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PaperCity_Houston_November_2020

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Pietro CiCognani photo by Francesco Lagnese. rattan photo by tk A ctress and philanthropist Isabella Rossellini says her relationship with her best friend is tethered by "laughter and curiosity." Her beloved confidant is architect Pietro Cicognani, and Rossellini describes those elements as essential to his work in the foreword of his first book, Pietro Cicognani: Architecture and Design (Vendome). Cicognani founded his New York architecture firm Cicognani Kalla Architect with the late Ann Kalla in 1985. For 35 years, he's designed exquisite, highly customized country houses, city apartments, pool houses, and gardens for noteworthy clients in New York and beyond. Many of his projects were in collaboration with some of the great interior and landscape designers — Steven Gambrel, Peter Marino, Isabel López-Quesada, and Thomas Woltz. Though Cicognani was born in Italy, studied at École des Beau-Arts in Paris, and worked in Sweden before moving to the States, his work with historic American barns is arguably what makes him so celebrated. Rossellini acquired one such barn in the Long Island village of Bellport, which Cicognani restored and transformed into her country home. His original yet practical solutions included, much to the delight of children, installing acrobat nets in the hayloft in lieu of railing. The book includes Rossellini's home and 19 other projects, from country to city to seaside. Karen Bruno authored the book, which is illustrated with luscious p h o t o g r a p h y b y interiors photographer Francesco Lagnese and includes site and floor plans. Anne Lee Phillips Pietro's PersPective T he laidback glamour of rattan never goes out of style, as Lulu Lytle shows in her new book, Rattan: A World of Elegance and Charm (Rizzoli, $65). The history of rattan comes alive through her research and such archival images as Madeleine Castaing's winter garden in Paris, Michael Taylor's California beach house, and Mr. Kennedy's beauty salon in New York City, designed by Billy Baldwin. Designers Josef Hoffman, Jean-Michel Frank, Renzo Mongiardino, and Arne Jacobsen created rattan furniture that now fetches top prices at auction, and tastemakers throughout time have embraced the look. There's no one better to tell the story than Lytle, co- founder of Soane Britain. In 2010, she acquired the last surviving rattan- weaving workshop in Britain. Located in Leicestershire, the workshop employs 15 craftsmen who weave rattan furniture, lighting, and commissions. The company also established a rattan apprenticeship program, assuring that the ancient craft continues for future generations. M i t c h e l l O w e n s , d e c o r a t i v e arts editor of Architectural Digest, wrote the foreword. Rebecca Sherman woVen through time At Villa Santo Sospir, bamboo walls and ceiling designed by Madeleine Castaing, mural by Jean Cocteau. At Villa Zabête in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, the scale of a double-height living room, designed by Pietro Cicognani, allowed Steven Gambrel to dial up his signature bold palette. 78

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