It’s April and April in Milan means only one thing: MILAN DESIGN WEEK. Only one week to the beginning of the design fair and this year I am particularly excited because it will my first design week as a “blogger”!
The 57th edition of the Salone del Mobile, the most important event in the world of design and furnishing, arrives in Milan from 17th to 22nd of April. Together with the Salone del Mobile, which takes place at Rho Fiera, the city will be flooded with events and exhibition giving life to the Fuorisalone. Over 2000, hundreds of events spread throughout the city of Milan and thousands of visitors from all over the world make the design week the most vibrant week of the year in Milan.
This year the show presents its Manifesto, which summarizes the spirit of the event in eight key words: Emotion, Business, Quality, Project, System, Youth, Culture and Milan at the center. Together with the Salone del Mobile in Rho fiera, this year there will also the Eurocucina / FTK and Salone Internazionale del Bagno and the traditional Salone Satellite dedicated to the designers under 35.
On the same days, the city will host the traditional Fuorisalone with hundreds of events around the city and divided into different districts. The events are really many and it is difficult to see everything … I have therefore prepared my personal guide of events not to be missed (in my opinion) divided into the different neighborhoods! It is a bit long but I really hope it can be useful!
TORTONA DESIGN DISTRICT
One of the historic areas of Fuorisalone (the Fuorisalone started here 17 years ago) is the district that is located between Porta Genova, via Tortona and via Savona.
– NENDO: FORMS OF MOVEMENT – Superstudio (via Tortona 27): A major exhibition dedicated to Nendo, a Japanese design studio created by the genius of Oki Sato. A mysterious labyrinth of 800 square meters based on the idea of movement that comes from the function, the materials and the production method. A highly awaited exhibition not to be missed!
– SUPERLOFT di CAPPELLINI – Superstudio (via Tortona 27): An imaginary home created with the participation of the most interesting players of the Made in Italy.
– MOOI: A LIFE EXTRAORDINARY – Area 56 (via Savona 56): Present since few years in the space of via Savona, Mooi always manages to surprise us with some very original installations. This year the theme will be the Museum of Extinct Animals.
– NORWEGIAN PRESENCE – Opificio 31: the last trends of Nordic design
– SWISS DESIGN DISTRICT – Opificio 31: a collective of 12 Swiss companies coordinated by Switzerland Global Enterprise
– RESONANCE MATERIALS PROJECT – Opificio 31 : Exhibition dedicated to Japanese design and the interpretation of traditional Japanese ideas and techniques
– STELLA WORKS + Neri&Hu – Opificio 31: Stella Works presents the work of the awarded designers of Neri&Hu
– ENVISIONS x FINSKA – (via Tortona 35): collective of Dutch designers who will present the Wood in Process Continuous project in collaboration with Finska.
BRERA DESIGN DISTRICT
Brera has become in recent years the beating heart of the Fuorisalone. This year the theme chosen is “Be Human: designing with empathy”. The meaning is simple: designing thinking first of all in the real needs of people. If empathy is the starting point of the creative process, emotion is often the direct result.
– BRERA DESIGN APARTMENT – SOUVENIR MILANO (via Palermo 1): 12 designers were asked to design a collection of Souvenirs inspired by the city of Milan (which will be on sale in a limited edition): Stories_of_Italy, Maddalena Selvini, Cynthia Vilchez Castiglioni, Augustina Bottoni, Astrid Luglio, Sara Ricciardi, Giulio Ceppi, Giovanna Carboni, Sour per Bottega Nove, Leftover per StudioF, Giulio Iacchetti e Gio Tirotto.
– TRAM CORALLO – Cristina Celestino: the designer Cristina Celestino has rethought a historic tram from 1928 transforming it into a Cinema. The tram will run through the streets of the Brera design district.
– DON’T CALL ME…DAFNE – Elena Salmistrato (piazza XXV Aprile): a large installation by the designer and artist Elena Salmistrato in collaboration with Timberland. It is a large tree that, when touched or embraced, will accumulate energy that will allow the tree to light up at night.
– MI-ORTO (piazza XXV Aprile): a large vegetable garden open to the citizens and created with the aim of bringing the city closer to agriculture
– VITRA, TYPECASTING – La Pelota (via Palermo 10): one of the largest and most beautiful locations in Brera will host the mega installation by Vitra signed by Robert Stadler.
– MT Masking Tape (via Ciovasso 17): to celebrate their 10 years of life, Mt masking tape arrives in Brera with a temporary shop where the new collection for the home will also be presented.
– WALLPAPER MAGAZINE – Mediateca Santa Teresa (via della Moscova 28)
– THE SECRET PLACE OF DESIGN – Chiostro Grande di San Simpliciano: a must visit even only for the wonderful location that this year will host exhibitions of Nodus, Exto, Mati’, Tao Design.
– HAY – Palazzo Clerici (via Clerici 5): one of my favorite Nordic brand, not to be missed
– LAGO – ITALIANISM – Appartamento Lago (Via Brera 30): in the Lago apartment we will find the Italianism exhibition: 40 patterns designed by as many Italian designers
– LEE BROOM– OBSERVATORY (Via Lovanio 6): after the great success of last year in Ventura Centrale (one of the most photographed installations of the last Fuorisalone) I’m very curious to see what it will create this year.
