Innovation for Life.

Driade was founded in 1968 by Enrico Astori, Antonia Astori and Adelaide Acerbi. The individual roles of the three founders were quickly established: Enrico took charge of the business side of things, Antonia was the designer and Adelaide created and conveyed the company’s image. Driade was an aesthetic workshop whose research broke new ground in home living in the broadest sense of the term with its finished items of furniture, accessories and household objects. The aim was to introduce a degree of experimentation in the world of industrial mass production, with meticulous research and a big focus on creativity. The resulting approach would later be called “auteur industry” as the company produced a substantial, sophisticated series of home and outdoor furniture and accessories. The story of Driade goes hand in hand with that of the great names who have worked with the company and helped to write many chapters in the history of design. In the 1970s, Driade began a long-lasting partnership with some of Italy’s leading designers, including Antonia Astori, Enzo Mari and Alessandro Mendini. It then went on to work with countless internationally renowned figures such as Philippe Starck, Oscar Tusquets, Tokujin Yoshioka, Borek Sipek, Ron Arad, Patricia Urquiola and Fabio Novembre, to name but a few. Driade works with a huge network of creative talents (designers, artists, architects and painters) from many different countries to make and sell its products worldwide. It firmly believes that the real spirit of our time lies in eclecticism, a blend of cultures, curiosity and surprise. It captures the zeitgeist by espousing different influences and pushing towards unprecedented frontiers with the backing of its new international management. In 2013, the company was taken over by ItalianCreationGroup, an Italian industrial holding company that buys and steps up the pace of growth in small and medium-sized enterprises that are known for their exceptional Italian creativity. The acquisition marked the beginning of a new journey for Driade, with a strategic vision that seeks to emphasize the unique qualities of the brand and boost its presence not only in Italy but also – and above all – in other countries. Giovanni Perissinotto and Stefano Core, the founders of ItalianCreationGroup, are now the President and CEO of Driade respectively, while Enrico Astori is the Honorary President. As part of the efforts to take Italian excellence abroad and become a leading light in international design, in 2013 the American branch Driade USA was opened in New York. In August 2014, Sir David Chipperfield was named as Driade’s Art Director. He is a top player in contemporary architecture and his appointment is an important step in the new path taken by the company. Chipperfield will oversee all of its creative initiatives while also working alongside the management as they draw up and develop its corporate strategies. The first joint project by the company and its Art Director was the creation of the new showroom that was opened in December at 8 Via Borgogna in Milan

Valcucine has been standing out in the kitchen sector for over thirty-five years, focusing on wellness, innovation and timeless kitchens, that are made to last. Each collection is designed with people in mind to create products that contribute to the wellness and needs of the user. The company has earned a reputation for its dedication to improving the ergonomics and the use of space. This has led to the Logica System, which was created in the 90s. The innovative and ergonomic system features an equipped back section, jumbo drawers and wall units with lift-up doors that makes it easier to work in the kitchen because everything is within hand’s reach. The special New Logica System and Air Logica System units were developed as an evolved version of the equipped back section and the wall units. These systems blend aesthetics with functionality and are able to contain and conceal, when necessary, all the equipment required in the kitchen. To further contribute to the daily comfort of consumers, Valcucine has also designed specific details such as the luminous panel; when fitted in special units, the panel contributes to giving the kitchen a more airy appeal. Moreover, Valcucine constantly carries out performance tests on harmful volatile substances, artificial radioactivity, and adheres to the strictest regulations on formaldehyde emissions. Valcucine is synonymous with innovation. It has revolutionised the kitchen space with numerous ground-breaking solutions. Valcucine changed the whole concept of kitchen doors with Artematica, the first door in the world with an aluminium frame that is invisible from the outside, plus a 5mm thick, aesthetic, HPL panel. The glass version, presented in 2006 with Invitrum base units, was the first-ever 100% recyclable kitchen. Ricicla, created in the 90s and soon after developed into Riciclantica, was the first kitchen with an aluminium frame and a panel that is only 2mm thick. As the utmost expression of dematerialisation, this is the slimmest and lightest cabinet door in the world, fitted with the most innovative and technological materials on the market. Valcucine designs timeless kitchens that are impervious to trends, built to last and accompany customers throughout their lives. Each kitchen offers extensive planning freedom thanks to the variety of units available. Not only can the units be combined using different ranges but they can also be customised thanks to a wide range of materials, finishes and handicraft works. In the Genius Loci range, for example, the drawer can be personalised with inlays and special finishes, while the glass surfaces can be customised with any image, using an inlay technique. In-depth tests on the quality and durability of materials are performed on all collections to provide for a 10-year guarantee and matchless after-sales assistance. Valcucine now distributes kitchens to more than 370 showrooms all over the world, including Europe, the U.S.A., the Middle East, India, South-East Asia and South Africa. At the beginning of 2015 the company was acquired by ItalianCreationGroup, a holding company that works in the Home Design and Personal Lifestyle sectors. It is led by Chairman Giovanni Perissinotto and Managing Director Stefano Core