This year’s Milan Design Week presented an array of Design Debuts and exhibitions that melded tradition with cutting-edge creativity, including Dimorecentrale, Orior, Acne Studios, and more.
“Occupazione” at Dimorecentrale Invites Creative Synergy
Courtesy of Dimorecentrale.
Dimorestudio co-founders Emiliano Salci and Britt Moran pioneered a new vision for collaboration in the design world with “Occupazione,” hosted at Dimorecentrale. The project aims to establish a community where diverse galleries, artists, and brands can coalesce to inspire and challenge the status quo and each bring unique experiences, aesthetics, and histories to the table. Visitors were invited to immerse themselves in an environment where art and design transcend traditional boundaries, offering a sanctuary of creativity amidst the bustling energy of design week. Exhibitors included Aesop, Altai, Bonacina 1889, Dimoregallery, Maison Royère, Monde Singulier, Nicola Guiducci, Paradisoterrestre, San Patrignano Casa d’Arte, and Yves Salomon x Chapo Création.
Orior’s “Fearn” Collection Traces its Irish Roots
Courtesy of Orior.
Orior, a design studio with roots in New York and Ireland, launched “Fearn,” a collection of sculptural marble planters that merges historical Irish elements with contemporary design. The “Fearn” collection, named after the third letter of the Ogham alphabet, historically used for early Irish language inscriptions, features planters that carry the essence of Celtic stone configurations. These historical symbols, which once marked thresholds to welcome guests and signify home, are reimagined through Orior’s modern design lens. Each piece in the collection— crafted from limestone sourced from the Irish cities of Lecarrow, Armagh, and Kilkenny—is designed to weather over time, developing unique finishes through exposure to elements. This interaction between design and nature encapsulates Orior’s vision of blending functionality with artistic expression.
Acne Studios x Frédéric Malle Unveil Neoclassical Perfume
Courtesy of Acne Studios.
Acne Studios and Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle unveiled a collaboration that beautifully marries fashion, perfumery, and art. Drawing inspiration from their shared values of innovation and creative freedom, the brands launched a neoclassical perfume crafted by the perfumer Suzy Le Helley. This fragrance combines aldehydes for a fresh, radiant effect with floral notes like rose, violet, and orange blossom that introduce a classic touch. The scent evolves with a mineral freshness from incense, grounded by the warmth of vanilla, sandalwood, and a hint of peach skin, creating a complex but harmonious composition. Acne Studios’ fashion-forward philosophy and Frédéric Malle’s avant-garde approach to perfumery perfectly complemented each other to present a bold statement on the fusion of sensory experiences in contemporary design.
Flexform Showcases “Between the Folds”
Courtesy of Flexform.
Flexform’s exhibit “Between the Folds” showcased the brand’s 2024 Indoor Collection and Outdoor Collection through a meticulously designed space. With an atmosphere of refined elegance, the setting highlighted Flexform’s harmonious balance between tradition and modernity, and the brand’s meticulous attention to detail was evident throughout the exhibit. The centerpiece of the collection was the new Camelot seating system, designed to act as the focal point of living spaces conceptualized as dynamic ecosystems. This approach emphasizes the interaction of objects within their environment, enhancing the overall sensory experience of the space. The exhibit also features the Arnold coffee tables, Lauren armchairs, and various accessories from the permanent collection.
Louis Vuitton’s Historic Bed-Trunk Re-Emerges
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Louis Vuitton redefined the elegant traveler with a contemporary reinterpretation of its historic Bed-Trunk at the Garage Traversi store in Milan. The updated design draws inspiration from the original 1865 design but innovates with a sophisticated bed structure of aluminum and beechwood, a mattress split into four distinct layers, an angled head, and a side table. The newest edition of the Bed-Trunk continues a history of designing for explorers around the world; in 1885, Georges Vuitton patented the Bed-Trunk invention which went on to be showcased in universal and international exhibits.
Rottet Studio Opens a Grand Salon
Courtesy of Rottet Studio.
Renowned architect and interior designer Lauren Rottet opened her 605-square-foot Grand Salon in Residenza Vignale as a participant in l’Appartamento by Artemest. The salon featured a palette of golden brown and mint green. The room was framed with soft celadon wainscotting and upholstered silk brocade walls, complemented by hand-painted wood ceiling panels and a two-tone wood parquet diamond patterned floor. Furnishings included a large sectional sofa in mink velvet, a curved sofa in blush suede, and dark walnut wood chairs topped with curly Tibetan ecru, adding layers of texture and comfort. Additional design elements include pale Venetian glass, light green marble, and glowing Rubelli fabrics embedded with LED thread, along with one of Rottet’s signature materials, dichroic glass.