VENTURA CENTRALE + VENTURA FUTURE
Ventura projects changes location and moves from Lambrate area to Loreto area. Ventura Lambrate gives space to Ventura Future, which will take place in three locations: the headquarters in the Future Dome, a recently renovated Art Nouveau building in Via Pasiello 6, Lofts in Via Donatello 36 and the former Faculty of Pharmacy in Viale Abruzzi 42.
On the other hand, the locations inaugurated last year of Ventura Centrale in the spaces of via Ferrante Aporti, formerly abandoned warehouses next to the Centrale station in Milan, have been confirmed. The space will host 8 installations of 8 designers.
– EDITIONS MILANO: Presents new collections signed by Patricia Urquiola, Federico Pepe and Federico Peri.
– LE DICTATEUR- DON’T TREAT ME LIKE AN OBJECTt: Federico Pepe in partnership with Patricia Urquiola presents a virtual reality project on intelligent objects
– ALISSA REES- HH: A DUTCH VISION OF HEALTH AND HAPPINES : a design project applied to hospital care supported by the Dutch Embassy
– DESIGN SCHOOL DI KOLDING, Denmark: will bring to Milan an exhibition-installation on game-design in collaboration with Lego.
– HORGENGLARUS + STEPHAN HURLEMANN – (Ventura Centrale): the exhibition Giants with Dwarf will see seven figures, up to three meters tall, designed by the designer Stephan Hürlemann. The figures are constructed using parts of chairs and tables from the archive of the Horgenglarus.
– SURFACE + DAVID ROCKWELL – (Ventura Centrale): the American magazine Surface celebrates American design with the installation The Diner, dedicated precisely to the theme of the typical American diner and curated by architect David Rockwell.
In the area I also want to point out the exhibition of a dear and talented friend of mine:
– MUTAFORMA + GUPICA – “ROOM WITH A VIEW” – (Casa Tilla, Via Aminto Carretto 6): a collaboration betwenn Mutaforma and the designer Gunilla Zamboni, an exposition inspired by Italian aesthetics as perceived by European travelers in 18th and 19th century.
5 VIE ART + DESIGN
It’s back for the fifth edition the Fuorisalone in the district of 5 Vie, located in the heart of Milan between Sant’ambrogio, Corso Magenta and Piazza Affari. The oldest part of Milan, with exclusive locations such as Palazzo Litta, Palazzo Turati and beautiful private courtyards.
– VEGAN DESIGN – OR THE ART OF REDUCTION: Exhibition curated by Maria Cristina Didero, is a project by Israeli designer Erez Nevi Pana made without using products of animal origin.
– PANORAMA – Personal exhibition of the designer Valentina Camaranesi inside the Meazza store, a historic hardware store that has been closed for years and will be reopened for the occasion (via San Sisto 9). Curated by Annalisa Rosso.
– THE LITTA VARIATION / 4th MOVEMENT – Palazzo Litta: Performances curated by DAMN ° and MoscaPartners and an excellent opportunity to visit the splendid rooms of the building. The courtyard will host Tempietto nel Bosco, the installation of the London studio Asif Khan.
– MASTERLY – THE DUCTH IN MILAN – Palazzo Turati: Collective of Dutch designers inside the precious rooms of the building.
– DESIGN PRIDE: Traditional appointment, the most original show of the design week organized as always by Seletti. Appointment for Wednesday 18 April during the “white night” of the district: departure from the Castello Sforzesco and arrival at Piazza Affari where there will be a big party with music.
ISOLA DESIGN DISTRICT
One of the most recent additions to the Fuorisalone, the Isola design district is the district dedicated to design schools, young designers and emerging talents. This year the theme of the district is Rethinking Materials with the aim of studying innovative and eco-sustainable materials.
– LATINOAMERICAN CONTEMPORARY DESIGN – Stecca 3.0 (Via Gaetano de Castillia, 26): exhibition of South American designesr collective organized by eDesign.
– MILAN DESIGN MARKET(via Pastrengo 14): international exhibition-market of emerging designers at the Studio Fotografico Gianni Rizzotti, a 400 sqm loft
– KENSAKU OSHIRO(via Pastrengo 14): exhibition of the young Japanese designer (but Italian by adoption) recently selected for the Rising Talent Awards Italy at the Maison & Object.
– DUTCH INVERTUALS – Spazio O’ (Via Pastrengo 12) : collective of Dutch designers.
In the Fuorisalone routes, not to be forgotten is also the area between Porta Venezia and San Babila. Via Durini, Corso Monforte, Quadrilatero della moda are the windows dedicated to the major brands of furniture and lighting.
There is also a new area to keep an eye on this year: it is the district of Nolo (North of Loreto), which presents itself as a place of experimentation and integration. The Alcova project is interesting, where the former Cova Milanese panettone factory will be transformed into an exhibition space dedicated to avant-garde design.
Leave a Reply