Salone Del Mobile : A celebration of design
Salone Del Mobile manages to captivate your design sensibilities while the city of Milan seamlessly blends the reel with the real. The feeling is surreal, often fostering creativity and inspiration.
Salone is design and much beyond
Last year the journey to Salone felt akin to escapism in the backdrop of circumstances which prevailed. In 2023,the journey made an effort to nurture the independence which my mind sought. But I am still not there yet. Design alone, I would like to believe, doesn’t turn Salone into a crowd puller, rather it’s the influence of design which it brings to the fore, that makes it popular. Be aware that apart from beautifying your living spaces and elevating your taste in design, this influence will reach out to you in the form of a cognitive thought process and have a definite impact on your life and encourage you to be free. Salone is design and much beyond and hence globally everyone including people from Asia fall in love with this phenomenon again and again and again… Salone Ishq…Salone Ishq…Salone Ishq (For the love of Salone…For the love of Salone…For the love of Salone)
Rain kissed Streets : A view from the balcony of UNAHOTELS Galles Milano
Light showers, wet roads and trams passing by, couples walking hand in hand with a smile on their faces, the view from the window of my cab was simply nostalgic. Some time had passed by and I was heading towards my hotel from Malpensa Airport listening to ‘Monsoon’ by Nora En Pure along the way. The cabbie stepped on the accelerator as soon as the signal turned green and again, we were in a lane surrounded by heritage structures on both sides. I wondered If these heritage structures could speak, what would they say to the lovebirds embraced in a passionate kiss? Perhaps they would whistle! Few minutes later, I checked into my room at UNAHOTELS Galles Milano, it was time to crash. Every inch of my body was longing for a good night’s sleep.
Seven hours later, I was trying to eat a croissant the right way, sipping a glass of grape juice whilst looking at my itinerary. It takes quite an effort to decide on the brands, stalls and pavilions you don’t want to miss out on, after all, everyone’s going to make an offer, you can’t refuse. These are the moments when the Salone Del Mobile app comes in very handy. It allows you to do some MBA level time management and plan your visits for efficient use of time in a defined framework.
As always my journey in Rho Fiera began with SaloneSatellite. SaloneSatellite 2023 centered around the theme of “Design Schools – Universities/BUILDING THE (IM)POSSIBLE – Process, Progress, Practice.” This theme aimed to emphasise the crucial role of design education in shaping the future of the field.
Interactions with young designers@Salone Satellite, visit designconnectinsta to explore their unique Instagram profiles
I was happy to interact with young designers from India, Pakistan, Poland, Limmasol, Germany, Indonesia, Portugal and Mexico who had an interesting lineup of products. Though it sounds like a lengthy list, it was just a fraction of the contributions of 27 design schools and universities from 16 countries, and over 550 young designers who had come together at Salone Satellite.
SaloneSatellite Award Ceremony
This time the winners of SaloneSatellite included Japan’s Honoka for his Tatami Refab, combining reclaimed tatami material and 3D printing. Second Prize went to the Hong Kong-based Studio Ryte for its Triplex Stool, made using flax, a sustainable wood fibre. Third Prize went to Ahokpe + Chatalin, appearing at SaloneSatellite as Belgium is Design, for their Kudoazò hammock, made from recycled fabric spun in Benin.
This year’s three Special Mentions were assigned the Róng Design Award, consisting of a one-month residency at the Rong Design Library in Hangzhou’s Yuhang district in China, promoter of the initiative. These were awarded to the Spanish Joaquin Ivan Sansone, currently living in Spain, for his cane Junki stool; to Korea’s Weonrhee, for the small Primitive Structure table, and Venezuelan-born Fragmentario, now living in the USA, for the Avocado Seed Brick project. All three were chosen for their evident pursuit of research, and will be supported in integrating Chinese crafts and traditional materials into their creative processes. The aim is to introduce and promote these Chinese particularities into the global design world, supporting the creativity and the growth of the young designers.
Cloud by Maxim Velčovský @ The Lasvit Stall @Euroluce
Post SaloneSatellite ‘I saw light’ at Euroluce which returned after a four year hiatus. This part of the exhibition couldn’t have been more grandeur! The brands added their dose of magic but then there was this mesmerising layout which included an immersive plaza called Aurore designed by FormaFantasma.
Aurore designed by FormaFantasma.
It was a place where visitors could relax on serpentine seating, immerse themselves in synesthetic projections, contemplate the floating lights, and enjoy a program of talks. The arena experienced a surge in appreciation and high attendance, with demand consistently surpassing capacity. The public program curated by Annalisa Rosso, featuring renowned figures such as Shigeru Ban, Nao Tamura, Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, Marius Myking of Snøhetta, and Andrea D’Antrassi of MAD Architects, generated significant interest.
Beyond this captivating arena, FormaFantasma fashioned a dozen design “constellations,” creating curious cameo spaces that welcomed visitors to pause and appreciate contemporary artworks illuminated by light.
The Preciosa Lighting booth
The Preciosa Lighting booth at Euroluce 2023 was a popular destination for visitors which featured Crystal Beat, a dynamic light installation was created in collaboration with the musician and sound artist Martin Vacek, then there was the Tom Dixon stall, Artemide, Flos, Lasvit, Vistosi Lighting well it’s quite a lengthy list, but I have to mention Gessi which defined the term vibrance in a way that was alluring to the mind.
Gessi@Euroluce
The sheer scale of Euroluce kept my mind, body and soul ‘illuminated’ for a good three hours post which it was time to break for a burger and relish the taste of virgin mojito from my sipper bottle. After this short recharge I was back in the huddle.
