PORRO DESIGN FOR CASA ITALIA, LONDON

Images courtesy of Porro (photograph by Beppe Brancato)

Italian Design in London

Just steps from Buckingham Palace, Casa Italia introduces a renewed expression of Italy’s institutional presence in the United Kingdom. More than a diplomatic headquarters, it is conceived as a cultural landmark — a space where heritage, craftsmanship, and contemporary design articulate the values of a nation abroad.

Situated on Buckingham Gate, the Victorian building spans nearly 2,000 square meters and marks the most significant real estate acquisition undertaken by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in the UK in recent decades. It brings together more than 80 officials from the Italian Embassy, the Italian Cultural Institute, and the ICE – Italian Trade Agency, forming a unified hub for the “Sistema Italia” at the heart of British political and institutional life.

Presented by Coulisse | INK

Curated by Nick Vinson, the interiors unfold as a carefully calibrated dialogue between eras. Furniture and lighting from leading Made in Italy brands coexist with artworks and historical objects from Italian and British museum collections, creating an environment where diplomacy is framed through culture, material integrity, and spatial refinement.

Within this context, Porro introduces the Origata benches and consoles, designed by Nao Tamura in 2024 — a collection that embodies the brand’s pursuit of essential form and sustainable thinking. Inspired by the Japanese kimono-folding technique, in which fabric is cut into geometric shapes without waste, Origata translates this philosophy into rigorous construction and luminous finishes that elevate the purity of the material.

In the waiting room, the Origata console in grigio porfido conveys a sense of poised restraint. Placed in dialogue with Arturo Vermi’s tempera painting Presenza, it contributes to an atmosphere of quiet contemplation. Its contemporary geometry resonates naturally with surrounding historical works — from a Murano glass candelabrum to travertine funerary urns and ancient Attic black-figure amphorae from the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia — establishing a dialogue that transcends time.

The small hall, conceived for temporary exhibitions, features two bronze Origata benches positioned among meeting tables. Defined by essential geometries, they invite pause and reflection, subtly reinforcing the encounter between art and institutional exchange.

In the secretarial area of the Ambassador and the Minister, an Origata bench in vivid China red stands before a glass-paste replica of the Byzantine mosaic from the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare, crafted by the Mosaicists Group of the Ravenna Academy of Fine Arts. Through contrast and material depth, the setting articulates a shared commitment to craftsmanship, heritage, and enduring design culture.

Project Sheet
Use: Casa Italia
Location: London, United Kingdom
Year of realization: 2025
Client: Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Interior Design: Nick Vinson
Porro Products: Origata benches and consoles