Thursday, April 29, 2010

Reflecting on Milan Design Week

I will write again soon about the intense week of “I Saloni” in Milan but today I just want to give you some of my thoughts to summarize the experience.
It was a fairly good success, considering the world economy still recovering and the chaos of the European skies created by the ashes of the Icelandic volcano, which stopped for days flights in and out of Europe, with cancellations of participants and major consequences for the economy.
I can easily say that this year at even a greater level the winners were companies devoted to research, to the use of new materials and to a sustainable way of production.

I Saloni 2010 270

I Saloni 2010 276
Tubes has the most appealing heaters for a bathroom, a sculpture that gives warm and dry towels, a necessary luxury.

It was clear that companies instead of crying on the crisis have taken the courageous path to new territories with the willingness of renewing themselves, this was evident and we will see the results later on this year. Design returns to serve who uses the objects, which need to be useful not just beautiful. Function first then form.

I Saloni 2010 045

I Saloni 2010 051
Zanotta chairs, so comfortable and beautiful.
Comfort and the use of modular pieces, sectional sofas, bookcases we can arrange as we like and everything in modules, only changing dimensions and colors, create a simplified way of living our house and easily furnish a small apartment or a much larger loft.


I Saloni 2010 374



I Saloni 2010 444

With a clever use of a groove all these elements can be easily moved, gently sliding the pieces in and out, and they can be reassembled in any other forms or dimensions. Martino Gamper bookcase is also free standing and it does not need any support to the wall.


I Saloni 2010 060
Moroso Sushi pieces.


I Saloni 2010 063
The timeless beauty of Thonet furniture.



I Saloni 2010 080
The innovative design of the Campana brothers.



I Saloni 2010 083
Black is back.



I Saloni 2010 084 


I Saloni 2010 086



I Saloni 2010 094
An interesting table with a concave space in the middle for flower arrangements, fruit, bottles or whatever comes to mind, candles perhaps?


I Saloni 2010 140
MagnetiKa leaves the composition of the elements to us, pieces can be repositioned in a moment.


I Saloni 2010 150
Gorgeous lights by Moooi can bring a touch of nature to any room.


I Saloni 2010 197
A kitchen with a herb-garden ready to be used.



I Saloni 2010 070
Tom Dixon Mesh chairs.


Could we call all this attention to:

comfort

nature

lightness

freedom

the New Deal of Design?

Photography© by Albarosa Simonetti

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

From Milan, I Saloni 2010


The Fiera area, only 20 minutes by underground from the center of the city, a futuristic expansive complex designed by Massimiliano Fuksas studio of architecture.
I will start slowly to describe the Design Week in Milan, where every day there were dozens of events and opening of new stores. We spent three intense days at the Fiera and the other days we wondered day and night around the city for the Fuori Salone events.


I Saloni 2010 003


I Saloni 2010 088




I Saloni 2010 102


I Saloni 2010 148



I Saloni 2010 343


I Saloni 2010 342
A former church in Brera area was used for design and fashion installations.


I Saloni 2010 130
An extravagant pierced wall.


I Saloni 2010 139
I could not resist to take a picture of this sformato di zucchine e basilico with a creamy tomato garnish for lunch at the temporary Elle Decor Restaurant in Zona Tortona.



I Saloni 2010 297
Many events were open to the public, but several every day were by invitation only.



I Saloni 2010 328
A moment of relax, well deserved after hours of exploring.



I Saloni 2010 341



I Saloni 2010 347
Inside the Brera Museum another moment of relax.



I Saloni 2010 378
The city was dressed for the occasion, with design and art installations everywhere, a feast for the eye and an inspiration for the mind.
Above is Via Montenapoleone (our Fifth Avenue) adorned with linen shades, lit at night for a magic effect.

I Saloni 2010 379



I Saloni 2010 392
Even the weather behaved, only a day of rain, mostly warm and sunny the whole week, even after the eruption of the Icelandic volcano...



I Saloni 2010 393


I Saloni 2010 115
A funny initial “A” made with fresh lettuce.



I Saloni 2010 414
A newly designed outdoor furniture in an ancient courtyard.



I Saloni 2010 416
An art installation at Palazzo delle Stelline



I Saloni 2010 485
The Roof garden at Corso Como 10 with contemporary sculptures.

What a week! next I will tell you what I really liked, what happened and who I met.


Photography© by Albarosa Simonetti

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Old houses and New design (part four)



Today I present the fourth Casa-Museo in Milan: Bagatti-Valsecchi.
Four unique houses for their heritage of history and art and contemporary design create an exhibition wanted by Cosmit in anticipation for I Saloni, the international Design Week in Milan, April 14-19, 2010. A model of a past way of living create a stunning set for over 200 contemporary objects of design. See my three previous posts. Above is the extravagant Nobody’s perfect chair by Gaetano Pesce for Zerodisegno, which stands out with its bright colors in this Neo-Renaissance style mansion, restored and decorated by two brothers, art collectors, in love with the style of Renaissance.


