Collection by Diana Budds
The Alpine Lodge by WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie
At the January edition of Pitti Uomo—a bi-annual men's fashion event held in Florence, Italy—accessories brand Want Les Essentiels de la Vie exhibited within the Alpine Lodge, a conceptual structure that channeled the theme of its new collection. We sent a few questions to Want’s co-founders, brothers Byron and Dexter Peart, to learn more about how architecture conveys the brand’s urbane sensibility.
The sprawling 16-acre Katsura Imperial Villa was commissioned in the 17th Century by a pair of father-son princes, and attributed to a cadre of craftsmen and consultants. Though its rich architectural language—a polychrome of woods, wallpapers, decorative plasterwork, and swooping roofs—is more resplendent than restrained, its geometric sensibility and modular construction easily aligned with the ideals of 20th-century modernists.
The structure's minimalist shape and "timeless" framework gave the brothers freedom to explore different concepts by changing the colors, finishes, and decoration. It's constructed from glass and white pine. "The airy quality of these two materials—along with many windows—was critical to the design," says Peart. "Architecture has always been an integral part of our inspiration and direction. The intention of the Alpine Lodge is to convey timelessness, classic style, and thoughtful utility, mirroring our objective when designing WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie products."
In the couple’s art-filled living room, a vintage coffee table sits atop a rug by Gunta Stölzl, purchased from Design Within Reach. To accommodate get-togethers with friends and family (Peart’s twin brother, Dexter, lives in a neighboring unit with his wife and daughter), they sought a sofa that could hold 10 to 15 people at a time. The George sectional, designed by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia, fit the bill.