Colour and texture were centre stage during design week in Milan, with designers and manufacturers revealing new and archival pieces and actively minimising their impact on nature. Doing what Italian manufacturers do best, products were shaped by innovative technologies that focused on circular materials and production. At Kartell, Living Divani and B&B Italia that involved new recycled fabrics and manufacturing processes including novel innovations, like bio materials, recycled materials drawn from the waste stream, and the development of zero impact leather. As Leighton Clarke, Group CEO of Space remarked, 'Design sustainability was at the forefront, with brands sharing progress on research, new technologies and the challenges we are all addressing.'
Dotted around the city, broader exhibitions also illuminated the wave of positive change. Studio Formafantasma and Prada collaborated on the ‘Prada Frames’ symposium that explored design’s 'inextricable relationship to the natural environment’ with guests including Paola Antonelli and Alice Rawsthorn discussing their new book ‘Design Emergency’. The exhibition Forest Tales by AHEC and Studio Swine explored 22 pieces of wooden furniture with low and no-carbon footprints, including work by Heatherwick Studio. Fashion designer Stella McCartney continued her COP26 presentation in Glasgow, bringing material innovation that reduces the impact of the fashion industry via materials made from textile waste and mycelium. While Italian architect Carlo Ratti continued his investigation into design’s role in solving the environmental crisis by showing different forms of sustainable energy with ‘Feeling the Energy’.
The Hiray chair in metal photographed with designers Roberto and Ludovica Palombo. Along with the addition of new bio and recycled materials to the range, metal is another important material for Kartell's circular approach to production. Photos c/o Kartell.
As talks and exhibitions brought big ideas to the table, key brands delivered exciting developments. With the aim of building a totally circular manufacturing model, Kartell’s focus was on recycled (and recycleable) materials. New materials shaped pieces by Philippe Starck, Ferruccio Laviani, Rodolfo Dordoni and a collaboration with Illy Caffé, made from polypropylene, ABS and PMMA derived from pure industrial waste; bio materials derived from agricultural waste, polycarbonate 2.0 that generates green transparency from paper and cellulose waste; ceramics and fabrics using recycled materials, and bio finishings containing no chemical solvents.
This year B&B Italia celebrated 50 years with the re-edition of Le Bambole by Mario Bellini who first launched the now iconic design with the brand back in 1972. The re-design involved the use of new generation, recycled polyethylene derived from recycled PET and a circular approach to the collection's construction so that every element can be disassembled and recycled. B&B Italia also marked 10 years for the Tobi-Ishi table designed by Barber Osgerby with a special edition crafted from thin slices of matt white Carrara marble and glossy Marquinia black marble that takes the natural stone to another level.
More Space also caught up with Carola Bestetti and took a tour of the Living Divani exhibition at Corso Monforte in Milan. A key component of the collection is the range of new sustainable zero impact leathers and fabrics made in Italy from 100% recycled PET bottles (and are also 100% recyclable). Living Divani has identified the consumption of single-use plastic bottles as a key issue worldwide and has developed a mechanical process inside its factory that can now transform PET into polymers while it continues its decade-long development of zero impact leathers.
The Ticino chair designed by Shibuleru upholstered in zero impact leathers and fabrics developed with RaDa®. The new materials build on the brand's collection of circular leathers first introduced in 2015 after 10 years of research and development. Photos c/o Liviing Divani.
'Design sustainability was at the forefront, with brands sharing progress on research, new technologies and the challenges we are all addressing.'
Leighton Clarke, Group CEO, Space Furniture and Poliform
B&B Italia
Tobi-Ishi turns 10, with a special edition
Tobi-Ishi is defined by its three elements inspired by the ‘flying stones’ that dot the pools of water in Japanese gardens.‘To mark the 10th anniversary,’ explain designers, Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, ‘we looked at pre-medieval and medieval buildings in Italy and the incredible use of marble there. The new, celebratory Tobi-Ishi table in marble, utilises a material and technique that amplifies our deep personal love of both the country’s and B&B Italia’s design heritage.’ Enriched with new materials and finishes, including soft, honey-coloured natural elm wood, the highlight of the collection is the small indoor table crafted from alternate slices of matt white Carrara marble and glossy Marquinia black marble rich in refined veining and expressing the designers' search for absolute form.
Le Bambole relaunch
Part of the B&B Italia collection for half a century, Le Bambole has evolved. For its construction, the latest generation of recycled polyethylene was used, while elements in polyurethane foam and thermoplastic elastomers were added to shape the geometry and define comfort and breathability, all sheathed by an undercover derived from recycled PET. These design choices mean that every element in the new Le Bambole collection can be disassembled and recycled in a totally closed loop approach.
Living Divani
Featured with the latest collection of armchairs by Piero Lissoni (Clan) and San Francisco-based Shibuleru (Ticino), was a range of sustainable, zero impact leathers and fabrics developed with RaDa®, the group behind Living Divani's innovative leathers. Taking single-use plastic bottles out of the waste stream is a key focus for Living Divani and their range of new materials builds on the brand's Reviva® Collection of circular leathers first introduced in 2015 after 10 years of research and development.
Kartell
Hiray by Ludovica & Roberto Palomba
Hiray takes metal, one of the most important materials for the greening of the Kartell catalogue, and uses a welded wire process to shape it. The first of a series of new materials directions for the brand, the metal wires form well-defined yet lightweight structural parts of the collection that has been designed by longtime collaborators Ludovica and Roberto Palomba.
