Milan. City of cobbled streets, driving without rules, Vitello Milanese, Ray-bans and more recently, Salone del Mobile. An actioned packed few days of design, prosciutto and prosecco has drawn to a close. So what’s new? Here’s a few quickfire highlights from me…
80’s pop
Its been sneaking back for a while now, but Salone proudly unveiled it’s 80’s intentions on a number of stands. Dig out your cords and stick some Eurythmics on. Whether it’s bold stripes, thick velvety rugs, retro furniture or speckled stone finishes… 80’s influences were far and wide.
Jaime Hayon takeover
From Fritz Hansen’s Fritz Hotel to the Wittman Hayon Workshop. From Viccarbe furniture to Nanamarqina rugs. There was no escaping man of the moment Jaime Hayon’s influences across Salone – and he led the 80’s charge. With Huey Lewis’s Hip to be Square on full blast, leather fingerless gloves and bleached drainpipe jeans, Hayon softened every angle, added playfulness and fun and a recognisable Spanish design language of his own. Man of the match? Sí señor!
Nendo’s calming influence
At Jil Sander’s showroom in the Brera district, Nendo’s Invisible outlines exhibition blended a backdrop of meditative music with 16 Nendo projects on display exploring new ways of seeing and sharing things. Meanwhile at Salone, the prolific design team infused Japanese calmness to the Alias stand, with a coffee table range integrating Asian greenery, new refined Twiggy chair and the Okome modular soft seating range setting the scene.
Marble gets, erm… marblier
Marble has been back for a couple of years. But typically white marble with grey veins or vice versa, whereas now the trend is much more exotic, opulent and rare natural colours, often mixed with brass, copper or dull bronze metal framework. Sits nicely with 80’s vibes too.
And finally… ch–ch-changes
Over recent years we’ve seen many brands reinvent themselves at Milan to re-align with emerging trends, the Wittman Hayon workshop was nothing short of a complete overhaul and a very positive one at that. Hayon’s Mediterranean baroque meets Wittman’s Austrian quality. Very cool.
Unconfirmed rumours at Salone circulated that internationally successful design team Lievore Altherr Molina have split, with Manel Molina going it alone and releasing solo work. Is their website to be read as confirmation of this?
Japanese design was more prevalent than ever – with fantastic collaborations and influences. Yuru Suzuki, Stellar Works, Tokushin Yoshioka and of course Nendo. More please!
RIP Bar Basso. The design faithful’s bar of choice finally reached bursting point. A taxi ride to the other side of town, followed by a 4 deep bar scrum and drinking warm beer whilst standing on a roundabout has finally started to wear thin.
We need a new Bar Basso….
Until next time, Ciao! X
Ben Capper is an award winning Interior Specialist based in Zürich Switzerland, working with Zingg Lamprecht AG on interior and furniture projects for commercial clients. Ben has 20 years experience as a trusted independent consultant to Architects and Interior Designers having completed projects such as Manchester United stadium expansion, private Airport lounges, University campuses and 1000 person office schemes. b.capper@zingg-lamprecht.ch
furniture strategist 