Kartell@Salone Del Mobile
The Salone Internazionale del Mobile, the International Furnishing Accessories Exhibition, and Workplace3.0 offered various design and aesthetic avenues, with the central themes of wellbeing and environmental responsibility. The importance of considering the origin of materials, production methods, durability, and product end-of-life had become unquestionable. The message conveyed by design was clear: “Take care of yourselves, others, and the planet.”
Swedish brand Blå Station@Salone Del Mobile
S.Project, the exhibition dedicated to design products and solutions, emphasised the hybridization of contexts and spaces, as well as the transition from designing individual pieces to designing the overall environment. The exhibition’s purpose revolved around design and emotional stimuli, recognizing the necessity to create fully coordinated “nesting places” that could provide a welcoming and comforting experience for people.
Salone Del Mobile: Facilitating Meaningful Conversations
As I hopped, skipped, and jumped from pavilion to pavilion, exploring the enticing solutions for workspaces, kitchen spaces, and bathspaces, it became increasingly evident how Salone had impacted the significance of brands in the realm of design. The fair in a way motivated the brands to develop innovative, functional and visually appealing products.
Salone Del Mobile encourages the brands to give it their best shot thereby facilitating a competition of the creative kind
Aside from the products themselves, the manner in which they were presented at the fair was truly memorable. Brands such as Versace Home, Formitalia, Kartell, Zanotta, Knoll, and Minotti were just a few examples that served as a testament.
The Edra Stall @Salone Del Mobile
Creative minds and design enthusiasts who flock to Salone thrive not just on the brands but also the overall lingua franca of creativity which Salone unleashes. Much of this happens by the way of installations and the design of the pavilions itself.
The new layout allowed the visitors to easily see more brands and products without having to backtrack or make difficult navigational decisions.
The 2023 edition of Salone del Mobile too had taken note of this development and hence it challenged the traditional trade fair format by introducing a new “ring-shaped” layout for Euroluce. This layout was described by Salone del Mobile President Maria Porro as a “grand laboratory of ideas” and a possible future evolution of the trade fair format. The new layout replaced the traditional “booth-centric” approach with a circular route focused on the visitor experience. This allowed visitors to easily see more brands and products without having to backtrack or make difficult navigational decisions.
The 2023 edition of Salone saw a surge of 15% in terms of attendees as compared to 2022
The new layout was designed by architecture and engineering studio Lombardini22, the studio reimagined the fair as a city. The circular route was inspired by Italian historic town centers and it made the fair more sustainable, accessible and engaging.
The Furniture and Interiors Exhibit, was held on a single exhibition level
Likewise the Furniture and Interiors Exhibit, was held on a single exhibition level, exhibitors from the upper levels (8-12, 16-20) were relocated to the lower levels, simplifying the visitor experience even further. The new layout of the Salone del Mobile was a significant departure from the traditional trade fair format. It made the fair more visitor-friendly and encouraged interaction between brands and products. The results of the new layout were positive, with many visitors and exhibitors praising the improved experience.
The 61st edition of Salone saw participation from more than 2,000 exhibiting brands
In addition to the outcomes of the new layout, the 61st edition of Salone itself proved to be highly encouraging in terms of business and trade. The 61st edition of Salone saw participation from more than 2,000 exhibiting brands, with 34% of them representing 37 different countries. The event featured 550 young designers from 31 countries, along with 28 design schools and universities from 18 countries. In terms of visitors, a total of 307,418 attendees were recorded over the six days, marking a 15% increase compared to 2022. The international presence was particularly notable, with 65% of buyers and industry professionals coming from abroad. China regained its position as the leading country, followed by Italy, Germany, France, the United States, Spain, Brazil, and India.
My stay in Milan got extended by a day owing to a technical snag in the Air India flight
After experiencing three days of consistent design drama loaded with innovative designs and products, it was time to visit the Duomo post sunset, it makes you sober amidst the lively atmosphere. Post some private conversations with the divine on love, life and happiness I headed back to my hotel. Next day it was time to head back to India, but my stay got extended by a day owing to a technical snag in the Air India flight and we all spent the Anniversario della liberazione d’Italia in Italy. I got to know a bit about this part of Italian history courtesy an elderly passenger who filled in the details when we had breakfast before checking out.
Fabietto Schisa (played by Filippo Scotti)
As I kept waiting for my flight back to India, I started watching “The Hand of God” on my mobile. Directed by Paolo Sorrentino, the movie was Italy’s official entry for the best international feature film category at the 2022 Academy Awards. Towards the end of the movie, a scene in particular caught my attention. “Don’t go to Rome Fabietto, your parents abandoned you, stay, stay here, we will make films together.” says Antonio Capuano (played by Ciro Capano). However, Fabietto Schisa (played by Filippo Scotti) who has suffered the trauma of losing both his parents, differs in opinion, takes the leap of faith and decides to do otherwise.
Akin to Rome which happens to be the capital of Italy, Delhi is the capital of India, both these cities are home to ancient architecture and monuments
An hour away from Rome in Malpensa Airport, my mind was busy trying to draw some parallels. I too am shifting base to Delhi from Mumbai after losing both my parents. Akin to Rome which happens to be the capital of Italy, Delhi is the capital of India, both these cities are home to ancient architecture and monuments apart from being the political centres of their respective nations. Both these cities attract a tremendous number of tourists each year. In the final scene Fabietto boards a train to Rome. Weeks later, I too would be boarding one for Delhi and utter a little prayer “May I too succeed in what I have set out to achieve my lord; in both the spheres of my life, personal and professional; may the souls who love me and the departed souls who loved me, help me, along the way, Amen.”
Text by : Vikas Bhadra
Connect Online@www.salonemilano.it/en
