Fransisco Gomez Paz

Francisco Gomez Paz, an industrial designer hailing from Argentina, established his Milan-based design studio in 2004. His exceptional work has garnered international acclaim, with prestigious awards such as the Good Design Award 2010, the Red Dot Award 2010, the Compasso d'Oro 2011, and the 2011 First Prize of the Index Award. Notably, he shared the Index Award with Alberto Meda for the Solar Bottle, a piece included in the MOMA's Study Collection. Gomez Paz's design philosophy is characterized by a highly experimental approach, marked by absolute freedom and profound curiosity. His work is grounded in meticulous and continuous technical and aesthetic research into materials, giving rise to innovative, forward-looking projects that surprise with their technological advancements and distinctive forms. One of his notable creations is Eutopia, a chair with a sophisticated structure resembling intricate Japanese inlaid work. The multi-piece composition involves a complex arrangement of intersecting and separating multi-laid wood pieces, forming a strong cross inset in the seat. This innovative structure allows different planes to work in their force directions to support the seat and armrests. What sets Eutopia apart is its assembly process—small inset inventions and glued pieces enable the chair to come together without the use of any nails or screws. Despite its remarkable strength, the chair weighs a mere 1,800 grams and can withstand resistance tests with loads exceeding 100kg and more than 23,000 cycles. The chair is crafted from Paulownia wood, a material with surprising qualities such as resistance, lightness, and sustainability. Obtained from trees with high pollutant absorption capacity, Eutopia stands as a meticulous industrial product entirely produced in the designer’s lab.