If your feet don’t hurt and you aren’t flying on one too many espressos, you’re not doing it right! Don’t get me wrong, we’ve mapped and tracked the innovations that emerge from Milan Design Week for years, but being there in the flesh is a whole new ball game! I can honestly say that we’ve never experienced anything like it! The electricity in the air, coupled with the diversity of attendees, meant that Salone was nothing short of spectacular. We met brands, designers, and architects from not only Italy, but also Mexico, Spain, China, France, Venezuela, Nigeria, the U.S.A., Germany, and a fair few that have slipped my mind trying to encompass the event in words (no small feat).
When you ‘do’ Milan Design Week, you expect to see an explosion of talent and innovation. Less expected is the sheer magnetism that rings through the air; a connection of like-minded delegates that seems to occur so effortlessly. In the creases and corners of Salone’s floor plan, a passion for design comes alive. This effortlessness is realised because we’re all there with one thing in common, DESIGN! It’s the language everybody speaks! Aside from 10 halls brimming with the most magnificent and sophisticated bathroom, kitchen, and furnishings stands I have ever seen (can we even call them stands?), to the installations dotted around town which reimagined courtyards and historical landmarks as hubs of connectivity, we were reminded constantly to connect to the experience on a deeper level. All of this excitement was peppered with conversations and roundtables where architects like Diébédo Francis Kéré, John Pawson, and Jeanne Gang sat within reach. It was impossible not to fan girl! And then there were the showrooms. Drool-worthy collections and fashion houses jumped in on the action, all undulating down Brera’s side streets and spilling onto street corners.
From exploring the grand installations to delving into showroom presentations and immersing ourselves headfirst into the atmosphere of Salone del Mobile, here are the 10 SCAPE standouts and themes that continue to spark conversation at our HQ.
Celestial Bodies
From the moon to the sun, the heavens are in the design spotlight. Giampiero Tagliaferri’s ‘Supermoon’ marks not only a new chapter for Minotti, but also a journey through time in interiors, as demonstrated in the immersive experience they hosted. The organic upholstery, made of velvet boucle and leather, includes shapes reminiscent of the lunar phases. Keeping to this sentiment, the sofa collection lends itself to reconfiguration. Overall, ‘Supermoon’ brings a celestial yet classic simplicity to the sophisticated living space. Following the celestial inspiration, Veuve Clicquot presented ‘Emotions of the Sun’ at Fuorisalone. The installation was a collection of artworks by various photographers, highlighted by translucent draping, that emanated the aura of the sun in all its alluring glory. Then, in Palazzo Clerici, Porsche took visitors on a journey through waking dreams with an installation designed by Numen/For Use. ‘The Pattern of Dreams’ was inspired by Porsche’s Pepita pattern which was first launched in the 1960s. The installation consisted of black and white metal frames crafted into nets for visitors to sit or lie in – a transportation pocket to waking dreams.
Stand Out Stands
Infinity Surfaces
As an Italian surface brand that has travelled to our local shores, Infinity Surfaces returned to its roots to present the epitome of excellence in engineering. Large-scale slabs cladding a larger-than-life stand allowed the scale of this incredible product to do all of the talking. The pièce de résistance was the bar which took centre stage at this stand, with a backdrop as dramatic as it was elegant, backlit to perfection and enveloping the guests as they entered the space. With the charming Infinity team and their passionate-about-the-product posture to their guests, it’s no wonder they’re our top pick to partner with for the SCAPE Awards of Excellence.
An Italian design story with Molteni&C
Molteni&C turns 90! The elegance of near century-old Italian design excellence is the heart and soul of furniture fundi Molteni&C. Aside from the most exquisite furnishings on display, we couldn’t get enough of the immersive secret room, transporting us into the Polaroid-style film studio where we got a personal look into the brand, its journey, and ethos. Personality, pizzazz, and the epitome of luxury design collided at the Molteni&C stand. Aside from this quirky side room, the brand celebrated its history by hosting a campaign to showcase iconic pieces like the D.154.2 armchair by Gio Ponti.
30 years of Duravit
Duravit showcased its iconic Starck Barrel – an innovation that celebrates its 30th anniversary this year! To mark this milestone, the bucket like piece has been given an upgrade with a new range of colours for its stylish features.
Bathroom excellence with AXOR
Showcasing the best in bathroom design, AXOR’s booth at the Salone was an exquisite presentation of their finest creations. From the Citterio C by Antonio Citterio collection to the Shower Select ID thermostat programme, the booth was a brilliant celebration of the power of exceptional design.
