Technology and Design?
Today They Are a Single Project

Stefano Durante
Durante

Technology and design: two worlds that, for years, struggled to communicate. Where do we stand today?

SD – Today, there is no successful architectural project that doesn’t take technology into account. And, conversely, no technology can be truly effective unless it’s designed to integrate seamlessly into the space. Whether it’s a council chamber, an auditorium, a university classroom, or a corporate showroom, technology is no longer an accessory. It must be an integral part of the concept from the very first design stages. Only then can we provide suitable technical compartments, optimize service routes, engineer Audio, Video and Light Control systems, and ensure acoustic quality and environmental comfort.

How can the technological choices of a System Integrator help architects, designers, and furniture manufacturers create a truly fluid user experience?

SD – Now more than ever, it’s essential to have a partner able of interpreting needs, budgets, and objectives, translating them into a coherent project. This requires cross-disciplinary skills and a consulting mindset. Technology is too complex to be improvised, and clients often lack the tools to assess the available options. That’s why we must be able to guide decisions—even anticipating needs that the client has not yet expressed but that we know will be crucial to the project’s success. In this context, mutual trust is the key element. There’s also a practical aspect, often underestimated: preventing construction site issues. Technology requires space and infrastructure—technical pathways, rack rooms, climate-controlled environments, control room, and if these elements aren’t considered from the beginning, delays, compromises, and additional costs can arise. Design must include all of this.

Does this also apply to the relationship between interior furnishing and technology?

SD – Absolutely. We’ve already collaborated, for example, with Aresline, developing solutions in which technology is fully integrated into furniture—desks, tables, and workstations. The result is a clean, intuitive environment where everything is in its right place. That’s the real cultural leap.

Is integrating systems and furniture also important to create multifunctional spaces?

SD – Yes, and today we see two opposite yet complementary trends. On one hand, flexible and modular spaces, where furniture and technologies adapt to changing needs. In this context, artificial intelligence is opening extraordinary scenarios, enabling dynamic and intelligent reconfigurations. On the other hand, there are spaces designed for a specific purpose, where every detail is optimized to deliver a focused experience. In both cases, the key lies in integrated design, conceived upstream, not added later.

Can you share a recent project that particularly represents your approach?
SD – We’re currently involved in an outstanding project for an international fashion brand, where we’re designing and implementing the entire multimedia and collaborative infrastructure for its new corporate campus. It’s a high-tech project that includes the design and integration of advanced professional environments: intelligent meeting rooms, interactive training spaces, and immersive fitting rooms capable of recreating high-impact simulated experiences, such as virtual fashion shows.
The technological platform we’re implementing combines next-generation LED systems, high-definition visualization technologies, and real-time collaboration tools to ensure maximum integration between content, people, and spaces.
Each environment is designed to offer a smooth, immersive experience consistent with the brand’s aesthetic and functional identity. It’s a project that perfectly embodies our approach: we don’t just install technologies—we build design value together with architects, design companies, and space planners, contributing to the overall vision of the spaces and the evolution of how people live and communicate in the workplace.

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