Neue Räume Zurich 2011: Plinio il Giovane

Very occasionally we see something that makes us stop in our tracks.

At Neue Räume Zurich that something was the Milanese producer Plinio il Giovane.

We know we moan a lot about Italy’s over-rated position at the top of Mount Design.

But just as they seem to have an unending reserve of corrupt politicians, so do they also seem able to produce quality designer furniture producers out of thin air.

Handmade from oak the Plinio il Giovane collection not only looks fantastic; but many of the pieces contain a delightfully inventive touch that wonderfully demonstrates what can be achieved when designer and carpenter co-operate.

Such as Duetto – a double sofa bed of breathtaking simplicity.

As we’ve said before we’re not particularly huge fans of solid wood furniture: the simple ingenuity of Plinio il Giovane is the sort of work that could force us to reconsider.