By Marie Claire Maison

In the quiet, poetic world of Patricia Urquiola, objects are never just objects. They are vessels of memory, intimacy, and affection—tools for living that carry meaning as much as function. “Affection,” she says, “is a subtle connection. We live with objects daily. They shape who we are.”

This ethos, nurtured under the mentorship of Vico Magistretti and Achille Castiglioni, runs through every project she touches—from the sculptural serenity of Santoni’s Milan home to the intricate rebirth of Six Senses in Rome. Her work is tactile and intellectual, rooted in human experience and driven by curiosity across disciplines: biology, architecture, fashion, philosophy, and art.

Today, Urquiola’s gaze turns increasingly toward the Middle East—a region where ancient rhythms and contemporary visions coexist. “I’m deeply inspired by its layered identities,” she says. “Studying its cultural geography has been a profound experience.” Currently, she is immersed in a major cultural commission in the region, one she describes as both intellectually and emotionally enriching.

Whether designing a capsule collection for Max Mara, experimenting with biocement and cork with Cimento, or reimagining the picnic basket with Buccellati, her process begins with empathy. The conversation with a client, a city, or a material becomes the starting point for something larger: a story told through space.

Recently named a member of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Spain, Urquiola continues to shape global design with grace and conviction. “Every project,” she says, “needs a compass. For me, that compass is always emotion.”