Design to move with Technogym
Technogym’s ‘Design to Move’ exhibition was a celebration of the brand’s 40th anniversary. The exhibition revealed 40 unique benches designed by 40 creatives from across the world.
SaloneSatellite
Founded and curated by Marva Griffin, SaloneSatellite is an exploration of the talents under 35 years old that are shaping the industry. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, this year’s presentation of the ingenuity by young designers focussed on contemporary living to launch those on the verge of their careers. We couldn’t get enough of this exhibition space, visiting it twice during our time at Salone. We also had the pleasure of listening in on a round table of past winners and meeting and interviewing the talented Lani Adeoye, 2022 Winner of the SaloneSatellite and esteemed juror for our inaugural SCAPE Awards of Excellence.
Metal(lics)
This design choice engages in a dynamic alternative function: combine the elements with technology to create simplicity that remains elegant. In an unusual residential twist, Meridiani Living Interiors brought metallic finishing to lounge and bedroom wall panels. Atelier Biagetti also took metallics for a spin with The Mind Teaser – a furniture piece with multiple configurations that is reminiscent of a Rubik’s Cube, if the whole thing were made of a plush metal and could open up as your seat. Then there were the kitchens… A stainless-steel island may seem a design choice only for the most serious of chefs, but design brands Scavolini, Sachi, and more are counting on home cooks of all kinds to take up the aesthetic. Back at SaloneSatellite, emerging designers used stainless steel or aluminium to create everything from chairs to etageres to lighting. Inexpensive, recyclable, and accessible, these metals are a particularly astute choice for the conscious consumer and certainly we’ve seen the trend extend to sophisticated bathroom and lighting solutions in Jaquar’s gorgeous metallics.
Honouring Heritage and Culture
Connecting with one’s roots was at the forefront of some of the best designers’ minds if the Salone was anything to go by. Roche Bobois’s ‘Bamboo Mood’ is a prime example of a bespoke collection designed by the celebrated Jiang Qiong Er. Having premiered at Milan Design Week, the collection, presented at the brand’s Milan showroom, consists of a pastel-perfect array of modern pieces. The magic comes through in the cultural infusion that Jiang brings – the Chinese symbolism of bamboo.
Saudi Arabia’s ‘Design Space AlUla’ transported visitors to the ancient city’s natural and cultural oasis of a landscape – right in the heart of Milan’s historic design district, Brera. Designed by Sabine Marcelis and CLOUD, the installation was illuminated by monumental lighting resembling a sun, sought to explore the rich material expressions and traditional crafts of the region, offering reinterpretations of its biodiversity, expansive desertscape, and cultural customs through diverse perspectives.
Modular
A sign of the continuation of flexible and dynamic furniture for the future, the modular approach highlights the advantages of adaptability. Brands fully embraced the segmented reality. The new Talenti Venice range encompasses this for the outdoors. A sectional fabric garden set that is composed of sofa, table, chairs, and sunbeds, it not only encourages a personal touch to furniture composition but also emulates the look and feel of floating on water. A few of the abundance of modular ranges include Yves Behar’s Peaks seating system for Moooi, Kettal’s new Insula system, and Loro Piana’s tribute to the ‘mother of modular furniture’ Cini Boeri.
Tech-Driven Consumer & Craftsman
A tech-driven consumer market is gaining momentum along with a movement to tech-driven craftsmanship. From smart kitchens to 3D printing techniques, design is experiencing an innovative new approach which influences both the maker and the end user. With revolutionary technology on display, everything from regeneration to all-in-one smart stoves are the future of the kitchen, bathroom, and beyond. For Samsung’s display, the brand presented ‘Newfound Equilibrium’ – a showcasing of their brand’s commitment to human-centred innovation through their Bespoke AI system. A visual delight, the exhibition stood for harmony between humans and technology.
Natural Forms
Designing in connection with nature – one of the industry’s ultimate goals – is a perspective that was integral to the 2024 Salone, with a key theme of aligning with the environment. Hermès took inspiration from nature in form and materials with a flat lay presentation combining elements like terracotta, brick, stones, and wood. For OKHA, their Sculpted Forms collection, which launched at the Valcucine showroom in Milan, was dreamed up to be ‘sculpted seating for the human landscape’. Naturally curved and comfortable, their latest furniture range not only holds the body with grace, but also creates the illusion of floating above the ground with grace. The Cosentino Earthic Lab X Formafantasma, located at the Teatro Gerolamo, created a thought-provoking installation with a new perspective on the world of surfaces. The collaboration aims to raise awareness about the importance of design beyond mere aesthetics, prioritising ethical production processes.
This article is an extract from our May Issue. Read the full Issue here.
