Pro-ID

Given that Alan Sawyer arrived at luxury automobile interiors and decorative components via furniture design, it is only fitting that his return to furniture production—under the Luzzo Bespoke moniker—was inspired by a classic car. Specifically, he wanted to create a series of executive desks based on "the great classic names in motorsport like Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche and American Indy cars from the 1930's."

Hence, the Bugatti desk:

Luzzo's first project is inspired by the Grand Prix cars created by Ettore Bugatti, cars like the Type 35 and 59. The beautifully cast aluminium components, French Racing Blue bodywork with its louvres and unique body bolts, honeycomb grille, engine spun dashboard and the use of leather are some of the inspirations for this desk.

From the outset, Alan was not aiming to make a desk that simply resembled a car, but to draw inspiration from the unique aesthetic of the Type 37 Bugatti from the late 1920's and convey the original concept—if not the period itself—in a newly-designed piece of furniture. (The desk also incorporates details from other Bugattis of the same period, namely the Type 57 and 59.)

The majority of the body is made of aircraft-grade aluminum, bonded and riveted to a machined aluminum frame, combined with stainless steel components as necessary. Similarly, the leading edges of the surface are made of billet aluminum that has been machined, polished and lacquered, as are the 30's-style finned sumps (it's ok; I had to look it up too) that line the bottom of the drawers. The drawers themselves were made of a "special ultra strong laminate"—aluminum sheets with a black Perspex core.

The work area of is demarcated by a patch of "3mm saddle leather, [which] reflects the straps used to restrain the bonnet."

The built-in iMac can be "deployed electronically through the desk top via a rack and pinion system," while it remains concealed beneath a vent when not in use. Save for the built-in iMac, the final product remains true to its analog inspiration: the adjustable height of the desktop is controlled with a hand crank. "Electronic drive was discounted as it was felt that the manual system was more in keeping with the theme."

Nor did they skimp on the paint job: "A number of coats of etch primer and primer filler are applied and once baked the primer is flatted prior to the application of 6 coats of catalysed acrylic paint. The finished panels are baked for 12 hours then polished to remove any imperfections."

Luzzo's Bugatti desk was designed in CAD, where the majority of the aluminum components were CNC-milled. The 20-man team spent some "2000 hours to complete the design and tooling to produce the 350 precision components required. A further 1500 hours was required for the machining, polishing, painting and assembly of the desk."

Of course, the final product is a world away from Carlo Bugatti's furniture designs, though it is arguably as successful in harking back to a bygone era.