

A conversation dedicated to vision, shared values, and material as an expressive form.

Luca Barengo discusses his approach to design, his collaboration with Laurameroni, and his perspectives for the future.

The production process of the Tatami finish

Your creative journey is strongly tied to material. What experiences have shaped your approach to design?

My path originated from observation and practice, starting from childhood. My mother worked on creating colors for the most prestigious fashion houses, and this left an indelible mark on how I perceive material.

During my university years, I had the privilege of engaging with fundamental figures in the design world: entrepreneurs, creative directors, artisans, and prototypers who shared their knowledge with me, allowing me to develop a personal language based on listening, respect, and the transformation of material.

Bitta 3-seater sofa with seat and back upholstered in Nabuk Leather 2118. Designed for Laurameroni by Luca Barengo.

Designed by Luca Barengo, Bitta is a two or three-seater sofa defined by its soft volumes and refined details. The liquid metal accent becomes a visual signature, blending artisanal quality with timeless elegance.

How would you define your stylistic signature today?

A dynamic balance between craftsmanship and the artistic component, where the material becomes a narrative. I work with surfaces, textures, and volumes to generate a physical experience even before an aesthetic one.

This approach is perfectly expressed in the Bitta sofa, characterized by soft lines and details in Liquid Metal, a material that gives the structure three-dimensionality and visual depth.

Laurameroni project was born in this unique land, inspired by the unmatched local craftsmanship.

What made the meeting with Laurameroni special?

An authentic alchemy was created right from the first meeting. The human relationship preceded the professional one, and this generated fertile ground for sharing values. Laurameroni possesses a deep knowledge of materials and a rare ability to shape them.

It's an environment where the designer is welcomed, listened to, and given the opportunity to explore.

Duetto 3-seater sofa with lower armrests and seat upholstered in Mellow Leather 1406. Designed for Laurameroni by Luca Barengo.

Duetto 3-seater sofa with lower armrests and seat upholstered in Mellow Leather 1406. Upper armrests upholstered in Cloud Leather 6048. Spacer profile between the backrests in Liquid Metal tin finish.

How has the dialogue with the company influenced the creative process?

The dialogue with the Laurameroni team has been continuous, open, and profoundly constructive. The company’s "sartorial approach" is not a rhetorical formula, but a way of being. Every proposal has been discussed, refined, and tested.

This collaboration gave life to Duetto, a seating piece that plays on double padding and the balance between comfort and a sculptural gesture, particularly in its dormeuse (daybed) version.

A beautifull selection of Laurameroni materials in a dark space

What is the role of the material experience in interior design today?

It is central, essential. Without knowledge of materials, innovation does not exist. Interpreting surfaces and understanding their reactions means designing with awareness. Every space needs material that is well-considered, not merely applied.

With Laurameroni, this principle becomes tangible: every process is a cultural act, and every texture is an extension of the project's identity.

Swivel armchair with automatic return system, upholstered in Cloud Leather 6099 and featuring a sculptural rotating base in Raptor Liquid Metal Tin. Designed for Laurameroni by Luca Barengo.

Swivel armchair inspired by the organic shapes of desert dunes. Defined by flowing, sculptural lines, Duna reveals a delicate balance between comfort and formal elegance.

Does the high-end design sector allow for greater design freedom?

Absolutely, yes. It is in this field that one can carry out deep, even daring, experimentation without compromise. Time, complex materials, rare techniques: everything contributes to creating objects that not only furnish but also tell a story.

This freedom is what makes projects like those developed with Laurameroni possible, where the challenge is never just aesthetic, but also technical and narrative.

Production process to create the brass elements used in Laurameroni collection

How do you maintain authenticity in the design process when working for a demanding audience?

Authenticity comes from listening. The high-spending audience is prepared, curious, and has high expectations. They don't just seek beauty, but content. When a brand like Laurameroni involves a designer for a new collection, it's to embark on a shared journey.

It is my responsibility to deeply understand the context and then respond with coherent and sincere proposals. This is how the project becomes a cultural act, not a style exercise.

Designing through a material-driven approach where craftsmanship blends in a balanced mix of different styles and eras, Luca Barengo, after graduating in industrial design from IAAD in Turin, established his Studio in 2018 in his hometown of Biella.

How have you integrated the values of craftsmanship into your projects for Laurameroni?

I have a vision very similar to Laurameroni's: I consider the craft component as a language.

In my projects, manual skill is never secondary; it's a structural element. Whether it’s the precision of the cuts, the choice of finishes, or the relationship between solid and void, every element is the result of a competence made of gestures, tools, and sensitivity.

Production processo of the Maxima liquid metal finish

What are the most urgent issues to address through design today?

The culture of design. Understood as a profound knowledge of techniques, applied arts, and materials. Only then can design truly be sustainable: not in a marketing sense, but as a responsible and conscious practice.

The risk today is superficiality, aesthetics without roots. Instead, we need a vision that unites ancient knowledge and contemporary needs.

Our stand at Salone del Mobile 2025, where we showcased Luca Barengo new collection of Sofas and Armchairs.

Through the designer’s own hand-drawn sketches, we see the early gestures behind Bitta, Duna and Duetto — a family of sculptural sofas and armchairs that balance comfort and experimentation.

How do you imagine the future of design?

I hope it will be a conscious return to tradition, but with an open mind. The future cannot be nostalgic, but neither can it be disconnected from our roots. The strength of Made in Italy lies precisely there: in the ability to innovate while remaining faithful to a deep culture of beauty, material, and making.

In this sense, Laurameroni represents an ideal laboratory: a place where design is still a cultivated, human, and intentional act.