MDW REPORT #MILANOGRAM2017

The sensation of MDW17 can be resumed in one word: overwhelming. As usual, despite Salone del Mobile, all districts – Lambrate, Tortona, Brera, San Ambrogio were featuring numerous events and expositions.

Most featured installations od MDW2017 with the #milanogram2017 were: installation for COS has enlisted the help of London-based Studio Swine led by designers Azusa Murakami and Alexander Groves. The duo created a “blossoming sculpture” inside a decommissioned cinema, that was emitting bubbles that would burst to emit gentle fog and smell by contacting the skin. If touched in a textile glove; Another hit: Le Refuge bed by Marc Angel – metaphor of the relax oasis from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Pink seemed to be taking over many trendy showcases this year like Cassina 9.0 installation – shown at Herzog & de Meuron’s Fondazione – showcased pieces from the company’s archive. The area decorated in pale pink as the the color of the moment – showcased historic furniture, alongside projected imagery.

One of the venues I would like to highlight – of course – Inspired in Barcelona: In & Out @ Palacio Isimbardi, where the designs of Spanish Catalonian companies were presented in the inner yard of the palace with a lot of Mediterranean charm – among them the Designs of BD Barcelona design, Marset, Kettal, Andreu World and others.

Another palace was hosting Jaime Hayon’ whimsical Stone Age Folk exhibition. The Spanish designer used Ceaserstone quartz, metal and stained glass to create a series of large translucent faces, and encouraged visitors to take selfies beside them.

Farg&Blanche young Swedish designers duo impressed everyone by individual black space in the city center full of new prototypes and brave material experiments like cooked felt, stitched metal and wood and pieces upholstery in rigid Bolon flooring fabric. Bolon collaborated this year with various top brands, BD Barcelona among them, to reveal to the intriguing public experiments of the iconic design pieces upholstered in the plastic and textile weaved fabric.

Exhibition in spazio Orlandi featured as always loads of contemporary design of young but established designers like Nika Zshupanc, Piet hein Eek, but most “tasty” was the expo of young Dutch designers at the basement level of the gallery.

The massive party thrown on the second day of MDW2017 by Swedish furniture giant IKEA is a highlight of the Lambrate design district. The home furnishings brand will be exploring issues around urbanization with its mini festival, taking over a warehouse space in Milan’s Lambrate district. Ikea has organized talks by prominent designers and brands, that presented news for Swedish brand this year like Tom Dixon and Hay; workshops; installations; music; and prototyping demonstrations. The key focus on modern lifestyle was centered around a living room. Rooms For Life stage is an interactive set made up of different living rooms and the new IKEA design objects. Most notable and widely spoken collaboration seemed to be Multiplex sofa by Tom Dixon for Ikea.

And impossible not to mention spectacular venue in Ventura Centrale featuring in its dark atmosphere generous spaces installations by Lee Broom, Marten Baas and Luca NIchetto.