Sergio Savarese
Encyclopedia
Sergio Savarese was a furniture designer and a founder of Dialogica furniture stores.
Savarese had studied to be a geologist
. He went to Africa
and spent seven years doing soil analysis to help farmers determine which crops to plant.
His career as a designer happened by accident. After Savarese returned to Italy
, he designed a folding stool. Once those went into production, he began designing other pieces.
Savarese met his wife, Monique, at Milan
's Domus Academy. The two were married in 1987, and together they began to design contemporary furniture distinct from the spare or historical aesthetics popular in the late 1980s. Savarese and his wife designed pieces that reinterpreted classical styles and used vibrant colors.
The couple's designs were praised at the first International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City
. They began producing furniture at a factory in The Bronx
and opened a retail store on Broome Street in Manhattan
's SoHo
neighborhood.
That store, Dialogica, was one of the first retailers in SoHo
to feature contemporary furniture designs. The store later expanded to Los Angeles
.
Savarese, a pilot, was killed in the crash of a single-engine plane in Colorado
. Ivan Luini, founder of Kartell U.S. Inc.
and a friend of Savarese, also died in the crash.
Savarese had studied to be a geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
. He went to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and spent seven years doing soil analysis to help farmers determine which crops to plant.
His career as a designer happened by accident. After Savarese returned to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, he designed a folding stool. Once those went into production, he began designing other pieces.
Savarese met his wife, Monique, at Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
's Domus Academy. The two were married in 1987, and together they began to design contemporary furniture distinct from the spare or historical aesthetics popular in the late 1980s. Savarese and his wife designed pieces that reinterpreted classical styles and used vibrant colors.
The couple's designs were praised at the first International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. They began producing furniture at a factory in The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
and opened a retail store on Broome Street in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
's SoHo
SoHo
SoHo is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City, notable for being the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, and also, more recently, for the wide variety of stores and shops ranging from trendy boutiques to outlets of upscale national and international chain stores...
neighborhood.
That store, Dialogica, was one of the first retailers in SoHo
SoHo
SoHo is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City, notable for being the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, and also, more recently, for the wide variety of stores and shops ranging from trendy boutiques to outlets of upscale national and international chain stores...
to feature contemporary furniture designs. The store later expanded to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Savarese, a pilot, was killed in the crash of a single-engine plane in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. Ivan Luini, founder of Kartell U.S. Inc.
Kartell
Kartell is an Italian company that makes and sells plastic contemporary furniture.The company, headquartered in Milan, began manufacturing automobile accessories in 1949. It expanded into home furnishings in 1963....
and a friend of Savarese, also died in the crash.