13_b_ospiti-inattesi
In another room the organic forms of Evolution bench by Nacho Carbonel in front of the antique fireplace.

14_b_ospiti-inattesi
In the dining room the beloved chair Crinoline by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia, on the bottom right the chair Favela by the Campana brothers.

17_b_ospiti-inattesi
In the armory Wavy chairs by Ron Arad for Moroso.


20_b_ospiti-inattesi
Under the magnificent "Madonna col Bambino e Santi" (circa 1515) is a contemporary piece of furniture named Riddle by Steven Holl for Horm.
What a wonderful way to open the 2010 Salone del Mobile (I Saloni) in Milan presenting the culture of the past and the creations of the present time.
 Photography by Pasquale Formisano

I am still metabolizing the Design Week in Milan, very intense and inspirational. I will post about it as soon as I will organize the material and the hundreds of pictures I have taken! Stay tuned...

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Old houses and New design (part three)

Four unique houses for their heritage of history and art and contemporary design create an exhibition wanted by Cosmit in anticipation for I Saloni, the international Design Week in Milan, April 14-19, 2010. Four Museum-Houses, rich in history and representing a model of a past way of living create a stunning set for over 200 contemporary objects of design, called "Unexpected guests". See my previous posts.

Today I present the third Casa-Museo: Villa Necchi, the same villa that was the set for the movie "Io sono l'amore".
In the foyer chairs by Ron Arad for Moroso. On the desk by Piero Portaluppi a beautiful painting from 1929 by Mario Sironi which you could have seen in my other post The Art's Lady. Claudia Gian Ferrari unfortunately recently passed away but she had decided years ago to generously donate to Villa Necchi majority of her vast art collection

04_b_ospiti-inattesi
Together with charming furniture of the past the small tables Brasilia by the Campana brothers for Edra.
09_b_ospiti-inattesi
The guest bathroom has inlaid marble floor created by Piero Portaluppi, the cabinets Valises is by Marteen De Ceulaer for Casamania.
11_b_ospiti-inattesi
On the first floor the parquet in the foyer is partially covered by the Geoart rug by Luca Nichetto for Nodus.
The vaulted corridor in the background is the built in wardrobe (a novelty for 1930) and the several doors open to show purses, precious furs, dresses, the drawers are still full of scarves, some custom made by Dior for the sisters Necchi, and all sort of treasures.
On the same floor a huge room displays linens neatly folded in huge armoires and was used for pressing and mending.


16_b_ospiti-inattesi
Coming to the dining room we find the chair Ki by Mario Bellini for Horm amongst the others. The exquisite tapestries on the wall are only a copy, while the precious original ones are being restored.
It was a very warm day in Milan and after the visit we spent an hour in the garden near the pool, sitting on Urquiola colorful chairs and listening to the water running from a spout and the birds singing on the magnolias.

What a wonderful way to open the 2010 Salone del Mobile (I Saloni) in Milan presenting the collections of the past and the ideas of the future.

Photography by Pasquale Formisano
To be continued...

Friday, April 16, 2010

Old houses & New design (part two)


Four unique houses for their heritage of history and art and contemporary design create an exhibition wanted by Cosmit in anticipation for I Saloni, the international Design Week in Milan, April 14-19, 2010. They are four Museum-Houses, rich in history and representing a model of a past way of living and they create a stunning set for over 200 contemporary objects of design called "Unexpected guests".
Today I present the second Casa-Museo: Poldi Pezzoli.
Poldi Pezzoli is a magnificent house of a great collector of art, a treasure in the center of Milan, now a Museum-House full of treasures of the past.
In the Armory the light (above) Animal Thing by Front for Mooi is very appropriate, don't you think?



07_b_ospiti-inattesi
Surrounded by affreschi the Boa sofa by the Campana brothers for Edra creates a wonderful contrast in texture and colors; on the wall the mirror Sturm und Drang by Piero Lissoni for Glas Italia.

10_b_ospiti-inattesi
In the golden hall the extravagant and colorful seating system Michetta by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia. By the way Michetta is the name of a traditional Milanese simple bread which I grew up with and sadly disappearing due to the myriad of new "design" breads invented every day, more expensive but often more disappointing.

12_b_ospiti-inattesi
On the table is the tray Torino from the series "100 piazze" (100 squares) by Fabio Novembre for Driade.


18_b_ospiti-inattesi
Through the door Clouds by the magic Bouroullec brothers for Kvadrat, in the foreground the Ripples bench by Toyo Ito for Horm.
What a wonderful way to celebrate the 2010 Salone del Mobile (I Saloni) in Milan presenting the rich culture of the past and the geniality of the present time.

Photography by Pasquale Formisano and Luca Fregoso
To be continued...
 
Clicky Web Analytics