From Milan, I Saloni 2010

The Fiera area, only 20 minutes by underground from the center of the city, a futuristic expansive complex designed by Massimiliano Fuksas studio of architecture.
I will start slowly to describe the Design Week in Milan, where every day there were dozens of events and opening of new stores. We spent three intense days at the Fiera and the other days we wondered day and night around the city for the Fuori Salone events.

A former church in Brera area was used for design and fashion installations.

An extravagant pierced wall.

I could not resist to take a picture of this sformato di zucchine e basilico with a creamy tomato garnish for lunch at the temporary Elle Decor Restaurant in Zona Tortona.

Many events were open to the public, but several every day were by invitation only.

A moment of relax, well deserved after hours of exploring.

Inside the Brera Museum another moment of relax.

The city was dressed for the occasion, with design and art installations everywhere, a feast for the eye and an inspiration for the mind.

Above is Via Montenapoleone (our Fifth Avenue) adorned with linen shades, lit at night for a magic effect.

Even the weather behaved, only a day of rain, mostly warm and sunny the whole week, even after the eruption of the Icelandic volcano...

A funny initial “A” made with fresh lettuce.

A newly designed outdoor furniture in an ancient courtyard.

An art installation at Palazzo delle Stelline

The Roof garden at Corso Como 10 with contemporary sculptures.

What a week! next I will tell you what I really liked, what happened and who I met.

Photography© by Albarosa Simonetti

Continue Reading... Label: Brillante Interiors, I Saloni, Interior design

Old houses and New design (part four)

Today I present the fourth Casa-Museo in Milan: Bagatti-Valsecchi.

Four unique houses for their heritage of history and art and contemporary design create an exhibition wanted by Cosmit in anticipation for I Saloni, the international Design Week in Milan, April 14-19, 2010. A model of a past way of living create a stunning set for over 200 contemporary objects of design. See my three previous posts. Above is the extravagant Nobody’s perfect chair by Gaetano Pesce for Zerodisegno, which stands out with its bright colors in this Neo-Renaissance style mansion, restored and decorated by two brothers, art collectors, in love with the style of Renaissance.

In another room the organic forms of Evolution bench by Nacho Carbonel in front of the antique fireplace.

In the dining room the beloved chair Crinoline by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia, on the bottom right the chair Favela by the Campana brothers.

In the armory Wavy chairs by Ron Arad for Moroso.

Under the magnificent "Madonna col Bambino e Santi" (circa 1515) is a contemporary piece of furniture named Riddle by Steven Holl for Horm.

What a wonderful way to open the 2010 Salone del Mobile (I Saloni) in Milan presenting the culture of the past and the creations of the present time.

 Photography by Pasquale Formisano

I am still metabolizing the Design Week in Milan, very intense and inspirational. I will post about it as soon as I will organize the material and the hundreds of pictures I have taken! Stay tuned...

Continue Reading... Label: Brillante Interiors, Designers, Events, Houses, I Saloni

Old houses and New design (part three)

Four unique houses for their heritage of history and art and contemporary design create an exhibition wanted by Cosmit in anticipation for I Saloni, the international Design Week in Milan, April 14-19, 2010. Four Museum-Houses, rich in history and representing a model of a past way of living create a stunning set for over 200 contemporary objects of design, called "Unexpected guests". See my previous posts.

Today I present the third Casa-Museo: Villa Necchi, the same villa that was the set for the movie "Io sono l'amore".
In the foyer chairs by Ron Arad for Moroso. On the desk by Piero Portaluppi a beautiful painting from 1929 by Mario Sironi which you could have seen in my other post The Art's Lady. Claudia Gian Ferrari unfortunately recently passed away but she had decided years ago to generously donate to Villa Necchi majority of her vast art collection

Together with charming furniture of the past the small tables Brasilia by the Campana brothers for Edra.

The guest bathroom has inlaid marble floor created by Piero Portaluppi, the cabinets Valises is by Marteen De Ceulaer for Casamania.

On the first floor the parquet in the foyer is partially covered by the Geoart rug by Luca Nichetto for Nodus.
The vaulted corridor in the background is the built in wardrobe (a novelty for 1930) and the several doors open to show purses, precious furs, dresses, the drawers are still full of scarves, some custom made by Dior for the sisters Necchi, and all sort of treasures.
On the same floor a huge room displays linens neatly folded in huge armoires and was used for pressing and mending.

Coming to the dining room we find the chair Ki by Mario Bellini for Horm amongst the others. The exquisite tapestries on the wall are only a copy, while the precious original ones are being restored.
It was a very warm day in Milan and after the visit we spent an hour in the garden near the pool, sitting on Urquiola colorful chairs and listening to the water running from a spout and the birds singing on the magnolias.

What a wonderful way to open the 2010 Salone del Mobile (I Saloni) in Milan presenting the collections of the past and the ideas of the future.

Photography by Pasquale Formisano
To be continued...

Continue Reading... Label: Brillante Interiors, Designers, Events, Houses, I Saloni

Old houses & New design (part two)

Four unique houses for their heritage of history and art and contemporary design create an exhibition wanted by Cosmit in anticipation for I Saloni, the international Design Week in Milan, April 14-19, 2010. They are four Museum-Houses, rich in history and representing a model of a past way of living and they create a stunning set for over 200 contemporary objects of design called "Unexpected guests".
Today I present the second Casa-Museo: Poldi Pezzoli.
Poldi Pezzoli is a magnificent house of a great collector of art, a treasure in the center of Milan, now a Museum-House full of treasures of the past.
In the Armory the light (above) Animal Thing by Front for Mooi is very appropriate, don't you think?

