70 % of Porro’s production is made up of systems for day ambiances and night area, for both domestic and working environments, where the spotlight is on design value, which is almost visible in three dimensions on the finished products. A design approach that places importance on details: invisible hinges or push-pull opening mechanisms, hidden wall fixing elements for shelving, and concealed drawer runners that operate silently on ball bearings, making the Porro environment almost noise-free, relaxing and enjoyable to live in. Unique technologies, a number of which are patented, thus giving greater substance and value to product identity. Porro’s production is completed with ranges of closed and walk-in wardrobes, beds, bookcases, chairs and tables as well as furnishing accessories that not only look good with Porro’s furniture, but also enhance any kind of interior setting, from the most simple and sober to the most eclectic and decorative. The most widely used materials are wood, crystal, glass, marble and aluminium. Natural, simple materials used together with high-tech ones: yet another example of the fusion of tradition and innovation. All based on firm principles of design and function, the ranges feature different, quality finishes, combinations of materials and colours, so each product may be a reflection of the person who chose it. The whole production range does in fact offer a vast choice of combinations and finishes. In a word, customised.
Porro targets the medium-high, high and luxury market segments, ones where an object must not only fulfil its furnishing role, but also and above all reflect an identity, a lifestyle and a vision of the home. Porro products are sold in many countries and exports account for 50% of turnover. The main international markets are the United States, Japan and major European countries: Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain.
There are over 600 retail outlets across the globe, all of which are specialised in top-quality furnishings. Porro has its own showroom in Milan, but the firm has decided quietly to approach other markets, other realities, other mindsets. Among the major international partnerships, we would like to mention Shanghai, Beijing, Bangkok, Sydney, Moscow, Malta and Antwerp, where Porro itself designed the display spaces reserved for its production. In 2007, Porro together with Boffi and Living Divani gave birth to “BY”, a new commercial partnership between three of Italy’s most innovative design companies, with the objective of developing a series of stores throughout the world that offer complete systems and solutions for furnishing the home. The first showroom was opened in New York in March 2007, followed by the openings in Munich and Los Angeles (September 2007) and Lyon (November 2007).
Porro’s production vision makes it a protagonist not only of the home environment, but also in the contract sector. The designs’ wide range of finishes and their durability, high-tech details including patented devices, their functionality and versatility satisfy a full spectrum of requirements and look just as good in large public spaces (such as offices or hotels) or smaller ones (bars, cafés, restaurants). Versatile, industrially manufactured products for specific settings, such as Piero Lissoni’s Spindle chairs for the breakfast room of the Hotel Mirò in Bilbao or for the café of the Berlin opera house. Or a product designed to give the desired effect in any environment. Or an existing design modified to comply with specific requests. An example of this is the last important furnishing supplied for the new headquarters of Richemont, designed by Jean Nouvel in Genève, which was the result of the transformation of different proposals of Homework, the collection created by Porro in 2006 to embrace the working environment too. 360 operative stations composed of custom-made storage containers and of RAM table in the work version, are personalized in a special finishing, the same jatoba wood used for flooring and ceiling panels.
