Zona Tortona – Moroso, Neoreal Wonder, Foscarini, e15, Dedon, Design Junction, Moooi, Tom Dixon | Milan 2011.

Top image shows iconic bridge over Porta Genova station, leading to the start of Zona Tortona on via Tortona. Below – scenes around Zona Tortona.

Holy smokes. I have yet ANOTHER epic Milan post for you today. I really need to learn how to cull, don’t I? Or perhaps cut down on the enthusiasm factor? Both of these things would really help me a lot, especially as these posts are not letting me get to bed before 1am (if I’m lucky). Anyway, I’m pretty sure you guys aren’t here to hear about my problems, right? So shall we? You ready? Excellent – let’s go.

Historically a major design hub for young up-and-coming designers and the biggest satellite event outside the gigantic fairground at Rho, Zona Tortona lacked a lot of the atmosphere, branding and a sense of place this year. Rumour says that the previous owner of this design precinct is now in jail, which saw Tortona under new management this time around.

Regardless of this fact, Zona Tortona remains as a home to a number of big name designers and major brands who followed the influx of young designers and the crowds over the years during the huge growth of this area. It will be interesting to see what happens with Tortona in the coming years and if the new organisers manage to return it to it’s former glory. Who knows. Surely they will work on bringing back those legendary street parties, also known as ‘desinger’s schoolies’.

Below are some of the things I saw.

Dip in Space, exhibition by HEAD, Haute Ecole D’Art Et De Designin Geneva, which is led by French designer Matali Crassetand Alexandra Midal. The exhibition “offered a new approach to the creation of a space. We usually see products and objects that are defined by its function roaming the entire city of Milan. Dip in Space breaks that mold and fully immerses its viewers into a multi-sensorial experience in the design process.“ Ummm… yeah. I don’t really know about that – sounds like a lot of design w@nk to me. It was an interesting looking exhibition nevertheless. Read more about it here.

Top two images show work by Portuguese designers. Limited edition cabinet in top right (“Pixel” by Boca do Lobo) was a standout piece for me this year. Bottom image – stools by Pigr.

It was really fun stumbling across the workshop of Silver Tree, artistic manufacturers of metal (I’m guessing that they also build props and sets for theater, film and television.) The space was their actual workshop woven into a design event. Examples of their work included everything from silver cups and saucers, life-size bronze horse and chariot, mobile robots gliding around carrying serving trays with lollies, life size tea-pots, giant barrels, and various other ornate objects of curiousiy. It was kitch and fabulous at the same time.

The ultimate piece these guys created was ahorse encrusted with Swarovski crystals. This life-size horse was lit from underneath and spinning to the tune of Guns n Roses ‘Patience’. What? I know. Truly bizarre and absolutely brilliant!

Entry to Superstudio. Left – Minis hanging from a crane in a memorable marketing undertaking. Right – façade of a temporary structure featuring brick blocks in the shape of a woman’s face. Clever.

Loving the new cabinets from Successful living from Diesel for Moroso. Bottom – ‘Chubby Chic’ seating collection puts comfort first.

Neoreal Wonder by Canon at Superstudio Più. The installation by Torafu Architects and WOW showcased Cannon digital imaging. Incredibly captivating stuff.

Photos © Daisuke Ohki, courtesy of Canon.

Foscarini‘s theatrical installation titled Metamorphosis was done with lights synchronized to music. Demonstrating Foscarini Evolution, where architects and designers can create large light sculptures using the standard product.

Top – Little People by Kenneth Cobonpue. Dragon’s Tail by Lisa Robinson for Kenneth Cobonpue.

Slovenian lighting brand Vertigo Bird presented Cabinet Bestiarium – new lamps by designers including Mathias Hahn, Uli Budde and A + A Cooren.

One of my faves – photos from e15 showroom on via Tortona. Extreme love! I blogged about these guys back here.

Dedon showroom on via Savona was sporting a Moroccan theme and a bizarre outdoor installation featuring their new suspended seat-pod called Nestrest.

Giant upholstered apple at the entry to Design Junction held at the beautiful Zegna Headquarters on Via Savona.

Beautifully crafted timber furniture by London based company Channels at Design Junction. Bottom image – another standout piece for me was this ABC Screen, commissioned by Wallpaper* Handmade series and undertaken in collaboration with graphic designer Anthony Burrill and Channels.

Also at Design Junction, New York based lighting company Roll & Hill presented a couple of lights I really loved. Endless (top image) is a modular lighting system with infinite configuration possibilities, inspired by 1970s super-graphics. Knotty Bubbles by Lindsey Adelman (bottom image), series of hand-blown bubbles wrapped in knotted rope. I blogged about Lindsey’s amazing lights back here.

Moooi showroom at the end of via Tortona. Bottom right image of the Gothic chairs by Studio Job.

Tom Dixon presented MULTIPLEX, a pop-up viewing theatre, broadcasting centre, restaurant, shop and gallery in partnership with BlackBerry PlayBook.

Some new, old, and re-released lighting by Tom Dixon. Do you guys think Tom likes a bit of gold? Hmmm… Not sure.

[Unless otherwise noted, all images © yellowtrace.]