Re-Chair, a collaboration with Illy caffè
Two years in development and part of Kartell’s research into new materials and sustainable production techniques, the design group launched a new partnership with Illy caffè and a new chair made from waste coffee capsules. Re-Chair is the latest design by Antonio Citterio for Kartell and the first in a series of products that will eventually form a collection. ‘Our collaboration with Illy caffè is far more than a simple supply of recycled material,’ remarked Kartell’s president, Claudio Luti in Milan, ‘It embodies a whole new way of managing circular economy processes between two leading brands.’ It’s a process that involves recycling rejected coffee capsules from the Illy production process, Kartell regenerates the recycled material by grinding it and transforming it into granules suitable for injection moulding and turning the waste into long-lasting objects.
Le Bambole by Mario Bellini who first launched the now iconic design with the brand back in 1972. The re-design involved the use of new generation, recycled polyethylene derived from recycled PET and a circular approach to the collection's construction so that every element can be disassembled and recycled. Portrait c/o B&B Italia.
Le Bambole collection on show at B&B Italia's via Durini showroom during design week in Milan. Photo c/o B&B Italia.
New editions to Le Bambole collection include the Bamboletto double bed. Photo c/o B&B Italia.
Le Bambole by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia has been reworked with the latest generation of recycled materials that shape the geometry and add comfort and breathability. Photo c/o B&B Italia.
The special edition Tobi-Ishi table is crafted from alternate slices of matt white Carrara marble and glossy Marquinia black marble rich in refined veining and expressing the designers' search for absolute form. Photo c/o B&B Italia
Italian architect Carlo Ratti continued his investigation into design’s role in solving the environmental crisis by showing different forms of sustainable energy with the exhibition ‘Feeling the Energy’ at the Brera botanical gardens. Photos c/o Carlo Ratti.
The Ticino chair by San Francisco-based Shibuleru is upholstered in zero impact leathers and fabrics developed by Liviing Divani and RaDa®. Photos c/o Liviing Divani.
The Clan collection by Piero Lissoni embraces the zero impact collection of fabrics and leathers by Living Divani. Photo c/o Living Divani.
Sketch of Ferruccio Laviani's Fl/y lamp re-introduced in recycled materials and new colours including cola, bordeaux, oil, olive green and amber. Illustration c/o Kartell.
The 70s inspired Fl/y light designed by Ferruccio Laviani for Kartell, now re-introduced to the collection in circular materials. Photo c/o Kartell.
The AI chair that began in 2019 has grown into a collection that now includes the AI Stool light, a stool made from recycled materials and a more sustainable production process. Photo c/o Kartell.
Rodolfo Dordoni’s new K-furniture range for Kartell was complemented by a series of K-Lim rugs for indoor and outdoor and made from 100% recycled PET yarn. Photos c/o Kartell.
Part of Kartell’s research into new materials and sustainable production techniques, the design group launched a new partnership with Illy caffè and a new chair made from waste plastic 'offcuts' from the coffee maker's pod production. Photo c/o Kartell.
The new Papa chair designed by Philippe using recycled materials is an archetypal form for maximum comfort. Photo c/o Kartell.
The Kartell stand at Salone del Mobile featured Philippe Starck's Goodnight 'candle' made with recycled materials and a battery option for extra flexibility. Photo c/o Kartell.
Studio Formafantasma and Prada launched the ‘Prada Frames’ symposium that explored design’s 'inextricable relationship to the natural environment’ that helped illuminate the wave of positive change during the Milan Furniture Fair. Photo by Lorenzo Palizzolo © PRADA.
‘Our collaboration with Illy caffè is far more than a simple supply of recycled material. It embodies a whole new way of managing circular economy processes between two leading brands.’
Claudio Luti, President, Kartell
Lights by Ferruccio Laviani and Philippe Starck
Fl/y is back in recycled materials and new colours including cola, bordeaux, oil, olive green and amber. Along with Philippe Starck's Goodnight 'candle' with a base made from recycled materials, three light 'intensities' and a battery powered version. ‘The beautiful and natural light of candles was the first sign of our civilisation,’ remarked Philippe Starck. ‘The same applies today. Sadly, modernity does not likes candles. With Goodnight, Kartell has reinvented the purity of this iconic light to warm our dreams.'
AI collection and Papa chair by Philippe Starck
Philippe Starck is continuing to explore essential forms by journeying back to what he describes as ‘the primordial symbols’ that first inspired his design process. The AI chair that began in 2019 has grown into a collection that now includes the AI Stool light, a stool made from recycled materials and a more sustainable production process. Described by Kartell as the result of ‘thorough optimisation,’ during manufacturing three models can now be made from the same mould that saves on materials and energy. While the new Papa chair made from recycled materials is an archetypal form designed to comfortably support the body.
The K-factor by Rodolfo Dordoni
Rodolfo Dordoni’s new K-furniture range was complemented by a series of K-Lim rugs for indoor and outdoor and made from 100% recycled PET yarn. ‘Kartell’s evolving identify and the use of recycled plastic is intrinsic to the nature of the K-Lim rug,’ remarked Dordoni at its launch. The rug is available in two sizes and comes in two colour schemes: dark grey with beige fringe and light grey with blue fringe.
Stay tuned as More Space continues its report over the next few weeks, covering all the standout shows, designers and new products from the Salone del Mobile.
