Wallpaper 4

WRITER: ROSA BERTOLI

Photography: Alberto Strada, Joe Fletcher

SWING STATE

Drink holder, by Gentner

The Fraction collection by Chicago-based

designer Christopher Gentner is the result of

a year-long exploration of creative processes

and a curious piece of research into serving

and presenting drinks. The most remarkable

design from the capsule collection is the

‘Swinging Drink Table’ (above left), described

by Gentner as ‘a table for your drink that is

already a little drunk’. The pieces are made

from brass, using both CNC machining

and traditional craftsmanship, and finished

by hand to achieve a patina. Suspended

from the ceiling, the drinks table features

a circular top just large enough to hold a

single bottle or glass, and is pictured here

alongside Gentner’s brass and silicone

‘Stool 1’ – the pair are sure to get cocktail

hour going with a swing.

‘Swinging Drink Table’, $725, by Christopher

Gentner, for Gentner, gentnerdesign.com

GRAPE AND FAVOUR

Bespoke wine room, Napa

When a private client asked Napa-based

architect Brandon Jørgensen for advice

about building his wine collection, Jørgensen

not only introduced him to a series of small,

independent wineries and larger wine estates,

he also created a bespoke room for him to

house everything. The compact space,

measuring 8ft x 8ft x 8ft, features a modular

display and storage system crafted in eastern

white oak in collaboration with Oakland-

based Pacassa Studios, and is designed to hold

more than 2,000 bottles. ‘The supports create

a space that unifies the collection while

allowing it to be organic and evolve over

time,’ says Jørgensen. The collection already

includes great local wines, such as a vintage

Larkmead Cabernet, but Jørgensen estimates

it will take 15 to 20 years to fill the room.

brandonjorgensen.com

BREW ROMANCE

Birrificio Italiano brewery, Milan

This Milan brewery and tasting room,

a new outpost of artisanal beer pioneer

Birrificio Italiano, bears the distinguished

and sophisticated design style of local

architecture studio and long-time Wallpaper*

collaborator DWA. Founded by Frederik

De Wachter and Alberto Artesani in 2005,

DWA produces interiors, furniture and

temporary installations (including a few

of our Wallpaper* Handmade exhibitions).

The studio’s concept for Birrificio Italiano

combines existing features of the 1930s

building, such as the dramatic terrazzo floors,

with contemporary additions that include a

bar made of steel, marble and brick-coloured

porcelain, as well as seating and tables in the

tasting area. The beer menu reflects Birrificio

Italiano’s focus on traditional brewing

techniques, combined with research into

taste and ingredients.

12 via Ferrante Aporti, Milan, tel: 39.375 566 7632,

birrificio.it

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Wine & Design