Our Trip to Milan
Return to JournalMilan design week is finished for another year and now the chaos is over, the dust has settled and we have had time to catch our breath we can reminisce on what emerged in 2018. This is not a study of trends or architecture (although we saw some stunning pop up installations) but a guide to some of our favourite new furniture and lighting pieces for those that weren't able to attend the fair this year.
Any guide to Milan 2018 must start with a mention of Gubi who launched a new collection of incredible statement set within the historical backdrop of Palazzo Serbelloni. The new pieces were a perfect balance between redesigned classics and work from new leaders of the design industry.
The C-Chair, designed in 1947 is one of Marcel Gascoin’s most iconic pieces. The chair possesses an elegant shape yet sturdy construction rooted in a simple, minimal and strong design language.
The Bat Lounge Chair by GamFratesi is named after the inviting, distinctive shell which is reminiscent of the shape of a bat’s wingspan. Balancing between the traditional and surprising, the Bat Lounge Chair is created
The Gent dining chair by GamFratesi is strongly connected to the Masculo Chairand characterised by a distinctive backrest. It offers a modern twist on the classic dining chair with an appearance that is ultimately light, simple and practical.
The CDC.1 Collection was designed in 1954 by Italian Carlo De Carli. Consisting of a lounge chair & sofa and features the elegantly minimalist design style, typical of the era. Graceful and slender with arms swooping like wings giving a sleek silhouette and dynamic, angular lines.
Karakter have a wonderful collection of iconic designs from the masters of past and future. The iconic Office Desk,designed by Bodil Kjær in 1959, was the first of its kind with its pure and simplistic design, almost floating mid-air. The design has been labelled ‘The most beautiful desk in the world’.
The No.One dining table is designed by Aldo Bakker and centres around a very distinctive flowing base that appears startingly slim when seen at either end.
Desk Series & Organizer (1952) & Bedside Table (1950) both designed by Paul McCobb feature slim steel legs, stripped from any details or ornaments. McCobb was one of America’s leading contemporary designers and often offers a playful take on traditional forms with hints of Scandinavian craftsmanship made from robust materials such as iron and solid wood.
For 2018 Apparatus launched collections by Gabriel Hendifar mined from his personal history and inspired by his Iranian roots. The Talisman fixtures recall the fine details on statues found in Persepolis, which feature a repeating pattern of concentric circles on horses and beards. Semi-precious stones of Agate, Jasper, or Jade beads are pierced by finely fluted pins, affixing them to a leather-bound brass structure.
The Drum tables are loosely inspired by the Tompak drum, the principal percussion instrument of Persian music.
The Pars collection reference traditional nomadic tray tables. Hand-cut leather disks stack along brass legs, and inset leather rounds provide soft points of interaction in the stone table surfaces.
The Industry collection by Neri&Hu for Stellarworks is a new accessible utilitarian-inspired chair series with simple modern lines. This comfortable seating collection is composed of a stackable Dining Chair, Dining Armchair and Lounge Chair suitable for everyday use in both residential and commercial spaces.
Infinity Modular Sofa designed by Space Copenhagen is an elegant new modular sofa carefully designed with a minimum of edges and near invisible detailing resulting in a seamless and sculptural piece that will provide the ultimate comfort for the body.
Carl Hansen launched the CH71 lounge chair and CH72 two-seater sofa, which have not been in production since the late 1970s, now join the Carl Hansen & Søn collection. Designed by Hans J. Wegner and characterised by the upholstered armrests that are finished with elegant, rounded, solid wood handles.
For the first time in 61 years Fritz Hansen have manufactured an entirely wooden chair, the N01 designed by Nendo. Nendo have created an armchair that is both minimalist and highly detailed combining a seat and a back in nine layers of veneer with a solid wood base. It is a puzzle-like assembly of 23 wooden pieces all produced by hand, ensuring the construction comes across as seamless as possible in its design.
Julep designed by Jonas Wagell for Tacchini is inspired by the Avant-garde furniture of the Fifties. This family of sofas are characterised by soft and enveloping shapes, but with a lightness achieved by the recessed base, which lifts them invisibly from the ground.
Lema have Launched a lovely new range from David Lopez Quincoces. The Alamo Table, a ‘40s reinterpretation with a grain-effect top composed of resin, pigmented marble powder and shavings of precious metals, like bronze and brass.
The Alton Armchair has sculptural aesthetics standing out for its semi-circular shape and slender hand-wound leather creating a refined contrast with the soft cushion seat.
