Come sei Bella Tuesday, July 24, 2007 Magnifico! What you missed at this year’s Salone Internazionale del Mobile By Sarah Morehouse The Salone Internazionale del Mobile—known stateside as the Milan Furniture Fair—remains the annual place to see the latest and greatest in cutting-edge design amid the worlds of lighting, seating, materials, and exhibit stands. Thousands flooded the Milan Rho fairgrounds, and the 2,000-plus exhibitors at Salone 2007 didn’t disappoint attendees hungry for innovative, next-level furnishings, materials, and design concepts. We teamed up with ED’s designer-on-the-scene, Mirror Show Management art director Sarah Morehouse, to make sure we could give you an inside look at our three-day, high-powered tour of the event. Major design themes at this year’s show included a focus on organic and geometric patterning, and a return to more natural materials. Chairs and furnishings cut from metal with asymmetrical, abstracted organic patterns such as tree branches and leaves were abundant. For exhibit environments, natural, unfinished materials that would leave attendees with splinters if touched were hot stuff—a major departure from the usual high-gloss, deluxe finishes on display at Salone. “It’s more of a rough, bare-bones mentality—almost as if someone shipped their booth to the show in big rough shipping crates and then used the shipping crates as part of their stand. It’s a return to basics,” Morehouse says. Didn’t make it to Milan? No problem—we’ve got you covered. Lighting Design Flute Pendant Designed by Giles Miller of Hidden Art, a not-for-profit London organization that supports and promotes designers, the pendant is made from biodegradable, sustainably sourced cardboard. Alternating the angle of the fluting leaves patterns in the material’s surface. (Giles also designed a lightweight side table using the same material and method.) Obviously not the first time cardboard has been used in the design of furniture (think Frank Gehry’s Easy Edges of 1969-73 or the BeeBoard desk by Piet Boon), but the material lends itself well to being lit, as the natural corrugation is emphasized. More Info: farmdesigns.co.uk, hiddenartlondon.co.uk Masalcak Created by young designer Vesna Pejovic, this lamp is a prototype on display at the Salone Satellite (an exhibition area where students and young designers show off work and ideas). The bulb is attached to four flexible metal rods; it slides up and down the rods to change the nature of the light source. The lampshade is made of thin plastic, which reflects the light in different ways depending on how closely the bulb is drawn in. The Masalcak—which translates to “dandelion” in Serbian—measures 70 by 70 by 150 (cm.) when opened, and 30 by 30 by 210 when closed. The light source is LED, and the slider-connector is made of silicon rubber. “The idea is based on ‘bionic’ research of natural forms and behaviors. It was created to awaken the sensation of blossoming, movement, and transformations happening in nature,” Pejovic says. More Info: vesnapejovic.com Sike Designed by Karim Rashid for La Murrina and seen for the first time at the 2007 Salone. The Sike chandelier was inspired by fractal, geometric patterns that repeat themselves at every scale. The individual parts that SIKE is composed of have inspired the outer form, which mimics the inner form, resulting in a harmony of forms. The figure-eight shape suggests infinity and the offset layers offer “boundless possibilities of color combinations.” A trend at the Salone, chandeliers of all types and sizes made their way into many stand designs. This glass chandelier by Karim Rashid is 164-cm. tall and comes in two colors, Red Crystal and Topaz Crystal. More Info: lamurrina.com Swarovski Crystal Palace Swarovski’s installation featured an array of dazzling chandeliers designed by some of the world’s most prestigious designers, including Yves Béhar, Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Arne Quinze, and Stefano Ricci. Now in its sixth year, Swarovski Crystal Palace is a concept aimed at reinventing and revitalizing the chandelier, one of the most evocative and emotive expressions of cut crystal. This year, Swarovski Crystal Palace invited 18 leading designers and artists from all over the world to create their own contemporary interpretation of the chandelier, and give new expression to its story, meaning, and message. Their inspirations came from varied sources, including the natural world, the visual arts, and high-tech. More Info: swarovskisparkles.com/crystalpalace Stand Design Alias Designed by architect Renato Stauffacher, the exhibit for Alias created an Alice in Wonderland-type experience for attendees by surrounding product displays with grass blades and the floor with turf. The product collection featured at this year’s Salone centered on Alias’ outdoor furniture, displayed on slanted platforms that cut out of the ground at different angles. Within the space, outdoor sounds (birds, breezes, etc.) played quietly over the noise of the hall, immersing the