Getting closer to nature: Tecnografica

In 1994, Italian painter Margherita Leoni travelled to Brazil to study the native floral species. She spent time carefully documenting Brazilian flowers in watercolours at the Reserva Biològica de Quebrangulo and ended up staying for 16 years. Such an immersive experience is, of course, not an option that is open to the majority of people. For those living in built-up settings, often a house plant or balcony shrub represents their primary, daily connection with nature, and, with such urban environments on the increase, it falls to architects and designers to help people stay connected with the natural world.

As a way of bringing the outdoors in, Italian wallpaper brand Tecnografica chose the work of Leoni for their latest collection to help designers solve this problem. The exclusive designs, which feature her lusciously detailed, sprawling depictions of blooming buds, green leaves and ripe fruit, are part of Tecnografica’s ‘Art Collections’ series of artist-designed wallpapers which translate art to wallpaper with the highest quality printing technology. Beyond the vivid portrayal of nature, the collaboration seeks to capture the breathtaking, abundant and dimensional experience of nature at scale in interior space.

When deliberating on the subject of the 2021 collection, ‘nature’ was a clear theme for Tecnografica. Studies show that exposure to images of nature can have positive effects on wellbeing – reducing stress, improving focus and even expediting healing. ‘Nature has become essential as a remedy for connectivity and restoration during times of social isolation. It has shown our society how important it is for mental wellbeing, and while nature has played a part in our interior design in the past, we wholeheartedly welcome its use as a more mainstream tool in design, as we all seek to move towards a period of recovery,’ says Stefano Lamberti, Head of Sales and Marketing at Tecnografica.

In addition to wellbeing, mindfulness is central to the watercolour paintings of artist Leoni: ‘Before painting, Margherita stops, stares and listens. She takes the necessary time to understand these forms of life, which express feelings and emotions just like humans. Nowadays, more than ever, we all should know what real respect for nature means for the whole planet. Moreover, Margherita’s artworks teach us to listen again and to be aware of all the beauty that surrounds us – some good simple habits that unfortunately we tend to forget.’

Today, respect for nature also means thinking carefully about the material we choose to use. For architects and designers working within the framework of sustainable building certifications, Tecnografica’s ecologically certified ‘Natural' finish can be specified. The unique, ecological, wallpaper finish is made of 100 per cent fibre-based cellulose and is almost fully biodegradable. Prioritising respect for the environment and the health of humans, the finish is PVC-free with no chemical solvents or acrylic adhesives, formaldehyde or heavy metals.

‘The "Natural" finish is technically designed to be used in any environment. However, its ecological properties mean that it especially suits rooms where people tend to spend the most time, for example, bedrooms. With regard to commercial spaces, the "Natural" finish works well in “coherent” contexts such as wellness and beauty centres, yoga studios, gyms and hotel bedrooms. This specific finish provides not only an ecological product, but also a healthy attitude to everyday life,’ says Lamberti.

The eight wallpaper designs in the series express a range of atmospheres from tranquil to invigorating. Splashes of vivid, tropical colours on warm neutral backgrounds are enhanced and brightened by the white, embossed effect of the finish. Showing off the photographic quality of the images, the Paradiso and Hilocereus wallpapers offer a more intense, artful experience, featuring numerous flowers blooming in unison, and combined with deep and pale blue, nature-inspired backgrounds. And for these designs, we can be thankful – spending time in a room wrapped in Leoni’s wallpaper is the closest we might get to a tropical escape for the time being.

© Architonic