The Areia chest of drawings has clean formal lines and the bronze structure and suspended drawers is accentuated by the delicate nature of the glass surfaces that give a visual sense of lightness.
Moroso have again teamed up with Patricia Urquiola who has designed the Chamfer sofa. The name referring to the sloping edge architectural detail. This is the origin of the sofa shape, which characterises all of the system’s seating elements. Versatile, flexible, and refined, these sofas welcome the user in a big elegant embrace.
For Milan Flos have explored further the idea of their Arrangements collection. Midway between a light sculpture and an industrial design object, Arrangements is a spectacular lighting installation by Michael Anastassiades. It consists of modular system of geometric LED elements that can be combined in multiple compositions as single or even connected chandeliers. The modules are easily fixed together electrically and mechanically, balancing perfectly on each other to create the dramatic effect of a big chain of light. Each combination can be changed any time, with a different order, type or quantity of elements, with no need of technical assistance.
The Sigmund Daybed designed by Studio Asaï for Arflex has been dedicated to Freud. The daybed is a piece for contemplation and introspection. With a seat cushion suspended on a light metallic structure with delicate brass screws highlighting the junction between the different elements.
Uhuh, Purr and Noot Noot (owl, rabbit and penguin) are a charming series of table lamps by Marcel Wanders for Moooi. Their frosted glass bodies, decorated with touches of gold, emit a sunny heart-warming light glow.
The Constellations coffee table by Luca Nichetto for Kristalia is designed as a tribute to the Montparnasse art scene, featuring a juxtaposition of shape and material which can be freely combined to create compositions of surfaces in various thicknesses and textures.
The 1085 Edition lounge chair is a development by Studio Bartoli Design on their 1085 dining chair. With the same characteristics the thick raw leather hide is intended to wear with touch and time so these chairs can become unique pieces.
Cappellini launched the Radicàl Fake by Patricia Urquiola, a high desk with integrated bookshelf. It is characterised by the intersection of different linear elements creating a refined optical illusion. Enhanced by the innovative finish of the Venetian marble dotting.
The Malmö storage for Punt Mobles designed by Mario Ruiz is inspired by precious materials that arise from the delicate wooden curves and become the main player in this new collection of flexible storage solutions.
Our Trip to Milan
Milan design week is finished for another year and now the chaos is over, the dust has settled and we have had time to catch our breath we can reminisce on what emerged in 2018. This is not a study of trends or architecture (although we saw some stunning pop up installations) but a guide to some of our favourite new furniture and lighting pieces for those that weren't able to attend the fair this year.
Any guide to Milan 2018 must start with a mention of Gubi who launched a new collection of incredible statement set within the historical backdrop of Palazzo Serbelloni. The new pieces were a perfect balance between redesigned classics and work from new leaders of the design industry.
The C-Chair, designed in 1947 is one of Marcel Gascoin’s most iconic pieces. The chair possesses an elegant shape yet sturdy construction rooted in a simple, minimal and strong design language.
The Bat Lounge Chair by GamFratesi is named after the inviting, distinctive shell which is reminiscent of the shape of a bat’s wingspan. Balancing between the traditional and surprising, the Bat Lounge Chair is created
The Gent dining chair by GamFratesi is strongly connected to the Masculo Chairand characterised by a distinctive backrest. It offers a modern twist on the classic dining chair with an appearance that is ultimately light, simple and practical.
The CDC.1 Collection was designed in 1954 by Italian Carlo De Carli. Consisting of a lounge chair & sofa and features the elegantly minimalist design style, typical of the era. Graceful and slender with arms swooping like wings giving a sleek silhouette and dynamic, angular lines.
Karakter have a wonderful collection of iconic designs from the masters of past and future. The iconic Office Desk,designed by Bodil Kjær in 1959, was the first of its kind with its pure and simplistic design, almost floating mid-air. The design has been labelled ‘The most beautiful desk in the world’.
The No.One dining table is designed by Aldo Bakker and centres around a very distinctive flowing base that appears startingly slim when seen at either end.
Desk Series & Organizer (1952) & Bedside Table (1950) both designed by Paul McCobb feature slim steel legs, stripped from any details or ornaments. McCobb was one of America’s leading contemporary designers and often offers a playful take on traditional forms with hints of Scandinavian craftsmanship made from robust materials such as iron and solid wood.
