It was 2016 when Bending Spoons, the Italian startup and developer of mobile applications, entrusted us with the realization of their new offices in Corso Como, Milan. We started with the sixth floor, and later, a few years after the initial project revisited it to also work on the fifth floor, carrying out a complete fit-out, from systems to finishes.
Over time, we have witnessed the extraordinary growth of Bending Spoons, now a globally recognized company and one of the leading tech firms in Europe, with over 500 million app downloads and more than 90 million active users monthly.
The ongoing project is characterized by innovative working methods, handcrafted finishes, special techniques, and a blend of talent and passion. A 2500 sqm building named Podium, located in Via Bonnet, features exclusive rounded spaces with curved elements meticulously crafted by our workers, who skillfully created and shaped complex double-curved angles. Delving into the details: The finishing was handcrafted without pre-made profiles since no existing profiles could achieve such double curves. Thus, a different technique was adopted.
We used “corner tape,” cut into approximately 20 cm pieces and adhered layer by layer to the plasterboard. This allowed us to create and manually shape the double-curved corners. This so-called “gola” finish was achieved with small spatulas, applying two layers of filler (for plasterboard) and sanding with fine-grain paper to ensure uniformity across the surface.
In creating the rounded spaces that define the project, another method was used. Specifically, to create these so-called “complex” double-curved angles, we modified the ribbed corner guard, applying small cuts to its rigid side, making it bendable in all directions. After this operation, the corner was fixed with screws and filler, carefully shaped according to the curve’s inclination. Once the filler dried, the screws were removed, and the corner was smoothed out by following the now-stabilized profile.
In conclusion, these particular working methods clearly require meticulous care, as they are handmade. And, of course, a great passion for this craft.
The delivery is scheduled for December: the work is progressing at a rapid pace, and the anticipation is growing! We are all eager to see the finished project!