Surrounded by affreschi the Boa sofa by the Campana brothers for Edra creates a wonderful contrast in texture and colors; on the wall the mirror Sturm und Drang by Piero Lissoni for Glas Italia.

In the golden hall the extravagant and colorful seating system Michetta by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia. By the way Michetta is the name of a traditional Milanese simple bread which I grew up with and sadly disappearing due to the myriad of new "design" breads invented every day, more expensive but often more disappointing.

On the table is the tray Torino from the series "100 piazze" (100 squares) by Fabio Novembre for Driade.

Through the door Clouds by the magic Bouroullec brothers for Kvadrat, in the foreground the Ripples bench by Toyo Ito for Horm.

What a wonderful way to celebrate the 2010 Salone del Mobile (I Saloni) in Milan presenting the rich culture of the past and the geniality of the present time.

Photography by Pasquale Formisano and Luca Fregoso
To be continued...

Continue Reading... Label: Brillante Interiors, Designers, Events, Houses, I Saloni

Old houses & New design (part one)

Four unique houses for their heritage of history and art and contemporary design create an exhibition wanted by Cosmit in anticipation for I Saloni, the international Design Week in Milan, April 14-19, 2010. They are four Museum-Houses, rich in history and representing a model of a past way of living now a stunning set for over 200 contemporary objects of design. "Ospiti inaspettati" is the title of the exhibition, translated means "unexpected guests" a sort of game for the public to recognize contemporary objects in a classic or traditional interior decoration.

Today I present the first Casa-Museo: Boschi-Di Stefano.

In the above foyer on the left we can see the lamp Starglass by Paolo Rizzatto for Luceplan and on the right the chair Freya by Duilio Forte.

In the dining room in the right corner is the Swivel chair by Martino Gamper for Nilufar and on the left the Primitive armchair by Nucleo. In the center a magnificent XX century oak piece by Piero Portaluppi.

Chair Jenette by Fernando and Umberto Campana for Edra. On the table the sculpture "Vittoria alata" by Arturo Martini.

In a corridor the rug Do-lo-rez by Ron Arad for Nanimarquina, in the corner the Chair-One by Konstantin Grcic for Magis create a magic contrast with the red Murano light and the Mid Century art.

Lazy chair by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia lit by a classic Murano chandelier. On the background seven 1950's works by the great artist Lucio Fontana.

What a wonderful way to celebrate the 2010 Salone del Mobile (I Saloni) in Milan.

Photography by Pasquale Formisano
To be continued...

Continue Reading... Label: Brillante Interiors, Designers, Events, Houses, I Saloni

La Triennale, Milan

While in Milan I always visit at least once La Triennale.

"Since 1933 it has been based in Milan, in the Palazzo dell'Arte, designed by Giovanni Muzio and built in eighteen months from the autumn of 1931 to the spring of 1933. Conceived by the architect as an extremely flexible container, this multifunctional structure was highly innovative at the time it was built." (...) "Born as a panorama of modern decorative and industrial arts, with the purpose of stimulating the relationship between industry, the manufacturing sectors and applied arts, the Triennial quickly revealed itself as a mirror of the artistic and architectural culture in Italy and one of the main centers of confrontation for emerging trends. (...) Today's activities are direct towards research and exhibitions about architecture, town planning, decorative and visual arts, design, handcraft, industrial production, fashion and audio-visual communication." (text from La Triennale website)
The Triennale Design Museum offers continuously exciting exhibitions and the Design Library with its historical archive and documentation center is a must to browse for any design enthusiast, presenting to the public a rich heritage of thousands of books, photographs, prints, sound recordings and films, available for consultation on the premises.

Please follow me:

From the bookstore at the bottom (note also the amazing 1930's mosaic on the floor) going up the sleek stairs to explore...

From a window a glimpse of display of contemporary design with Ron Arad's rocking chair, a sculpture made with steel rings.

Zaha Hadid sinuous form, a flow of different shapes on each side.

Fornasetti screen, 1945, edition of 6 representing a mirrored city.

The same screen on the other side depicts a corner of a dressing room. A chandelier by Jacopo Foggini on the background.

A feast for the eye, every single item is a design marvel.

 

The iconic table "Traccia" by Merit Oppenheim, 1939 now produced by Gavina (Simon by Design d'autore 1972) together with a gorgeous skirt and shirt by Gianfranco Ferre', laser cut and conceived flat, it takes shape only when worn.

Descending the stairs to visit the garden, adorned with several iconic contemporary sculptures and a pause at the cafe' for a cappuccino.

Here is an innovative and interesting idea called "Orto mobile" or mobile vegetable garden, in fact the various parts can be assembled in different shapes and they can serve as plant containers, sitting space, water collection or to store gardening tools. I thought it was a genial idea, especially useful on terraces and small patios.

Another beautiful day exploring modern design and only seven days to go before

"I Saloni 2010" in Milan.

Photography© by Albarosa Simonetti

Continue Reading... Label: Brillante Interiors, Designers, Milan