Highlights from Salone del Mobile, Milan 2021
It’s been a while.
Milan is arguably the capital of the design world. From fashion to furniture, the city has been at the forefront of the international design scene for decades, and has become somewhat of a model city for exhibitions and luxury retail.
Like most international brands, we didn’t exhibit at Salone del Mobile this year but we sent a small delegate to visit and experience the delights on offer. Without the typical crowds a few destinations really stood out and the city felt somewhat reclaimed by domestic brands and the amazing cultural institutions dotted throughout. Here are some of our highlights from our ‘Amber list’ jaunt to Italy.
Villa Necchi
Popular on the feed. Set in the centre of Milan, the Necchi Campiglio Villa was completed by the architect Piero Portaluppi in 1935. A must see for any design trip to Milan and great to soak in without the crowds.
SuperSalone
Clever materials and layout by Stefano Boeri architects. Understandably the place felt a little subdued, but it was great to see the worlds of workplace, lighting, kitchens and student design come together in four walkable halls. Given the circumstances, we thought the design library approach to the fair was a good move. Very refreshing to see exhibitions evolve into a simpler more sustainable platform.
A persuasive gem
At Tala, we struggle to find good reasons to move away from the medium of glass. KOOIJ from Amsterdam do a very good job of persuading you to explore the additive qualities of recycled plastics. Their Helm lights were hard to miss, and we are huge admirers of their craft and unique designs.
Alcova
An ideal location with powerful exhibits. The Spread Tokyo work along the main walkway was exceptional, featuring colourful flag partitions with virus control technology.
In town: Jasper Morrison for Flos
Jasper Morrison’s ‘Super Normal’ strikes again. It was great to see the unassuming heavyweight of design, and close neighbour of ours in East London, putting out more top class design. This wall light is one of the very few integrated LED designs out there that can be replaced over time.
Mohd showcased a stunning mix of interiors, while Studiopepe did a terrific job on the curation, especially the butterflies flitting around the scenes!
Next up, it’s London Design Festival!
Stay tuned for more throughout September.
