Francesca Pacianti tells us about Zoo Design

The gallery-showroom where buying and designing furniture is an experiential journey

The place to be for lovers of design and architecture with an industrial charm, Zoo Design is located on the top floor of a former biscuit factory dating back to 1880, a one-off, just a stone’s throw from the center of Florence. And if on one hand, you can find all the latest in lighting in the space owned by Comet Marini Pandolfi, on the other there is Zoo Design, carrying some of the top names in furniture. Not just a showroom and exhibition space, Zoo Design undertakes constant research to offer only the best in terms of innovation. Francesca Pacianti, senior manager of the Florence showroom, tells us about it. 

Francesca Pacianti, senior manager of Zoo Design

What is Zoo Design’s strong suit?

Made in Italy design, in other words elegance, refinement, research and innovation. Through the brands we represent, we offer customized furnishing solutions that bring together aesthetics, innovation and functionality.

Which are your core brands and most successful products?

Without doubt, Boffi and De Padova with their respective icons - De Padova’s Raffles sofa designed in 1988 by Vico Magistretti, and the Aprile kitchen designed by Piero Lissoni in 2010. 

You also undertake a lot of research. Name an innovative product and an up and coming one?

Speaking of innovation, I would say Combine Evolution, the evolution of the Combine modular kitchen system designed by Piero Lissoni in 2020 for Boffi: simple monoblocks that combined together integrate the features of a compact kitchen and that of the island kitchen in a single model.

For an emerging name, I’d say Kensaku Oshiro. After working with Piero Lissoni, a few years ago he became part of the De Padova family with Sen, a multipurpose table created in different shapes and heights, and which can be made in various materials and finishes. A versatile, trendy product, in step with the times.

Zoo Design

What are the buzzwords in the design world now?

Sustainability and versatility, together with innovation.

Your Florence in three places dear to you.

The Duomo, the Oltrarno district, Forte Belvedere and its panoramic view of Florence. I’d also add Manifattura Tabacchi, which is fast becoming one of the city’s focal points.