911 Love: Tommaso Spinzi
The Italian designer talks about his understanding of aesthetics and reveals where he most enjoys driving his 911.
Perhaps it’s the setting around Lake Como that led Tommaso Spinzi to develop a keen sense of aesthetics even as a child. The Italian native says that this region is renowned for its “natural beauty and man-made marvels.” Growing up there left a deep impression on him. However, he also discovered beauty in the forms of mechanics and industry. This tension still lies at the heart of his work today. The founder of the design brand Spinzi expresses his passion for cars in his creations. In his loft in Milan, alongside vintage furniture and contemporary art, he has a 911 SC, built in 1983. Spinzi was one of the first people to incorporate a 911 into his home as an objet d’art – the sculptural form is a source of inspiration for him. The designer, who has previously lived in Switzerland, Australia, and New York City, also loves the dynamic side of the 911, of course. And this is why he loves returning to Lake Como – the place where it all began.
What is love?
Pure passion. The raw energy that fills my studio in Milan and inspires me, and the unmistakable roar of an engine.
How are you?
Always on the move and endlessly inspired by the world around me.
The Porsche 911 in three words?
Sculptural. Mechanical. Alive.
Which simple things can make you happy?
A perfect espresso and searching for rare Italian collector’s items from the mid 20th century.
What would you never do with a 911?
Hide it away in a dark garage.
What’s your favorite road?
The bendy roads around Lake Como.
What can distract you?
The unpredictable beauty of the natural world.
Three things you would take to a desert island?
My sketch pads, a great playlist, and an off-road motorcycle.
Is there a historical figure you admire?
The famous Italian architect and designer Carlo Scarpa.
What on a 911 could you do without?
The radio.
And what couldn’t you?
The analog driving feel.
What music did you wake up to this morning?
Daft Punk.
Your favorite film?
La Dolce Vita by Federico Fellini.
Your favorite book?
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
Where do you long to be?
The region between Milan and Como.
Your most treasured possession?
My collection of contemporary Murano glass.
Your secret?
I don’t have secrets. But if I do … then time will reveal all.
The 911 moment of your life?
Foot to the floor over an Alpine pass.
Your best advice?
Live life to the full. Collect great art, work with brilliant minds, and never settle for boring designs.
What would no one expect of you?
That I’m sometimes quite introverted.
Tommaso Spinzi
Born: 1983
Residence: Milan, Italy
Profession: Furniture designer and entrepreneur
Porsche: 911 SC (G-Series), built in 1983