For 2018 Apparatus launched collections by Gabriel Hendifar mined from his personal history and inspired by his Iranian roots. The Talisman fixtures recall the fine details on statues found in Persepolis, which feature a repeating pattern of concentric circles on horses and beards. Semi-precious stones of Agate, Jasper, or Jade beads are pierced by finely fluted pins, affixing them to a leather-bound brass structure.
The Drum tables are loosely inspired by the Tompak drum, the principal percussion instrument of Persian music.
The Pars collection reference traditional nomadic tray tables. Hand-cut leather disks stack along brass legs, and inset leather rounds provide soft points of interaction in the stone table surfaces.
The Industry collection by Neri&Hu for Stellarworks is a new accessible utilitarian-inspired chair series with simple modern lines. This comfortable seating collection is composed of a stackable Dining Chair, Dining Armchair and Lounge Chair suitable for everyday use in both residential and commercial spaces.
Infinity Modular Sofa designed by Space Copenhagen is an elegant new modular sofa carefully designed with a minimum of edges and near invisible detailing resulting in a seamless and sculptural piece that will provide the ultimate comfort for the body.
Carl Hansen launched the CH71 lounge chair and CH72 two-seater sofa, which have not been in production since the late 1970s, now join the Carl Hansen & Søn collection. Designed by Hans J. Wegner and characterised by the upholstered armrests that are finished with elegant, rounded, solid wood handles.
For the first time in 61 years Fritz Hansen have manufactured an entirely wooden chair, the N01 designed by Nendo. Nendo have created an armchair that is both minimalist and highly detailed combining a seat and a back in nine layers of veneer with a solid wood base. It is a puzzle-like assembly of 23 wooden pieces all produced by hand, ensuring the construction comes across as seamless as possible in its design.
Julep designed by Jonas Wagell for Tacchini is inspired by the Avant-garde furniture of the Fifties. This family of sofas are characterised by soft and enveloping shapes, but with a lightness achieved by the recessed base, which lifts them invisibly from the ground.
Lema have Launched a lovely new range from David Lopez Quincoces. The Alamo Table, a ‘40s reinterpretation with a grain-effect top composed of resin, pigmented marble powder and shavings of precious metals, like bronze and brass.
The Alton Armchair has sculptural aesthetics standing out for its semi-circular shape and slender hand-wound leather creating a refined contrast with the soft cushion seat.
The Areia chest of drawings has clean formal lines and the bronze structure and suspended drawers is accentuated by the delicate nature of the glass surfaces that give a visual sense of lightness.
Moroso have again teamed up with Patricia Urquiola who has designed the Chamfer sofa. The name referring to the sloping edge architectural detail. This is the origin of the sofa shape, which characterises all of the system’s seating elements. Versatile, flexible, and refined, these sofas welcome the user in a big elegant embrace.
For Milan Flos have explored further the idea of their Arrangements collection. Midway between a light sculpture and an industrial design object, Arrangements is a spectacular lighting installation by Michael Anastassiades. It consists of modular system of geometric LED elements that can be combined in multiple compositions as single or even connected chandeliers. The modules are easily fixed together electrically and mechanically, balancing perfectly on each other to create the dramatic effect of a big chain of light. Each combination can be changed any time, with a different order, type or quantity of elements, with no need of technical assistance.
The Sigmund Daybed designed by Studio Asaï for Arflex has been dedicated to Freud. The daybed is a piece for contemplation and introspection. With a seat cushion suspended on a light metallic structure with delicate brass screws highlighting the junction between the different elements.
Uhuh, Purr and Noot Noot (owl, rabbit and penguin) are a charming series of table lamps by Marcel Wanders for Moooi. Their frosted glass bodies, decorated with touches of gold, emit a sunny heart-warming light glow.
The Constellations coffee table by Luca Nichetto for Kristalia is designed as a tribute to the Montparnasse art scene, featuring a juxtaposition of shape and material which can be freely combined to create compositions of surfaces in various thicknesses and textures.
The 1085 Edition lounge chair is a development by Studio Bartoli Design on their 1085 dining chair. With the same characteristics the thick raw leather hide is intended to wear with touch and time so these chairs can become unique pieces.
Cappellini launched the Radicàl Fake by Patricia Urquiola, a high desk with integrated bookshelf. It is characterised by the intersection of different linear elements creating a refined optical illusion. Enhanced by the innovative finish of the Venetian marble dotting.
The Malmö storage for Punt Mobles designed by Mario Ruiz is inspired by precious materials that arise from the delicate wooden curves and become the main player in this new collection of flexible storage solutions.
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