attendee in a full outdoor experience. Stauffacher, in coordination with Studio Fragile, also designed the ’06 stand for Alias for the Salone del Mobile. Pieces of the prior year’s architecture (the angled platforms), were reused again in this stand, while the overall look changed dramatically. More Info: aliasdesign.it Jaga Experience Lab Jaga’s Experience Lab took visitors inside an enclosed ice cave environment on the show floor, while serving as a platform for the brand’s radiator technology. Translucent plastic “ice block” shapes of varying sizes were seamed together to create the stand’s igloo-like walls, and a suspended ceiling completed the enclosed ice cave effect. Baroque sculptures inspired by radiator designs were hung throughout the footprint, while staff at the center of the stand dished out Belgian chocolate to visitors. Jaga is not just a radiator manufacturer—the group produces events and installations including a massive presence at the Burning Man 2006 festival, which Uchronia coordinated with Quinze+Milan. The Experience Lab was created in part to showcase their new products, but also to exhibit their ability to design and produce spatial experiences. More Info: theradiatorfactory.com, jagaexperiencelab.com Jaga Experience Truck The instant success of the Experience Lab triggered the idea at Jaga to bring the same experience and emotions into a moving platform that allows the brand to mimic the experience wherever in the world it wants to go. Constructed on the framework of a Mercedes Actros heavy-duty truck platform, Arne Quinze designed a new body that holds a projection room, VIP lounge, and kitchen. The body is completely dressed in high-quality polyester and high-tech coatings. A total of 182 windows in six different shapes feature colored glass, creating spectacular color patterns inside. The truck is a totally integrated project—the concept is by Arne Quinze; Quinze + Milan studio and Quinze + Milan contractors handled production. To top it off in style, MOROSO handled the seat and panel upholstery inside the truck. More info: quinzeandmilan.tv Quinze + Milan Quinze + Milan’s stand stood out at this year’s Salone for its playful, urban atmosphere. The walls were covered in organic sketches done by hand by Arne Quinze himself just days before the show opened, describing the inspiration and shapes behind the products on display. Inside the space, multiple items were showcased: a new furniture edition, a honeycomb-flexible shelving system designed by Clive Wilkinson, a custom light sculpture showcasing Q+M’s ability to create polished custom work, and a new collection of sneakers for Onitsuka Tiger. Within the booth space, an energetic, club-like atmosphere was created through the cutting-edge music played at high volume. More Info: quinzeandmilan.tv Kartell The minimalist design of Kartell’s space uses simple PVC tubing stacked to form walls, dividing off the space and creating small display galleries for the product. Kartell has a well-known and well-established presence in the design world, with almost 60 years of successful manufacturing primarily plastic-based furniture. Kartell’s exploration of both the functional and aesthetic aspects of plastic throughout its history is reflected in the booth’s design in the use of the simple, functional, yet beautiful plastic tubing. More Info: kartell.it Materials & Prototypes Emmebi Rubik Bookcase Created by Carlo Cumini for EmmeBi, this double-sided bookcase/modular shelving unit makes the most of vertical space and simulates motion with its design. Mounted on a steel base, the individual cubes can be stacked one on top of the other, with a maximum height of seven elements. More Info: emmebidesign.com Sturm Und Plastic The Sturm Und Plastic stand was designed in-house by Gigi Rigamonti, using components of one of their products, the Geo line—a series of modular plastic bricks that can be assembled to form walls, counters, and room dividers. The collection is characterized by transparent plastic material and three major concepts: design, creativity, and handiness with different textures and effects. A collection of rectangles and cubes of different sizes, the Geo Bricks allowed for the creation of custom partition walls, wings, etc. The latest creation of the collection is Geo Brick A, a 90-degree-angled brick that features improved seal capacity for greater overall stability. Each unit fastens to the others with connecting rings.  