"The presence of the objects is as fundamental as their use"
In most of his designs, Miguel Milá starts with what is already there, conserving the good and correcting only that necessary to improve it. In other words, he is considered a progressive, conservative designer who has never been concerned with being innovative. His pieces share a common desire to serve a purpose by keeping the aesthetic emotion. Faithful to his father’s advice: “Be useful and they’ll use you”, he was able to express this both through his professional career and the very objects he designs.
"Benches are places for conversation"
As a functionalist and admirer of Coderch, his lines serve a purpose and seek to maximise usefulness. A good bench is one that is comfortable, the designer has shown us, and it must be scaled for people, not for the urban surroundings. Benches are made for people and are elements of communication in themselves. Designed for them, urban seating should correspond to their size, seek good ergonomics and comfort and be of the right height, allowing people to sit and stand easily. We celebrate the pragmatic, inclusive nature of his designs, created for the use and enjoyment of all people.
"The ordinary done well is extraordinary"
Outdoor elements and furniture are subject to multiple uses and wear and constitute a true challenge in the field of design. According to him, “the best way to protect a design is by making it something people love, by making it friendly, familiar, useful and necessary”. And this was the case with his unmistakeable urban benches, pieces that form part of the landscape of many cities and cultures all over the globe. Ordinary objects that, beyond their designation of urban furniture, contain a deeper value and meaning.
The family of the NeoRomántico bench
Resistant to trends, he insists that in order to guarantee the life span of a design, it mustn’t be linked to any particular period. The NeoRomántico Clásico bench, a reference of contemporary town planning, is the best example. An updated interpretation of the traditional romantic bench, initially arising from an order made by his brother Alfonso Milá and Federico Correa for Plaza Real in Barcelona. More than 25 years later and with its corresponding improvements and combinations, removing the superfluous and using lighter, more hard-wearing materials, it is a bench that in addition to sticking around, has inspired many others around the world.
Thanks to the industrial knowledge acquired, the synergy and the constant dialogue with Miguel, we have managed to highlight the virtues of the Clásico and develop new versions of the same bench: NeoRomántico Liviano and NeoRomántico Color. In a great variety of formats and materials and incorporating the relaxation suggested by the armrest, they all conserve the characteristic ergonomic profile of this extensive family. One member of the family, the Liviano Aluminio, excels for being the first urban element made mainly of Aluminium that has obtained the Cradle to Cradle certification in Spain.
Harpo, Basic and Inner
Over the years he has designed novel collections like Harpo and Basic together with his son Gonzalo. The first, Harpo, proclaimed the Marx brothers’ nicest and very comfortable, stands out for its formal humility. Made of four types of seat, it offers different forms of sitting or lying back, inviting contemplation and serenity.
For its part, Basic comprises a series of benches, stools and tables for gardens and terraces. Lightweight, comfortable, hard-wearing elements made of recycled and recyclable aluminium. The joy of simplicity in outdoor spaces for more private use.
And Inner, the evolution of the NeoRomántico and Harpo benches, takes their comfort and simplicity respectively but reinforces their stability. A solid, quality piece that accompanies all people in the different realities of urban life.
We can only thank Miguel for his masterful work and admire his wisdom, because as he says: “People don’t always recognise good design but they appreciate it, because it improves their lives”,
