Milan Design Week 2017: Preview Highlights
What’s on our “Don’t Miss” list for this year’s festival
Milan Design Week lives up to the hype of being a world class design destination; it’s the most important design event on our calendar and is made up of many, many, many fairs and exhibits spread all over Milan. While Il Salone is the traditional fair anchoring the week Milan comes alive with Fuorisalone, a collection of design programming that spans the entire city, from Brera to Tortona, Lambrate and Centrale, the latter of which will be staged in unused storage vaults underneath Milan’s Central Station. Though there are countless designs we’re eager to see, we have selected a few highlights before 2017’s MDW as a starting point.
Tom Dixon’s MULTIPLEX
Taking over a cinema on via Manzoni to bring his MULTIPLEX to Milan, Dixon‘s installation is located in the Brera district. The happening will include new lights like the shifting CUT and laser-cut TUBE, a new collaboration with IKEA that invites owners to “hack” the furniture, and a rubber shop in collaboration with Pirelli and Moto Guzzi to highlight limited edition tires designed by Dixon.
Bang & Olufsen’s A New Way To Live With Sound
Always ones to question how audial objects occupy a space, Danish multimedia makers Bang & Olufsen will share a new sound product that intends to distill where sound comes from while being a statement design object. The event in the Brera district will mark the worldwide debut of the item too.
Studiopepe’s The Visit
Milan agency Studiopepe is hosting multiple events across the city but The Visit—a customized apartment also in the Brera district—is a standout. The display seeks to embody traditional Milanese living while showcasing furniture and objects from artists and brands the agency respects. Visits are by appointment only and will continue after Design Week.
Stellar Works’ House Within A House
Worldwide by way of Shanghai, Stellar Works will be exhibiting multiple new pieces within an installation by architects and designers including Yabu Pushelberg, Space Copenhagen, CRÈME and Stellar Works creative directors Neri & Hu. The housing piece will be a “wooden house-like structure” within Via Tortona 31 intended to inspire homey nostalgia.
MINI + SO-IL Architect’s MINI LIVING: Breathe
MINI and SO-IL (a Brooklyn-based architectural design firm) have teamed up to share an urban home concept constructed with as few resources possible. “Breathe” is the third entry in the MINI LIVING series and intends to consider how we’re housed in constantly shifting city environments.
Everything is Connected
Norwegian Crafts will present a contemporary crafts and design fair featuring works from the Scandinavian country. “Everything is Connected” (in Ventura Lambrate) will feature 30 of Norway’s most exciting talents and is curated by Studio Greiling’s Katrin Greiling.
Various Student Shows
Lambrate will be showcasing many accomplished designers but is also of note as it brings together one of the most impressive collections of university exhibitions in Milan. Talents will include student work from Central Saint Martins in the United Kingdom, Kobe Design University in Japan, Universitat Politècnica de València in Spain, and many more. It’s always one of our favorite sources for up and coming talent.
Baas + Lensvelt’s May I Have Your Attention Please?
Interiors brand Lensvelt has collaborated with design goofball Maarten Baas to debut his new 101 Chair via a noisy installation. The piece will feature an assumed call-and-response between seating and sound objects, making an experience that blends the theatrical with the interior.
Lee Broom’s Time Machine
For his 10th year anniversary showing, British furniture and lighting designer Lee Broom will take viewers through his history by way of an installation that re-imagines iconic and new works all in white, which will be available in limited editions of ten pieces each and represent his first limited edition items. Time Machine will debut Broom’s latest design: a grandfather clock that is made of Carrara marble. It’s being shown at a new location—Ventura Centrale—conveniently located inside of Milan’s main train station, where a series of long dormant storage areas are being brought to life with several exhibits.
Kingsley Ng’s Poetic Tram Ride
This exhibition is a 25-minute tram ride from the Duomo to the La Triennale that will turn the vehicle into a giant camera obscura, blurring the city with cinematic depictions. The project comes from Hong Kong designer Kingsley Ng and will be a unique translation Milan’s past, present, and future aesthetics.
Images courtesy of respective brands
