Best of Supersalone & Milan Design Week 2021, Part 02.

Every April, the streets of Milan flood to welcome an international spectrum of designers, architects, and artists for a week-long immersion into leading contemporary design. This celebration is known as Salone del Mobile, Milano and 2021 marked its 60th year anniversary in practice.

However, this year was quite unlike any other as we know. With the pandemic’s toll and limitations, the mere thought of people flooding any confine of space, outside or in, was enough to thwart the attendance of veteran visitors and big brand investment. As one yearly Salone devotee told me, this year’s version would be “baby Salone,” another told me, “it simply wouldn’t be worth it,” others, unfortunately, could not leave their respective countries to make the pilgrimage.

Frankly, I wouldn’t have known the difference of what’s worth or scale as this was my first visit to the lauded design Mecca with my familial team at Hello Human, an international PR collective based in New York City. I was simply lucky to be there. Another first for me is this: A byline with a design vanguard like Yellowtrace who, due to Australia’s lockdown, was unable to attend.

So, Australia, and beyond, here’s my rookie attempt at delivering Salone and Milan Design Week 2021 to your front door without any pre-existing context other than those forewarnings.

You can visit Part 01 of our mega wrap-up focusing on group shows like Alcova where Lindsey Adelman’s Paradise showcased collaborative masterworks, and magnificent installations like Hermes’ gargantuan presentation, and so forth.

As the saying goes, quality always trumps quantity. And even if this year’s work was at a minimized scale, there was a shimmering silver lining—resilience. Salone 2021 revealed a creative Renaissance that was diligently at work during the pandemic who then came to the surface in Milan with an eager response to design’s collective future before we are left only to react.

At large, I saw a lack of limitation. New hybridities of materials occurred all at once, like with Giopato and Coombes’ Milky Way Collection, shown in more detail below.

It was clear to me that in 2020, a tenacious band of designers and curators stole at opportunity with whatever tools and materials were left at hand to make things that really mattered. Supersalone 2021’s standout exhibitors, mentioned below (and in our Part 01 highlights of this Milan mega-report), excited and uplifted to challenge paradigms and move the conversation forward. Quickly, we were reminded why we descend upon an entire city, yearly if we can, in the first place. And enlivened by their contagious inspiration, I would be lucky to return in April 2022 to one day become this aforementioned devotee.

Written by Meggie Sullivan of Hello Human, a global PR company for small scale design studios.

SURFACES

Budri’s new Architexture collection, designed by Patricia Urquiola, was presented at the Budri Showroom in Foro Buonaparte. 

Architexture was inspired by the Italian architectural tradition, with minimal and linear shapes “leave voice to marble, the protagonist of modern and elegant tables.”

At the Budri showroom, a space representative of 55 years in daring marble interventions, Patricia Urquiola’s collection fell right into tradition. Architexture recounted her refreshed lens on Italy’s greatest architectural feats.

The geometric collection of eight tables of varying heights and sizes summoned iconic elements (and of course, its mountain-made stone) throughout the ages of Italian architecture and design.

Materiorama by Constance Guisset for Fenix Scenario. Photography by Giulio Boem.

Materiorama by Constance Guisset for Fenix Scenario. Photography by Giulio Boem.

FENIX Scenario hosted Materiorama, a sensory itinerary conceived by French designer Constance Guisset who championed the contrast between innovative surface materials as the star of the show.

Taking place within the FENIX showroom in the Brera Design District, a series of eight mini-experiences deployed an unexpected sequence of material installations in unique combinations.

In Lissone (a town just outside of Milan), Cleaf presented Retail Spaces by Zaven — an installation that explored new ways of interpreting the Cleaf collection in various types of retail projects. Four “microarchitectures” — dedicated to Fashion, Food, Furniture and the Future — welcomed the visitors by suggesting possible applications of the surfaces. Photography by Delfino Sisto Legnani and Melania Dalle Grave, DSL Studio.

Cleaf Retail Spaces. Photography by Delfino Sisto Legnani and Melania Dalle Grave, DSL Studio.

Casa Mutina, showcased an exhibition that championed the new Din collection by Konstantin Grcic. Photo by Delfino Sisto Legnani.

