If you’re in Milan and looking for things to see outside of Salone del Mobile, be sure to check out these Design Debuts at spaces across the city, new from Fornasetti, Monstrum Studio, Gufram and Snarkitcecture, and Ginori 1735.
Photo by Benjamin Baccarani, courtesy of Monstrum Studio.
Monstrum Studio
Alcova 2023
Riccardo Villa Fabbiati’s Monstrum Studio captured visions of mysterious landscapes, stardust, and meteorites with its collection “Solar Flare Sunset”. Sharp minimalism pulling from past and future imbued feelings of otherworldly regality, achieved with unlikely shapes, glossy finishes, and materials like leather, chrome gold, and alabaster. Standout designs included the low, rectangular Lilith Throne chair, which featured spindly, lacquered bamboo arms and a cylindrical leather cushion with giant golden tassels that hung to the floor, and the orb-like Lucifuge ceiling lamp, which also featured long, hanging tassels in gold.
Courtesy of Gufram and Snarkitecture.
Gufram and Snarkitecture: “SCULPTED SERIES”
Capsule Plaza, Spazio Maiocchi
New from Italian label Gufram and the New York-based Snarkitecture (founded by Daniel Arkham and Alex Mustonen) is a series of domestic artworks titled “SCULPTURE SERIES”. At once art and functional objects, the debut is a suite of polyurethane foam pieces that appear as though they’ve been made of crumbling concrete, taking simple forms of furniture and turning them into conversation-worthy art pieces that still fulfill their intended purpose. Including a bookshelf, a coffee table, a bar cabinet, an armchair, and a low table, the pieces (available in black or white) feature minimal details and have been made by hand and coated in the specially-designed Guflac® Ultra paint, giving them a smooth matte finish that is also weather resistant.
Courtesy of Fornasetti.
Fornasetti: “The Syntax of Making”
Fornasetti Milano
“The Syntax of Making” encompasses three new collections of furniture and accessories for the home, each corresponding to a different decorative motif from the Fornasetti archives. In the “Giro di Conchiglie” collection, nods to marine life are seen on a series of lamps, mirrors, a nightstand and a cabinet with polyhedric forms, and a console, imagined in an aqueous blue with silver leaf shells adorning their surfaces. The house found inspiration in motifs looking at neoclassical architecture and fantastic landscapes for the “Giardino Settecentesco” collection, where a detailed print of an outdoor scene—reminiscent of one that might be found illustrating an old storybook—is applied to similar furniture pieces and a series of porcelain wares. Finally, the collection “Musciarabia con rose” presents a print where black and white geometric designs are accented by the occasional blooming roses, which have been hand-painted in color. Special for Milan Design Week, the house also presented a live painting initiative with painters of its ateliers, viewable at the show space throughout the week.
Courtesy of Ginori 1735.
Ginori 1735: “Domus”
Ginori 1735
Ginori 1735 makes its debut in homewares with its aptly-named collection “Domus,” which was designed by Luca Nichetto. Rich colors, gold accents, and inviting patterns—a floral jacquard print, one of organic leaf-like imprints, and a subtle geometric print—were the basis for the series of lamps, chairs, poufs, and other home accessories, executed with thoughtful shapes bearing a nostalgic feel. The collection features designs that are statements in a more neutral space, but also lend themselves to the grandeur of a “maximalist” aesthetic—like the LaVenus lounge chair, with a vaguely shell-like shape, and a table lamp that disguises itself as a decorative tray with glass bottles.
