The annual design event returned to Milan earlier this month. Here are Roddy Clarke’s top picks of the week.
The Cocktail Room curated by London design studio Elicyon within L’Appartamento by Artemest. Photography @Artemest
Words by Roddy Clarke
Returning to the city between 15th – 21st April and hosting the 62nd edition of Salone del Mobile at Fiera Milano, Milan Design Week once again brought the global design community together with brands and designers featuring new work, thought-provoking installations, and a varied roster of events. Spread across multiple design districts, the annual event has become one of the most respected within the industry’s calendar with brand’s all seeking to draw our attention in new and unexpected ways.
While seeing everything is a huge undertaking, and a minimum of 20,000 steps per day most likely, there are always popular standouts each year. However, for me, I like to witness innovation, or be captured by enthralling narratives and, as always in Milan, see inside unseen locations which showcase the beauty and heritage of the city’s architecture. I also like to see designers not shying away from the pressing global issues we face today. Design can be such a powerful force towards change and, in harnessing a creativity that poses solutions towards a more circular and equal world, it leaves me feeling inspired and hopeful. In my opinion, these events must go far beyond the launch of a new collection as they can be utilised in such a positive way when wider topics are addressed to encourage, influence, and facilitate progress towards a greener, brighter, and fairer future for all. With those prerequisites in mind, here are five highlights which stood out:
DIURNO by Panter&Tourron x Davide Rapp
DIURNO by Panter&Tourron offered visitors a welcome respite from the intensity of Milan Design Week with an intimate and immersive installation in partnership with video artist Davide Rapp. Photography @Fabian Gibertoni @contento.360
Invited by Gianmaria Sforza to create a site-specific installation in the intimate setting of ‘Studio di pittura’, the Lausanne-based design studio Panter&Tourron joined forces with video artist and director Davide Rapp to create DIURNO – a speakeasy style secret lounge inviting guests to relax away from the intensity of Milan Design Week. Almost like walking into the set of a science-fiction novel set in the 1980s, the invite-only installation displayed original furniture by the duo alongside a video installation by Rapp. The collection, titled HALL, was created specifically for the event and included a modular sofa platform, a floor lamp, chandelier, stools, vases, and shelving. Offering a moment of intimate conviviality, it was a wonderful juxtaposition to the all-consuming environments of large-scale showrooms and exhibitions allowing for a quiet and reflective moment. It was also inspiring to see the designer’s circular mindset on display, with repurposed upholstery and materials being utilised within both the set and the products themselves.
The House of Switzerland by Presence Switzerland and the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia
The House of Switzerland Milano by Presence Switzerland and the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia focused on the theme of joy and its intrinsic connection to design. Photography @Melania Dalle Grave @DSL Studio
Bringing together a vast array of design talent from across the country, this collective exhibition was based on the theme of joy and its connection to design. With designers interpreting it in a multitude of ways, the exhibition exuded a playful ambience with swings hanging from the ceiling to invite us all to reconnect with childlike moments. While exploring the nuances of joy and its importance in the world today, designers addressed wider global topics of circularity and social connection which brought a deeper relevance to the theme. Highlights included handwoven rugs made from discarded climbing ropes by Estelle Bourdet and children’s footwear brand NEUNOI which is bringing a renewed circularity to the sector.
L’Appartamento by Artemest
The Living Room curated by Rottet Studio within L’Appartamento by Artemest. Photography @Artemest
Located within the ground floor and courtyard of Residenza Vignale, an early 1900s Milanese mansion that had never been opened before for Milan Design Week, the Artemest showcase was a visual feast for the eyes. With each room curated by a different interior designer, the immersive experience drew you in with the finest Italian craftsmanship on display. Not only did the venue itself exude a Milanese magic, but each room presented a unique narrative allowing you to appreciate the pieces in an aspirational setting and subsequently displaying the depth of design available through the online platform. From a bedroom curated by Tamara Feldman to a courtyard styled by Gachot and a cocktail room conceived by Charu Gandhi of Elicyon, it was a meeting of creative minds resulting in a sophisticated and elegant experience.
The Alder Collection by Patricia Urquiola for Mater
The Alder Collection by Patricia Urquiola for Mater was presented in a captivating display put together by Danish studio Tableau. Photography @Luca Rotondo
Manufactured from a new biodegradable blend of Matek® – a material made from a bioplastic derived from sugarcane and coffee waste or wood fibres – the Alder collection is the latest release by the Danish pioneering green-tech design brand. Designed by Patricia Urquiola and suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, the Alder collection comprises of two lounge tables, a side table and stool – each available in four unique finishes. Designed for disassembly, the biodegradable material envelops a steel frame (made from 94% recycled steel) which can be upcycled back into production thanks to Mater’s take-back scheme. For the installation, the Copenhagen studio Tableau styled the furniture amongst a backdrop of natural materials referencing the ingredients used within the pieces themselves. Allowing visitors to visually connect the materials to the furniture, it was a striking display which helped to reiterate the need for designers to work with a closed-loop design sensibility.
Isola Design Festival
The Isola Design Gallery at Lampo featured a vast array of work from global emerging talent while focusing on narratives and themes addressing wider societal issues we face today. Photography @Anwyn Howarth
Now in its eighth year, the Isola district is a growing presence within Milan Design Week putting its spotlight onto emerging talent from across the world. This year’s annual theme, titled “This Future is Currently Unavailable”, was a call-to-action inviting designers to present solutions to not only sustainability challenges but also to help tackle other real-world issues we face today. It exuded a sense of optimism by encouraging you to envisage and imagine a new future for both people and planet through the innovation and provocative storytelling on display. Centred around three main hubs, the Isola Design Festival brought together work from 47 countries.