More Info: sturmundplastic.com Soundwave Wall Panels Offecct develops and manufactures easy chairs, sofas, chairs, tables, and accessories for meeting places and home environments. The fundamental concept is to use well-designed furniture to create environments that have a “positive effect” on people—at events, in homes, and the workplace. In contemporary architecture, spaces are often created using hard materials such as glass, concrete, and wood, which can lead to loud environments and problems with acoustics. This year, Offecct is focusing heavily on acoustic design panels, launching two new products: FLO by Karim Rashid and Skyline by Marre Moerel. The panels are flexible, create artistic patterns, and have some of the best noise-reducing capabilities on the market. They can be used individually just to create an effect, or together as a designed wall. All panels are designed to absorb lighter, high frequency sounds. More Info: offecct.se Seating Ubu Armchair A strong yet soft armchair, Ubu’s design relies on the concepts of concavity and convexity. The upholstery which shapes the 96-by-93-by-80 (cm.) chair is held in place with zippers. The practicality of the design lies in the ability to quickly and effortlessly assemble the chair and easily transport it. Ubu’s accommodating functionality is not only a representation of an idea, but of the technology and materials implemented through rigorous research in order to achieve the innovative design. More Info: casamania.it Miura Table + Chair Maybe not the first folding cocktail table, but definitely one of the more unique to hit the market. While the Miura stacking barstool has been in production for a few years, the addition of a matching, space-saving, foldable cocktail table debuted at Salone. Designed by architect Konstantin Grcic for Plank, the Miura stool is made of a single injection-molded block of reinforced polypropylene. Visually, the stool has a dynamic, angular shape that stands out and also provides an ergonomic and sturdy seat. This stool has won a number of awards, and has been featured at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The Miura table was developed as a supplement to the stool, comes in three heights, and is available in five powder colors. Both the three-leg frame and tabletop are constructed with zinc-plated steel and feature a folding mechanism to help stack the tables together. More Info: plank.it Peekaboo Chair How small can you make a space and still feel comfortable in it? By experimenting with techniques and materials, designer Stefan Borselius created a compact yet spacious line that is a cross between the classic batwing chair and a futuristic version. Textiles have been laminated with sound-absorbent couching felt—a technique only seen on much more basic shapes until Peekaboo challenged designers to develop this solution. More Info: blasation.se Flod Stool A lightweight, polythelene stool made for indoor or outdoor use. Designed for Mobles 114, a furniture design firm out of Barcelona, Spain, Flod is the collaborative effort of Martín Azúa and Gerard Moliné (together they form Azúamoliné), whose designs often combine simplicity of form with the use of new materials and respect for the environment. Flod’s ergonomic shape encourages interaction, and creates a sturdy, lightweight and comfortable stool. The stool comes in five fun colors: red, yellow, green, black, and light grey. More Info: mobles114.com Libro Chair Created by the G14 Group in 1970, Busnelli presents the fun and functional Libro armchair, entirely revisited for 2007 with variations of materials and colors. The chair is based on a supporting varnished steel frame, which is articulated in the middle, and supports the seat pages hinged on the same frame. These pages, made from polyurethane foam and 100-percent polyester fiber, can be turned at will to create new, customizable seat positions. More Info: busnelli.it Stardust Seating A series of light sculptures from Mario Bellini brings the first new product from his new partnership with Meritalia. The line of furniture includes pillows, poufs, chaise lounges, armchairs, and sofas made from simple, inexpensive materials. The pieces are constructed using what they dub “ravioli made of air” as stuffing—similar to inflated plastic packaging material—contained by metallic netting comprised of thin inox wire. The lightweight, waterproof Stardust line doubles as lighting, with low voltage, high performance LED lamps embedded within each piece. Of interest is the fact that iridescent powder inside the stuffing material helps diffuse the light throughout the furniture pieces. More Info: meritalia.it Poly Chair Bonaldo’s Poly Chair has kept the company and designer Karim Rashid busy for two years. The polycarbonate chair is entirely made through a process of injection molding with a particularly large and powerful press. Three different prototypes were created during the planning stage with the aim of obtaining the maximum level of comfort for the seat, and a perfect degree of inclination for the chair back. Poly has a young, original, geometric design. Both chair and back are made of different surfaces that intersect—yet the chair as a whole does not appear angular. It looks inviting and comfortable and the aesthetic impression is confirmed by the comfort of the seat. Poly chairs can be stacked and are suitable for outdoor and contract use. They come in a variety of colors and finishes: transparent, semi-transparent pink, semi-transparent lime and black, and white shiny versions.  More Info: bonaldo.it
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