Design & Lifestyle Blog

A legend of Italian design, cultivated and elegant, with an extrovert Spanish temperament. This is the secret to Patricia Urquiola’s success. A designer who has given new meaning to living, classic and informal, intimate and versatile.

The entire interior of the Mandarin Oriental Barcelona is the work of Patricia Urquiola who is renowned for her gleeful, often multifunctional pieces for companies such as  B&B Italia , Moroso, Molteni &C, Alessi, Kettal, Emu, and many others.

Many of the furnishings having been specially designed for the Mandarin Oriental. All areas of the hotel have been furnished individually. Three suites, including the 200-square meter presidential suite on the ninth floor, are particularly spacious and exclusively fitted out.

The space includes a lit ramp which is suspended across the courtyard, leading the hotel’s entrance. Metal grilles provide divisions of space, but at the same time the perforations allow one to glimpse into the lobby. The walls are covered in 3D textured materials, giving depth to the space.

Patricia Urquiola has become in the past few years a name known for  original furniture design, the items that she designs keep returning to every year’s collection which makes them timeless. This has proved that having her name among the designers for any brand will reveal its sophistication and far-sightedness.

Below you will find images of her latest and most popular designs throughout the past years.

GAN Rugs/ Mangas

B&B Italia

 Molteni & C

Rosenthal

Moroso
Driade	Emu
Foscarini

 Kettal

 Hans Grohe

Agape                                                                   Mutina Tiles

Kartell

De Padova

Alessi

Paola Lenti

Mandarin Oriental | Barcelona

Patricia Urquiola was born in Oviedo, Spain . She attended the faculty of Architecture of Madrid Polytechnic where she graduated in 1989 having done a thesis with ACHILLE CASTIGLIONI. From 1990 TO 1992she was assistant lecturer on the courses held by  ACHILLE CASTIGLIONI and EUGENIO BETTINELLI both at Milan Poytechnic and E.N.S.C.I. in Paris. Between 1990 AND 1996 she worked for the new development office of DE PADOVA and with VICO MAGISTRETTI signed the products: “FLOWER”, “LOOM SOFA”, “CHAISE” and “CHAISE LONGUE”. From 1993 TO 1996 she had an associate practice with architects DE RENZIO and RAMERINO and was engaged in architectural design, showrooms, restaurants, and franchising (MASKA/ITALY, TOMORROWLAND STORES/JAPAN, DES PRES/FRANCE). In 1996 she became head of the Lissoni Associati design group, working for Alessi, Antares-Flos, Artelano, Boffi, Ceppelini, Cassina, Kartell, and others. At the same time, on her own, she designed for B&B, Bosa, De Vecchi Too, Fasem, Kartell, LIV’IT, MDF, Molteni & C., Moroso and Tronconi and designed stands and showroom for Knoll, Moroso, SAG 80. and Somma. Her products were selected for the Italian Design 2001 Exhibition and for international design yearbook 1999 and 2001. In 2001 she was chair of the jury for the 19th CDIM Design award and was lecturer in the Domus Academy.

She is currently conducting her professional activity in her own studio in Milan in the field of design, exhibitions, art direction, and architecture.