Henry Timi, a radical style

Right now, you are in the Marche region, at your Manifattura. What is it exactly? 

Manifattura is an iconic place within the HENRYTIMI world, to which I have dedicated great passion over the past years. Architecturally speaking, it is a minimal, pure, and essential container. Inside, it houses the artistic woodworking shop, the marble workshop, the metalworking space, and rooms for treatments, painting, and drying, as well as several material libraries. This is where we transform natural wood, stone, metals, clay, and fabrics into what I call functional artworks. There is also a gallery space where we exhibit prototypes and works, in line with my galleries in Milan and Rome. I like to think of Manifattura as a place of gathering and well-being, surrounded by nature. Next to it, there is also the stable with my horses – another great passion of mine. 

You chose to call your space ‘Manifattura’ – Italian for manufacture – a term that evokes tangible, ancient craftsmanship. How important is the human touch in your creative process? 

Manifattura is my beating heart, the driving force of my work. It represents its tangible side, but at the same time, it is what gives me enthusiasm. I chose this name precisely to emphasize the act of making – with the hands, the mind, and the heart. I believe it is crucial to give our hands material to work with, to teach them ancient crafts that have been lost – woodworking, marble cutting, metalworking, tailoring. Manifattura was also born with this mission. 

Manifattura is located in the Marche region because it is your homeland. Do you ever reflect on how this place has influenced your vision of the world and design? 

Yes, more and more often. This landscape, its ancient villages, the sea, and the mountains have had a significant influence. I also consider nature to be the greatest source of inspiration and beauty we have been given. And in this sense, the Marche region is a wonderful place – just like all of Italy, after all. 

It seems like you are strongly connected to your homeland.

Yes, I was born here, and my family still lives here. Corridonia is a place that gives me great serenity, which is why, a few years ago, I decided to establish Manifattura here, to do everything in this historic inland town, between the Adriatic Sea and the Sibillini Mountains. It is also a way to give value to the land and the people of the region, as I involve young local artisans in my project. I spent many years away, building my brand and career in Milan, and while I feel deeply connected to the city, this is where I chose to establish the heart and soul of HENRYTIMI.

What is HENRYTIMI, how and when did this project start? 

It was born in 2011 with the opening of the gallery in Milan and the idea of creating functional artworks that went beyond industrial design, beyond trends, leaving a lasting mark. At first, it was difficult to explain and make people understand what I was doing – working with essential shapes, natural or untreated materials, sometimes raw and seemingly unfinished. But it has been a steady growth, and today, with references worldwide, we are proud of this project. We have created a stylistic line that did not exist before: the concept of art interior. If you look at the entire collection –seating, upholstered furniture, kitchens, bathrooms, accessories – you can see the journey we have taken. Extreme, perhaps, but authentic and coherent. And the market recognizes, follows, and respects that. 

It is interesting that you see yourself as being an outsider of the design world, yet you are held in high regard. How did you build this unique position, and how do you maintain this balance? 

I have always told myself, and I remind myself daily, that if you want to create something that leaves a deep mark and is authentic, you need passion and determination. You need to make sacrifices, study, work hard – but also have a lot of patience. Our stylistic movement is highly recognisable precisely because it is founded on passion, determination, and sacrifice, but most importantly, on coherence and a singular mission: to leave a mark by cultivating beauty every day, by creating something unexpected. I often think that in many areas of Made in Italy and Italian excellence, everything looks the same – boring. I am somewhat outside the system, yet I am part of it, because I do not love boredom. I love making beautiful things, doing them authentically, and trying to communicate and convey that. I aim to inspire, to influence, but above all, to convert those who can truly understand this stylistic and functional language. 

Your showrooms are also unique; they are art galleries that reflect your philosophy. What inspired you in their creation? 

Yes, they are true art galleries – I call them “galleries of functional art”. I have used this concept for a long time and have entirely removed the word ‘showroom’ from my vocabulary. In these galleries, we highlight ancient crafts and showcase finished pieces that can either be simply admired or, most importantly, used. The first gallery opened in Milan, on Foro Bonaparte in Brera, and a few years ago, we also chose to open in via Margutta, Rome – the most beautiful city in the world, which lends itself perfectly to expressing our vision. 

Your pieces are very tangible and deeply connected to raw materials. Which one resonates with you the most? 

I’m torn over this. I cannot choose between wood and stone. My story is a fusion of the two, with the addition of metals. Wood, stone, metals. Stone, wood, metals. Metals, wood, stone. I don’t know. What is certain is that my project is about blending these three raw materials, always keeping them monochrome or tone-on-tone, in accordance with my fundamental principle: elegance.