I Saloni: 50 years young!

The Salone del Mobile in Milan, also called I Saloni,  is promoted this year with a touch of irony, a play on words referring to its spirit, always youthful and lively. Not even a square foot is available anymore, all the space is booked and I am sure it is the same for all the hotels in the city. From 12.100 visitors in 1961 to about 300.000 last year to celebrate great design and fair production in contrast to the many Asian imitators.

I Saloni 2010, Visionnaire

I Saloni 2010, Sicis mosaics

Contessa Marta Marzotto and Zerodisegno team at I Saloni 2010

I Saloni 2010

I Saloni 2010

Fuori Salone 2010

Sawaya & Moroni Fuori Salone 2010

I Saloni 2010

Fuori Salone 2010

In 2010 we were in a global recession and a major chaos in transportations was created by the Icelandic volcano’s ashes,  nevertheless I Saloni was a success in terms of exhibitors and public response, due also to the courage of all the industries that instead of crying and complaining moved toward new lands: research, new materials, sustainable production.
“From Tuesday 12th to Sunday 17th April, then, a double appointment at the Saloni!
Come along to the Rho fairgrounds where you'll be able to see, touch, and try out all the best that domestic furnishing of every type has to offer, from stand-alone pieces to coordinates – in all kinds of different styles – from classic to design to modern – not to mention the trendsetters of tomorrow.
And to the city itself, where a multi-faceted cultural project will span various different historical locations, with a wide range of cultural events.” (Text from I Saloni website)
In 2010 we saw Eurocucina, showing the most exciting kitchens, this year Euroluce (a biennial event) will come back with the latest creations of lighting.
An important show I don’t want to miss will be at the Piccolo Teatro  titled “Mani grandi, senza fine”  which will narrate interesting stories of the major figures of Milanese design from Vico Magistretti to Marco Zanuso, to the Castiglioni brothers, to Ettore Sottsass.

Fuori Salone 2010

Fuori Salone 2010

Fuori Salone 2010

As usual the extraordinary events created for the Fuori Salone (happenings around the city for the whole week) will include  the Triennale Design Museum, where Alberto Alessi will be the curator of the exhibition "La fabbrica dei sogni" (Where dreams come true), near Piazza del Duomo there will be a multimedia installation with lights and music, at Villa Necchi Campiglio (set of the movie “I am love”) will be held a great exhibition of the works of best international graphic designers and so many more events I will write about before, during and after.

Triennale Design Museum

“50 years looking exclusively to the future, involving the whole City of Milan, providing an opportunity for reflection on design, on the world of industry that has made it all possible, on creativity and on culture.”

I can’t wait!

Images ©  Albarosa Simonetti
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