Organic Overflow at Milan Design Week 2019
Floral use in furniture, installations and more
To offset the precision frequently associated with furniture design, many participants in Milan Design Week 2019 used elements from nature to add soft, organic overflow to their presentations. In many instances, we’re simply referring to the calculated use of trees and plants near or atop artificial elements of design. With two specific exhibitions, however, floral components composed the very infrastructure of the creation.
From Normann Copenhagen‘s whimsical chair to Raf Simons and Kvadrat‘s carpet of flowers, nature spoke to guests directly. And, whether we were in Tom Dixon’s The Manzoni restaurant or the Alcova art installation, greenery disrupted the norm as it soothed the soul. Plants played their part over and over again.
As consumers, we often affix rigid forms to functionality. We understand tables, chairs and so much more because of design language that’s been emphasized over the decades. As designers continue to hone these signifiers and meet the expectations of users, a lesson has been affirmed that greenery and its inherent chaos will always make for a valuable partner.
Images by Josh Rubin