What do you get when you cross Konstantin Grcic with Mutina? Major hotness. Might as well kill us now, cause we’re already dead. 

Din by Konstantin Grcic for Mutina. In German, DIN is the acronym for Deutsches Institut für Normierung (German Institute for Standardization), as well as A4 sheet of paper. Grcic drew inspiration from this concept and conceived the entire collection in an extremely rational, almost mathematical way, by implementing a specific modular logic that consists of a contemporary interpretation of the traditional mosaic. The range of elements offers a wide scope of possible applications, from simple concepts to the most complex ones, demonstrating almost unlimited flexibility.

“Hotel Chimera” Capsule Collection by Elena Salmistraro for CEDIT.

In parallel to Florim’s launch of Sensi Pigmenti at Foro Buonaparte, CEDIT unveiled “Hotel Chimera”, a capsule collection by Elena Salmistraro comprising 80 unique ceramic artworks — each one hand-signed by the Milanese designer — reinterpreting the illustrations created for the launch of the “Chimera” collection (previously featured here).

Presented with an expressive and symbolic power inspired by Greek mythology, this capsule collection supports a charitable cause, with all proceeds from the sale donated to funding inclusive projects that engage individuals with the art world—promoted by the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and mainly directed toward supporting visually impaired children.

LIGHTING

Cristina Giopato & Christopher Coombes with their installation, Fragments of Infinity, hosted in their gallery, via San Maurilio 19. 

Sublime details of Fragments of Infinity by Giopato & Coombes.

Opening their new permanent exhibition at via San Maurilio 19, Milan-based Giopato and Coombes, presented Fragments of Infinity. An expression of our stirring imaginations crystallized, The Milky Way Collection the architecture and design duo’s latest act.

Founders, Cristiana and Christopher negotiated linear boundaries, material weights and desired finishes to orchestrate a stunning dialogue of components—Murano glass orbs, white onyx ornamentations, and aluminium frames turned into gold-leafed capsules of light. The sweetest detail were the magnetic ends disguised in the light capsules, allowing us to delegate or elongate its glow as a designer too.

Revisit our recent feature on this illustrious duo here.

Motive Ceiling Light by Atelier Areti.

Tube & Globe Floor and Tube with Globes & Cone Wall Light by Atelier Areti.

Bonhomme Floor Light by Atelier Areti.

Array Floor and Oyster Floor by Atelier Areti.

Alicanto by Francesco Librizzi for FontanaArte.

Swan by Bernhard Osann for Nemo Lighting.

265 Chromatica reissued by Flos, originally designed by Paolo Rizzatto in 1973. Photo by Omar Sartor. 

Parentesi 50 from Flos in Turquoise & Orange Signal Finish, designed by Achille Castiglioni & Pio Manzu in 1971.

Tom Dixon with one 10 LED light sculptures created for the Black Light Installation at the Valextra boutique on Via Manzone.

Tom Dixon (who clearly loves his photo taken with his gear, no?), seen here with the newly launched Press Cone Light.

My Moon Light by Marcantonio for Seletti.

My Moon Light by Marcantonio for Seletti.

FURNITURE

French brand La Chance took residence within Hannes Peer Studio in Milan. Seen here is the rather lovely marble Lamina table, designed by Peer. Photo by Nathalie Krag.

Marmini Lounge Chair is the stuff sculptural dreams are made of. Photo by Nathalie Krag.

Marmini stool is a bit of a cutie too. Photo by Nathalie Krag.

La Chance at Hannes Peer Studio. Photo by Nathalie Krag.

“For the first time in my career as an architect and designer, I decided to open the doors of my secret sanctuary: my studio apartment,” says Hannes Peer who presented his inner sanctum in collaboration with La Chance, the Parisian furniture brand he’s been working with since 2020.

“We have long exchanged on the best way to present the news collection I designed for La Chance. Several places were considered, but the idea of ​​showing my rooms in my own studio apartment, the place where these pieces were designed, ultimately came to the fore,” explains Peer. Killer move.

Acerbis at Spotti Milano. Photo by Amir Farzad. See more here.

Florian by Vico Magistretti, reissued by Acerbis. Photo by Amir Farzad.

