Architectural Context
Fred&Juul is short for Federico Minarelli and Julie Janssen. Born and raised in Bologna (Italy) and Maastricht (the Netherlands), we met in Florence while studying architecture. As architects, designing both spaces and the furniture within them, we discovered a deep fascination for the craft of making. Collaborating with local artisans, we were inspired by the skill, care, and poetry embedded in each piece. In 2012, this dialogue between architecture, material, and craftsmanship gave rise to a furniture and lighting collection that continues to evolve.

Nature Distilled
We observe nature through architects’ eyes — studying its structure, its logic, its weight — and distil that into form. Every piece comes from the same habit of mind: looking closely at natural forms — a butterfly, a lily pad, a star, a honeycomb — reading them with architectural rigour, and asking what they become in noble material, made to last.

Master Craftsmanship
The artisans who bring each design to life are rooted in Tuscany, a region with centuries of unbroken craft tradition. That knowledge has been refined across generations — and their mastery is present in every piece: in the way a joint fits, a surface is finished, a form holds its weight. Each piece is a conversation between tradition and the present: time-honored techniques, reinterpreted with intention.

Sensory Experience

The noble materials we work with feel alive. Their texture and finish add a sensory dimension that transforms our designs into objects you want to touch. Patinated cast bronze, oak marquetry, honed carved stone — each carries a depth and material presence that recalls the pull of a striking sculpture: not merely something to look at, but to run a hand across, to sit with, to use — exactly as intended.​​