Ciao Bella! Supersalone With Our Friends At In The Pursuit
Photo by Fernando Meloni
It’s been way too long since we’ve gotten our creative juices flowing at a trade show. So when we learned Salone del Mobile was gathering brands for a special edition, supersalone, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to get our feet wet. Designed in a new format by curator and architect Stefano Boeri, supersalone celebrated design as well as the environment: Every booth was made using 100 percent recycled wood and could be dismantled and reused. Because our friends at In The Pursuit are also in pursuit of thoughtful design and inspiration, we teamed up with them to see what beauty awaited us in Milan. Check out some of our favorite finds!
MEET MARIA PORRO
THE MEGA TRADE SHOW’S NEW PRESIDENT. WE’LL SAY WE LOVE THAT SHE’S THE FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT OF SALONE DEL MOBILE. SHE’LL SAY THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WOMEN IN DESIGN. COMING FROM A LONG LINEAGE OF FURNITURE—HER GREAT-GRANDFATHER FOUNDED PORRO S.P.A. IN 1925—SHE BRINGS A FRESH PERSPECTIVE TO THE SHOW THAT ACTS AS A CATALYZER FOR CREATIVITY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY. “HAVING SALONE ENCOURAGES BRANDS TO CREATE,” SHE SAYS. “WE NEEDED THIS MOMENT.”
SHOW STOPPERS
Bravo to all of the brands who came together for this return of design! Miniforms’ glass Soda tables blown by three master glassmakers. Lodes’ Easy Peasy portable, rechargeable table lamps designed by Luca Nichetto. Molteni&C’s flight-of-fancy installation designed by Ron Gilad to mimic a luxury airliner featuring the Round D.154.5 armchair (designed by Gio Ponti in 1954 and reissued by Molteni&C in collaboration with the Gio Ponti Archives). And FiammettaV’s marble accessories, which dotted TM Italia’s display.
Images: Miniforms / Lodes / Molteni & C / FiammettaV
GLASS ACT
This 700-year-old lighting legend continues to keep us on our toes with each of their enigmatic glass structures. In addition to wowing in their Via Durini concept showroom designed by vandersandestudio, the Venetian lighting brand recently lent their glass influence to icons Dolce & Gabbana during Venice Fashion Week. Now that’s some seriously chic lighting—currently booking our trip to Venice to watch this creative magic in action!
GINORI 1735
Walking into Ginori 1735’s atelier in Milan is like walking into a dream. One that smells heavenly. In this olfactory reverie called La Compagnia di Caterina, you’ll be visited by the historical characters of Caterina De’ Medici: the amazon, the lover, the scholar, the companion, the favourite, the friar, the lady, and the fire-master. Imagined into life by Luca Nichetto, this cast of players is personified through candles, diffusers, incense burners, and scenting statues—most handmade using porcelain, a material the brand has been using since its inception in 18th-century Florence. Photos via Ginori 1735
FINISHING TOUCH
Bertazzoni’s Modern Series features a built-in oven with a hand-applied copper patina. Aside from obsessively admiring the artisan aspect that combines glass and precious metals, we also love that everything but the full-touch control panel can be recycled. (PS, how cute is that Buster + Punch latch on the cabinetry?) Photo by @ytacreative.se for @erikolssonsthlm via Bertazzoni
ROCK CANDY
Just when we thought we couldn’t possibly love Patricia Urquiola any more, we walked into Budri and the Architexture experience she designed there—dripping in dramatic velvet draperies, marble and onyx. We’re still not over it. Located at Foro Buonaparte 60 / Photo by Luca Casonato via Budri.
HIDE AND SEEK
Aluminum tubing, ash wood veneer in a moka finish, matte bronze feet, and sumptuously soft, plaited leather compose the oh-so chic Plot Modular Room Dividers by Poltrona Frau. Dreamed to life by GamFratesi, this unique furnishing is a celebration of simplicity and privacy. The iconic duo also debuted a new outdoor collection that already has us counting the days until summer. Image via Poltrona Frau
© Triennale Milano / Gianluca Di Ioia
Dressed for the occasion, the Museo del Design Italiano, housed in Triennale Milano, was transformed into a comprehensive exhibition that told the rich narrative of Italian design throughout history, including the last hundred years of Triennale and Salone del Mobile itself. The Nuova 500 D, circa 1960, by Dante Giacosa for Fiat made a special appearance as an iconic symbol of the Made in Italy label.
And, not to worry if you missed supersalone. From Bianca D’aniello’s feel-good boutique and handcrafted gypsy earrings in the Brera Design District, to Monica Castiglioni’s moody museum-like atelier and sculptural bronze rings on via Pastrengo, to a nightcap in Bar Basso’s peachy, intimate corner booth beneath Gabriel Scott light fixtures, and Villa Necchi Campiglio’s drool-worthy decorative arts interiors, private pool and gardens, there’s no shortage of inspiration to glean year-round and bring back home with you.
Images: Bianca D’aniello / @monicacastiglioniatelier + @leslie_kolosinski