Acerbis unveiled their retrospective-futuristic Remasters collection within a newly renovated showroom, under the direction of design duo Francesco Meda and David Lopez Quicoces.

Taking seven archival drawings from Vico Magistretti, Nando Vigo, Gainfranco Frattini, Giotto Stoppino, Lodovico Acerbis, Lella and Massimo Vignelli, and Roberto Monsani, Acerbis highlighted a time of experimentalism to refocus on the zeitgeist of our future.

9000 Sofa by Tito Agnoli for Arflex. It’s love!

One more, because hot damn. 9000 Sofa by Tito Agnoli for Arflex.

Mikado Shelf by Federico Peri for Baxter.

Milano Bed by Paola Navone for Baxter.

Barret by Draga & Aurel for Baxter.

Baxter vibes. We dig.

Togrul table by Gordon Guillaumier for Tacchini, and Pigreco chair, Tobia Scarpa’s graduation project at the University of Venice in 1959, the first product ever designed by the Italian architect. Photo by Andrea Ferrari.

Victoria seating collection by David/Nicolas for Tacchini. Photo by Andrea Ferrari.

Victoria seating collection by David/Nicolas for Tacchini. Photo by Andrea Ferrari.

Orsola, designed in 1970 by Gastone Rinaldi, reissued by Tacchini. Photo by Andrea Ferrari.

Totoro by Kateryna Sokolova for Driade.

Ancas Sideboard designed by Chiara Andreatti, made by Pierpaolo Mandis for Pretziada.

Left: Side Table by Chiara Andreatti for Potocco. Timoclea centrepiece by Chiara Andreatti for Paola C. Photo by Sara Magni.

Bold Chairs by Christophe de la Fontaine for Dante – Goods and Bads.

Serpentine Leather Sofa by Christophe de la Fontaine for Dante – Goods and Bads.

Pearls Table lamps by Benjamin Hopf for Dante – Goods and Bads.

Left: Hearing Nr5 and Right: Remember Me, both by Aylin Langreuter for Dante – Goods and Bads.

Intersection Chair by Neri&Hu for La Manufacture.

Sengu Table and Dudet Small Armchair by Patricia Urquiola for Cassina. Photo by Valentina Sommariva.

Edison Table by Vico Magistretti reissued by Cassina. Photo by Valentina Sommariva.

Radio by Franco Albini (left) and Soriana Lounges by Afra & Tobia Scarpa, reissued by Cassina. Photo by Valentina Sommariva.

TEXTILES

Dagalla by Edoardo Piermattei for cc-tapis. Photo by Claudia Zalla.

Left: Dagalla, Formation 1 by Edoardo Piermattei. Above: Venus Power, Pink by Patricia Urquiola.

Venus Power by Patricia Urquiola for cc-tapis. Photo by Claudia Zalla.

Ombra by Muller Van Severen for cc-tapis. Photo by Claudia Zalla.

Patricia Urquiola is no stranger to CC-Tapis. Among many other creative responsibilities in Milan and beyond, she’s been working with the Italian rug design company since 2016. Her newest collection continues its tactic of being far from traditional, featuring a slew of bold colours and otherworldly shapes that paused me in my tracks from the street upon first glance.

Tapis, who are well-known for their bespoke and considered approach towards contemporary hand-knotted rugs, celebrated their return to Milan Design Week 2021 by outfitting their newly renovated showroom with a series of new works from Urquiola, Muller Van Severen and Edoardo Piermattei. Visitors were invited to see, touch and experience the three new collections joined by other design-world favourites from years past.

Technicolour curtain and rug by Peter Saville for Kvadrat — a craft-orientated, sculptural collection that visually and haptically translates the industrial processes in textile production.

Technicolour curtain by Peter Saville for Kvadrat.

Technicolour rugs by Peter Saville for Kvadrat.

Technicolour textile samples.

Technicolour yarn colours. The name of the collection relates to the spectrum of bold hues commonly used to mark flocks of sheep “that are spectacularly incongruous in pastoral settings.”

Kvadrat unveiled their new high-end residential showroom in Milan, designed by Vincent Van Duysen.

[Images courtesy of the designers. Photography credits as noted.]