david/nicolas
Giorgio Morelato

Impressed by Giorgio and Alessandro Morelato’s incredible craftsmanship in cabinetmaking, David and Nicolas were delighted with the opportunity to develop their subtly proportioned two-tone cabinet with him. Morelato executed the piece using only traditional techniques (including a new template to press its curved sides), but he is no stranger to the use of high technology such as software-controlled five-axis machinery.
“One of my favourite things is seeing young people adopting ancient ways of woodworking in a modern way,” says Morelato. The most painstaking part of the cabinet, he explains, was joining the extremities of the 82 solid strips of alternating oak and mahogany to the curved plywood of the sides, which are finished with
one millimetre of veneer.

David and Nicolas enjoy getting out of their comfort zone. “We are inspired by our country and its culture. We feel connected to 12th century Lebanon. Why? No idea. We often stumble upon details of things that the Crusaders left us, ideas that are in the air.” Indeed, their designs seem to float in a time-space compression of past and future. Their cabinet, conceived as a bar or small bookcase to complement any type of room, thickens the typically thin slices of marquetry veneer to more solid slabs of wood. A mirror inside gives depth when the segmented doors slide open. Both Morelato and david/nicolas remarked on how smooth and harmonious the collaboration was, resulting in expressive unity between design and craftsmanship.