Radical Italian Design Excellence: Zanotta Celebrates 70th Anniversary With a New Milan Showroom.

Zanotta’s new Milan flagship showroom on Via Durini, designed by Calvi Brambilla.

Z24 storage unit by Muller Van Severen.

Left: Gomma Armchair by De Pas, D’Urbino and Lomazzi (1970). Above: Giuno Armchair by Calvi Brambilla.

Ta.Ba.Ce. coffee table by Philippe Malouin.

Left: 880 Campiello+ Zanotta Armchair by De Pas, D’Urbino and Lomazzi. Above: 792 Zavolo console table by Zaven.

At this year’s Milan Design Week, Zanotta had a lot to celebrate. The Italian furniture brand commemorated 70 years in the business with a new flagship showroom on Via Durini, designed by art director of the brand, Calvi Brambilla. In addition to debuting several new products along with re-editions by great masters of Italian design, Zanotta announced a comprehensive revision of its colour range that puts a new spin on the classic collection.

Spanning two levels and over 500 square metres, the showroom is characterised by an interplay of rough planes and smooth, reflective surfaces, offering a space fit for pieces with a strong personality. The Calvi Brambilla-designed interior continues a relationship between the studio and the brand since 2015. “Collaborating with Zanotta is a privilege and a constant source of inspiration for us, and we are excited to continue contributing to the creation of iconic designs and the craftsmanship excellence that characterises Zanotta.” Paolo Brambilla and Fabio Calvi of Calvi Brambilla elaborate.

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Zaza Max sofa by Zaven.

Bol Table by Zaven.

Giuno Armchair by Calvi Brambilla.

Top view of Z24 storage unit by Muller Van Severen.
 

Maggiolina Lounge Chair by Marco Zanuso.

Z24 storage unit by Muller Van Severen.

Opening its doors in 1954 as an upholstery workshop with a focus on the production of sofas and armchairs, founder Aurelio Zanotta’s vision quickly superseded the largely utilitarian scope of a local upholsters to create a brand renowned worldwide as a symbol of Italian radical design.

An early adopter of emerging materials and technologies, Zanotta worked with many of the greats of Italian design including Carlo Mollino, Achille Castigliono, Superstudio, Alessandro Medini, Ettore Sottsass, Gae Aulenti and Joe Colombo. Now a legacy brand with more than 150 currently available items by 143 designers hailing from 18 countries, its catalogue is marked by an incredible feast of diversity.

For Milan Design Week 2024, the company unveiled new collections by Muller Van Severen, Philippe Malouin, Zaven and Calvi Brambilla against the fresh backdrop of the new showroom. “Zanotta is a very lively brand because it greatly stimulates the creativity of the designers, who we invited to delve deeper into the radical history,” explains the company’s recently appointed CEO, Luca Fuso.

Muller Van Severen debuted Z24, a series of storage furniture including a sideboard, a bedside table, and two low containers in a new colour palette. The designers played with light and its absence to create a game of shadows made possible by the finishes in laminated wood and matte lacquer. “We are truly happy and excited about our collaboration with Zanotta, a historic company that has been producing iconic furniture since the 1960s and continues to do so today,” Fien Muller and Hannes Van Severen share.

In his first collaboration with Zanotta, Philippe Malouin designed a collection of low ceramic tables named Ta.ba.ce. Malouin was inspired by the craftsmanship of ceramic vases and unglazed bases, a result of the adhesion of the surface to the walls of the oven during vitrification.

Frames by Muller Van Severen.

The duo explore manipulation of steel in a new collection of sculptural wall lights and mirrors, connecting reality with the imaginary...

The legendary Quaderna Collection by Superstudio.

Reale Table, homage to Carlo Mollino.

Archival sketch by Achille Castiglioni of his iconic pieces Sella Stool (left) and Mezzadro stool, designed in 1957.

870 Karelia Chair by Liisi Beckmann.

630 Cumano folding table by Achille Castiglioni.

400 Albero Demountable flower pot stand by Achille Castiglioni.

Venetian designers Zaven presented ZA:ZA Max, an extension of the ZA:ZA line first introduced in 2023 to include a new sofa and bed made exclusively from recycled and recyclable materials. The duo also presented the new Zavolo collection, composed of coffee tables of different shapes and sizes inspired by the world of aeronautics.

Calvi Brambilla were kept busy not only designing the showroom but also presenting two important projects alongside it. The Tidone wooden table and the sculptural Giuno armchair, available in fabric or leather upholstery.

“2024 marks a fundamental chapter in Zanotta’s relaunch journey. We are excited to announce a comprehensive revision of the colour range, which also involves products already in the catalogue, along with the introduction of three new fabrics and the total renewal of leather coverings,” Luca Faso continues.

From the new to the classic, like Carlo Mollino’s Fenis 2051 Chair and Milo Mirror, Achille Castigliono’s Mezzadro Stool and Albero Demountable flower pot stand, to the legendary Quaderna collection by Superstudio, Zanotta continues to be a voice for radical design in Italy and worldwide.

Zanotta is available in Australia exclusively from Cult Design. For more information, click here.

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[Images courtesy of Zanotta.]