Andrea Zambelli

Furniture maker

New perspectives on perfection

Andrea makes furniture pieces that embrace small imperfections
He makes his pieces using reclaimed wood, combined with metal, stone and glass
All his pieces are inspired by his own life, thoughts and experiences

Andrea Zambelli creates wooden furniture intended to be used in everyday life as well as enjoyed for their beauty. He discovered his passion for craftsmanship during his part-time job in a restorer’s workshop. Andrea's experience pushed him to become a restorer himself, leaving his studies in medieval history behind. Later, his creativity led him down a path of art and design, which he explored extensively in his atelier, Hillsideout, that he co-founded with his former partner. Andrea now works independently and creates functional art pieces using wood and different materials such as glass, metal and stone. "All my pieces are woven together by a common thread – a unique combination of ancient carpentry techniques and contemporary vision," he says.

Interview

How would you define your style?: My style is soft and imperfect. Sometimes, when I see small flaws in what I make, I deliberately do not fix them. They are evidence of a human, handmade object. Even when my lines are rigid, they still feel soft to touch because of the oils and finishes I use.
What materials do you use?: I mostly work with reclaimed Italian wood, including olive wood from Apulia, where many trees have been attacked by xylella. And because I like to experiment, I usually combine wood with other materials such as Murano glass, granite, brass and aluminium.
Where does your inspiration come from?: I am inspired by anything that affects me directly. For example, the wall sculpture Nautilus, my first non-functional object, originates from looking at my ageing father, my childhood memories and my fascination with the golden ratio.
Do you have a favourite piece among those you created?: One of my favourite pieces is the very first cupboard I made of transparent plexiglass and an ancient, abandoned wooden door. Another object is a bent, curved clock I created recently, which symbolises the passing of time.

Andrea Zambelli is an expert artisan: he began his career in 1997