The Art of Seating

Minotti’s ongoing collaboration with the Italian-Scandinavian design duo Enrico Fratesi and Stine Gam continues to captivate with a fresh evolution of one of its signature collections—the Vivienne seating system. This latest iteration honours the original’s spirit while expanding its versatility and contemporary appeal.

The Vivienne is an exercise in graceful balance: a softly upholstered, elegantly contoured base seems to float above slender aluminum bars, while the curvilinear backrest wraps gently around, flowing into a delicate armrest. This refined silhouette invites endless customization, allowing owners to compose sofas, chaise lounges, and end pieces to suit their space. Optional integrated tabletops, offered in tasteful finishes like Cappuccino and Liquorice, add further personalization and function.

True to GamFratesi’s design ethos, Vivienne embodies a deceptive simplicity—a harmonious purity of form that belies deep conceptual and technical complexity.

Now, let’s hear directly from the designers of Vivienne as they reveal the story behind its creation.

Beyond shape

“Our aspiration with Vivienne was to create a system that feels both sculptural and inviting—a piece that balances emotional warmth with precise craftsmanship,” reflect Gam and Fratesi.

This balance between form and feeling touches on a fundamental desire in design: to create objects that are both present and permeable, commanding attention yet inviting intimacy. Vivienne seeks to navigate this delicate balance, much like life itself—structured yet fluid, intentional yet open to connection.

“Starting with the curved backrest of the original Vivienne armchair, we wanted to extend that gentle, embracing gesture into a larger system that could adapt to various settings while maintaining a strong character. It’s a design that seeks to evoke softness and comfort through form, without sacrificing clarity and structure.”

Consequently, Vivienne is a meditation on the “harmony of shapes.” Gam and Fratesi describe it as “a dynamic interplay of volumes—curved lines wrapping around the seat, and fine-tuned proportions between the cushions and the base.”

Exquisitely crafted, Vivienne exemplifies the meticulous standards of its prestigious Made in Italy label. “Craftsmanship is central for us,” Gam and Fratesi explain. “We explore how traditional techniques can be reimagined today—always seeking a balance between innovation and memory. Many design details come directly from conversations with artisans, revealing the material’s voice in a new way.”

Where worlds converge

Vivienne’s beauty is more than skin deep. Behind its elegant form lies a thoughtful exploration of contrasts—a hallmark of GamFratesi’s design philosophy. Their work emerges from the meeting of two worlds: the restrained, nature-inspired sensibility of Danish design and the rich, emotional craftsmanship of Italy.

The creative partners describe their journey with Vivienne as one of constant refinement and reflection. “Our process is about continuously refining and tuning the proportions until the piece feels complete. We embrace dualities because they reflect real life—nothing is ever purely minimal or purely decorative. Through design, we try to find the exact point where two opposites meet and create subtle tension, a quiet richness.”

To the duo, the merging of Scandinavian minimalism and Italian elegance isn’t just aesthetic—it’s a dialogue of cultures and values that shapes every detail.

“Our two cultural identities play a key role,” share Gam and Fratesi. “We design with a Nordic spirit rooted in simplicity, function, and a sensitivity to natural materials. At the same time, the Italian side brings a more conceptual and emotional approach—a sense of narrative and elegance. This ongoing dialogue between two different but complementary worlds has helped us shape a fluid, balanced language.”

Complementing their juxtaposing sensibilities and artful savoir-faire, the GamFratesi founders’ respective architectural backgrounds play a vital part in their unique creative synergy.

“We work symbiotically, which gives our work depth and unity,” say Gam and Fratesi. “Architecture taught us to think spatially—to understand how objects live in context and how form and function can shape an experience. With Vivienne, this shows in the way we structured the floating elements and the spatial rhythm between volumes.”