ART & DESIGN

Il Salone del Mobile Preview

The annual furniture and design mega-fair kicks off April 17. Here’s a look at what you’ll be seeing around Milan.


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Photographer: Alexis Dahan
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Photographer: Alexis Dahan

As always, Moooi, at via Tortona 37, is unveiling some whimsical wonders for the Salone crowd. There’s Marcel Wanders’ new Valentine light (left), which from below looks like a bouquet of daisies, and a suite of graphic furniture (wardrobe, right) from Altdeutsche.

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Photographer: Alexis Dahan

Poltrona Frau’s new Manto sofa, on display at the Arnaldo Pomodoro Foundation on Via Solari 35, is essentially couture furniture: the handcrafted pleated portion is actually like a “cape”, and is completely removable.

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Photographer: Alexis Dahan

The latest Milan destination is MOST: a Tom Dixon creation that is taking over the National Museum of Science and Technology (Via Olona 6). Alongside exhibitions from the likes of Faye Toogood and new French design studio La Chance, guests can enjoy a pop-up restaurant housed in the dining room of a 16th century monastery (above) and two massive sheet metal machines which will punch and bend Tom Dixon steel chairs and lamps live on site for visitors.

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Photographer: Alexis Dahan

SodaStream and Yves Béhar teamed up to create a sleek new design for the SodaStream system. But possibly even cooler than making soda at home (and very welcome after a long day of wandering through showrooms) is the bar space designed by Béhar (above) that will provide all drinks at MOST throughout the week, making it the only bottle-free area at Salone.

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Photographer: Alexis Dahan

Tumi’s new collaboration with Dror Benshetrit is launching in a specially commissioned space at MOST designed by Jules Wright of The Wapping Project—known for their wild site-specific installations. The new geometric collection (that boasts a host of new patents), takes center stage in the immersive media experience of video, photos, live performance, and music that tell the story of an adventurous secret agent.

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Photographer: Alexis Dahan

Nendo will unveil a characteristically sleek collection—including one of the most stylish bathtubs we’ve ever seen (above left) in collaboration with Bisazza, and the newest installment of their 1% collection (no, there is no political motivation, only 100 of each are made, making each one 1% of the whole) at via Savona 56.

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Photographer: Alexis Dahan

Tom Dixon’s newest lighting creations, Luminosity, will be unveiled at MOST, the latest Salone destination of his design. The pieces will be dramatically displayed at the Via Olona entrance, which leads visitors through four interconnected tunnels of light.

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Photographer: Alexis Dahan

There’s always too much to see in Zona Tortona. Herewith, just a few of the highlights: Superstudio 13 at Via Forcella 13 is hosting the Temporary Museum for New Design; Via Tortona 28 will be transformed into the house of Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, full of colorful designs from iconic brands; and the seemingly ever-present Nendo will debut a new collection at Via Tortona 32.

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Photographer: Alexis Dahan

The new Italian design brand Discipline, founded by Renato Preti, aims to create a new generation of furniture based on natural, sustainably produced materials like cork, bamboo, and eco upholstery. The international design team behind the brand now includes 13 designers from 10 different countries.

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Photographer: Alexis Dahan

Cappellini’s new Candy Table by Sylvain Willenz is made of rebar—a seemingly perpetually rusty and industrial product that’s instantly made chic with a coat of playfully hued high gloss paint.

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Photographer: Alexis Dahan

Moroso is unleashing a new roster of pieces to fete its 60th anniversary this year. Among them are (clockwise from top left) Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien’s Chandigarh sofa and chair, Nendo’s Cloud Table, and Patricia Urquiola’s M.a.s.s.a.s. sofa.

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Photographer: Alexis Dahan

EuroCucina—the International Kitchen Furniture Exhibition—is taking center stage this year at the main fairgrounds. This only happens every other year, so be sure to check out what is rightfully dubbed “the greatest kitchen show on earth.”

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Photographer: Alexis Dahan

To celebrate the fifth year of his brand, interior and product designer Lee Broom is showing for the first time in Milan. Called “Public House,” his pub-inspired space will be filled with a selection of hero pieces along with a special crystal serving ritual he designed for Ballantine’s 12 Year Old (a renowned Scotch whisky).