During Milan’s Salone del Mobile 2022, More Space toured the city with the Space team as they explored the installations, design events and furniture brands that stood out, and talked to the designers and makers, including Piero Lissoni, Carola Bestetti and Niccolo Mazzei, about the ideas and trends in the making. Here, in the first of a six-part series, we set the scene with a visual deep-dive into the world’s most fascinating design event. So stay tuned, there's more to come!
‘Milan is back’ read the headlines as Milan’s Salone del Mobile opened the doors to the international design industry and firmly reinstated the city as the centre of design once again. With hundreds of events and shows and fewer people this year, ‘You could see things better, it felt like summer and happiness and everyone was relaxed,’ explains Michelle McEwen, Group Head of Marketing at Space. ‘Furniture was considered, beautifully resolved and well-presented.’
The most talked about installations unfolded in and around the design centre and along the industrial fringe of the city as Milan design week’s theme ‘Between Space and Time’, hosted both big and small furniture brands who boosted their presence beyond the Fiera Milano exhibition space, while Hermès, Prada, Dior and Stella McCartney upped the style stakes, forging design partnerships via shows, talks and new collaborations. In the case of McCartney, the designer launched the illustrative ‘Fungi Forest’ fabric collection with B&B Italia (with a capsule collection to be announced soon), and at Dior, Philippe Starck exhibited his 'Miss Dior' Medallian Chair.
From Baxter's 18th century villa on Lake Como, Giorgetti's acquisition of a palazzo along via Spiga in the centre of the city's fashion precinct, to Alcova and its adventurous smaller design shows set amongst the rambling gardens and empty buildings of an abandoned military hospital, the week was filled with design and architecture and very local Milanese moments. As Derek Lim, General Manager, Space Asia, remarked, ‘The scale and detail of installations was incredible, reinforcing that Space brands continue to inspire and influence how we live.’
At Giorgetti’s new address at via della Spiga 31 in the heart of Milan’s Fashion District, a 24-hour window show invited passers-by to discover the installation by art director Giancarlo Bosio who transformed the ground floor into a stage to bring the brand’s technical, artistic and artisanal skills to life. Photo c/o Space.
'... it felt like summer and happiness and everyone was relaxed. Furniture was considered, beautifully resolved and well-presented.’
Michelle McEwen, Group Head of Marketing, Space
Piero Lissoni at the B&B Italia showroom with his new Pochette chair. Our interview with Lissoni to come! Photo c/o Space.
At B&B Italia, the re-launch of Le Bambole by Mario Bellini on its 50th birthday. Photo c/o Space.
The 'Fungi Forest' illustrative upholstery designed by Stella McCartney for B&B Italia to celebrate the re-launch of the iconic Le Bambole by Mario Bellini. Photo c/o B&B Italia.
Acerbis on show at the Salvatore Ferragamo boutique in Milan. Photo c/o Space.
Food and Fendi at Milan design week. Photo c/o Space.
Pop-up aperitivo on the streets of Milan. Photo c/o Space.
Edra's launch in the courtyard at the Palazzo Durini. Photo c/o Space.
Interview with Edra's Niccolo Mazzei inside Palazzo Durini – stay tuned for the film. Photo c/o Space.
Flos and the Bellhop Wall lights by Barber Osgerby. Photo c/o Space.
The Foscarini showroom in Milan featured the 'Garden of Eden' installation desinged by Ferruccio Laviani. Photo c/o Space.
Inside the "Garden of Eden' and the Tundra suspension light by Ferruccio Laviani for Foscarini. Photo c/o Space.
Lee Broom's Chant chandelier at Blindarte on via Palermo in Milan's Brera design district. Photo c/o Space.
The sculptural Serpentine light by Swedish design-duo Front for Moooi. Photo c/o Space.
The Aldora Sofa by Italian designer Cristina Celestino for Moooi. Photo c/o Space.
The Space team with the Belle team: Leonie Evans, Steve Cordoni, Michelle McEwen and Tanya Buchanan at Edra palazzo party. Photo c/o Space.
Kartell at the Milan Furniture Fair 2022. Photo c/o Space.
Australian brand SP01 was selected by Archiproducts for the 'Beauty is Balance' window installation. Photo c/o Space.
Almost every street in Milan had a design installation to explore. Photo c/o Space.
The Hermès installation focused on ‘lightness in the design of the object’ with four illuminated structures exhibiting objects and furniture inside. Photo c/o Space.
The Nifufar Depot exhibtion with an installation by Martino Gamper. Photo c/o Space.
The Alcova shows, here and following, were held in and around the rambling buildings and gardens of an old military hospital. Photos c/o Space.
The 'Spoken Lines' installation by the Moroccan artist Amine el Gotaibi at Alcova. Photo c/p Space.
Baxter's ‘La Casa Sul Lago’ on Lake Como, here and following, gave guests a sneak peak of the collection and the villa before it is transformed into a luxury hotel. Photos c/o Space.
Baxter's new Himba armchair designed by Roberto Lazzeroni. Photo c/o Space.
The Ginestra daybed by Antonino Sciortino for Baxter. Photo c/o Space.
