Our favorite moments from Milan Design Week 2022: The Fair

As the dust begins to settle on a month of back-to-back international design shows, a mountain of moments from Milan Design Week have coalesced into a dreamy highlight reel.

After three long years away, the world’s largest contemporary furniture expo, Salone del Mobile.Milano, returned for a full-fledged celebration of its 60th edition. Despite higher temperatures than Salone’s usual April run, from June 7-12 over 260,000 visitors hiked across the expansive Fieramilano fairgrounds to survey the 2,175 brands exhibiting at the show. In town, 800+ design events of all shapes and sizes, known collectively as Fuorisalone, added to the revelry. A fervent energy abounded throughout the week as three years of ideas, conversations, and creativity amalgamated into a celebration of design that will not soon be forgotten. It felt good…and dare we say, normal?

Alongside an impressive emphasis on sustainability efforts and innovations, we also noticed a trend among brands who turned back the clock, rolling out reissues that play into the social media-fueled era of nostalgic design. Big name collaborations also garnered considerable attention, both on the ground in Milan and across the globe via Instagram posts and stories. Although it would be impossible to summarize all the incredible design that the week had to offer, we have put together a few lists of moments you won’t want to miss.

First, The Fair

It’s the reason for the season! After the reduced-capacity “Supersalone” in September 2021, Salone del Mobile.Milano was finally able to properly celebrate its 60th birthday. With seven exhibitions across 24 sprawling halls, this year’s fair championed innovation and sustainability across domestic and commercial spaces. Dozens of big-name architects and designers collaborated with brands to deliver impressive booth and product designs. To spotlight up-and-coming talent, Salone Satellite corralled over 600 designers under the age of 35 around the theme of “Designing for our Future Selves.” Curated by Marva Griffin, the exhibition spread through two halls for the first time in its 23-year history and explored creative and sustainable design solutions from young studios, sole practitioners, and students.

Kengo Kuma x Gandiablasco Group

Famed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma designed an environment of undulating wooden blinds for Valencian furnishings company, Gandiablasco Group. Reminiscent of traditional Japanese sudare screens, the blinds pay homage to the Spanish company through their use of Valencian wood and are upheld by hand-made lattice structures.

Design with Nature by Mario Cucinella Architects

Within the S. Project exhibition, which highlighted design products and interior architectural solutions, Mario Cucinella Architects designed a 4,600-square-foot educational installation that put circular economy concepts and cutting edge sustainable materials on display. The curvy organic form also branched out to create a lecture space, kitchen and cafe, book store, and multiple seating areas.

Cimento

Making its fair debut, Cimento is an Italian company that manufacturers products, ranging from facades to furniture, out of a signature light-weight cement compound. Collaborating with international architects and designers, the booth included designs from Patricia Urqiola, Parisotto + Formenton, Defne Koz & Marco Susani, Omri Revesz, Studio 63, and BBA Studio.

Re-Rug by nanimarquina

Ceiling-height piles of recycled wool served as a bold introduction to Re-Rug, a line of sustainable rugs by nanimarquina. The booth, designed in conjunction with fellow Barcelonian design company ARQUITECTO-G, is intended to serve as a physical display of nanimarquina’s commitment to transparency and sustainability.

Arcadia by Spacestor with Gensler

Comprised of just five basic modular shapes, Arcadia is a configurable acoustic partition system that can be used to create myriad space solutions for the workplace. Designed by Spacestor in collaboration with Gensler, the pieces are equipped with a patented quick-release joining system for easy adaptability and are available in a wide range of colors.

The Project of Living by Arper

Presented in a nearly 10,000-square-foot exhibition space, Arper’s The Project of Living reinterprets living spaces as dynamic and fluid, blurring the boundary between home and work. Winding white curtains guide visitors through various vignettes employing soft, light, and colorful materials with the intention of conveying a positive and calming energy.

SCHOCK: the Home of Colourful by Schock

As part of Salone’s biennial EuroCucina exhibition, German quartz composite kitchen sink manufacturer Schock put on a sprawling, polychromatic display. A rainbow gradient of arches curved over two oversized island units equipped with food prep stations and sinks in Schock’s latest color offerings.

Check out more of our top picks on aninteriormag.com.