Castagna adds approvingly. Seven years later and
they’ve just presented 30 pieces at this year’s Salone,
but the fundamentals remain unchanged. Henge
creates design defined by its materials – fossilised
woods, new lumber cooked and cured at low
temperatures, and distinctive varieties of marble often
found in Treviso’s quarries; plus silver-plated brass
blackened with traditional liver of sulphur, brushed
bronze and brass, and hefty vegetable-tanned leathers.
The furnishings of the brand, and the furnishings
of this home, are also fundamental rejections of the
industrial method of production. ‘We’re strong
because, in this area of Italy, we still have all types of
artisans working,’ says Tormena. He raps his knuckles
on a stout bronze side table, eliciting a resonant clang.
‘We found a caster who used to make church bells
but had run out of work,’ he continues. The process
involves pouring molten metal into a carefully crafted
mould in the ground. The bell caster was, at first,
not interested in undertaking side tables. ‘But now he’s
making them for us and taught some young guys the
craft so they can give him a hand with all the work.’
Castagna adds, ‘Every piece of ours has its story,
because we search out the materials and we search out
these niche artisans that would otherwise disappear.
It’s always a complicated, if interesting, process.’
And to live surrounded by one’s own creations,
by all these stories of development? ‘It’s wonderful,’
says Tormena, as the rain thrums on the roof above,
and the apartment’s burnished metals flicker soft, fiery
reflections. ‘But when I look at these pieces around me,
I still see the sketches and the messy prototypes that
spawned them. I still see all this grown-up furniture
in its baby phase.’ ∂ henge07.com
‘We found a caster who used to make
church bells. Now he’s working for us’
∑ 091
ABOVE LEFT, HENGE’S ‘STILE
SET’ BOOKSHELVES, DESIGNED
BY MASSIMO CASTAGNA
ABOVE RIGHT, PAOLO TORMENA
AND ISABELLA GENOVESE ON
THE BRAND’S ‘HUMAN’ SOFA
RIGHT, THE BATHROOM’S
MASSIVE GREY MARBLE SINK
FEATURES A SUBTLE LEVER
THAT ACTIVATES THE WATER