Designers intuitively understand how geometry evokes an emotional response. The imagination is delighted by the interplay of light and architectural form that creates shifting shades and shapes within a space. Similarly, Tappeti has been inspired by the textures and directionality of weaving and the harmony and juxtaposition of colour and fibre to create its evocative new collection.

GRIGLIA mirrors the evolving future-forward aesthetic of parametric design, where the organic translates in tessellations and symmetries that capture the eye and elevate the experience of form. A fundamental simplicity and beauty veils complexity within, just as the luxurious expanse of a hand-knotted rug both reveals and conceals the meticulous craft of the artisan.

The name GRIGLIA, Italian for grid, captures the inspiration of the design approach. The warp and weft of the loom are the basis for an improvisation in directional shapes, textures and chromatics. Grids are transformed, convoluted and overlaid, enhancing the visual appreciation and guiding the eye through space. Colours reveal graduations of hue, harmonic spectrums and symmetries of light and shade.

“Hand making rugs to the level of intricacy required for this collection is a process within in itself and has taken over 18 months to develop and to be able to formulate a documentation procedure to enable consistency with making these designs.  Whilst the designs may not look complex, they are very detailed and work with the harmony of the woven texture, creating luxury throughout the collection,” Tappeti founder and CEO Karinna Gobbo explains.

“The grid-like structures of the geometry give it a slightly industrial aesthetic while still conveying a sense of opulence. The level of detail is astounding – there are 100 individual knots created by hand in each square inch of a GRIGLIA rug.”

The level of intricacy means that the design of each rug is documented knot by knot and line by line instead of traditional spatial measurements that document by centimetres and metres, creating a prismatic patterning that can be individualised to the finest line and detail.  As with all Tappeti creations, the ability to customise design and colour is infinite, offering a rich palette of possibilities for hand-knotted rugs that amplify or improvise on striking architectural motifs and features.  This has been so from the genesis of the collection, when custom design rugs based on a geometric aesthetic were commissioned by HASSELL for its prestige commercial project at 60 Martin Place.

Inspiration for patterns was gathered from around the world, referencing influential artistic and design schematics including the piazzas of Milan, the neoclassical temples of Greece, the harmonic arrangements of natural forms and the rich, repeating motifs of Persian and Asian decorative arts. These flavours and allusions have been distilled to their essence by Tappeti’s designers then reimagined in new directions.

GRIGLIA also addresses the pragmatic dimension, ensuring each hand-crafted rug meets the requirements of the Building Code of Australia for safety, installation and pile height. 

Each rug is crafted by Tappeti’s artisans in Nepal who use premium natural fibres including Tibetan wool and hemp with delicate art-silk detailing to emphasise the relationship between weave, geometry and colour. There are other fibre options available to explore too, such as nettle, cactus, pashmina and mulberry silk. GRIGLIA can also be customised to any shape, size, colour and pattern.

“This collection truly celebrates the process of the weaving and hand-knotting. The skill of the artisans and their multi-generational traditions of rug-making are the heart of the design and the visual appeal,” Karinna says.

The unbroken thread of talent and craftsmanship also provides well-paid work that enables the crafters to maintain their families, supporting the social fabric of their traditional communities. 

The work of the hands is also perceived as a tactile quality in the final rugs, which have a texture that is soft, warm and durable.

Tappeti currently has a range of selected stock pieces from the GRIGLIA collection at its studio for designers and architects to consider. Each piece is unique and showcases the aesthetic coherence of the striking new offering.  The versatility of the geometric design approach and the boundless of array of colours mean a Tappeti rug can be created as a cutting-edge, black and white raw art piece for a commercial space, or a soothing, welcoming and restful presence in an upmarket home. 

“Our collections are so diverse, there is so much flexibility for designers to express their vision,” Karinna says. “We respect the creative process – it takes time and conversation to develop each iteration of a concept.”

Tappeti
tappeti.com.au