Looking back at Milan Design Week 2024 by Katja Lucas
It seems like an eternity since my last visit to Fuorisalone, Milan Design Week. This time, my friend and I, both former students of DAE, Jacqueline Moors, now working as designer of public spaces, deliberately set aside time for relaxation. That means enjoying delicious lunches in the afternoon sun and dining and meeting people at our leisure in the evening. We also visited the Triennial, culminating in Alessandro Mendini’s retrospective.
Marre Moerel | LS Unit
Location: The Rossana Orlandi Gallery
This year, we got lucky. Our authentic flat is located in the charming Centro Storico district, just a ten-minute walk from Rossana Orlandi, our first stop. Through the characteristic green courtyard, we enter the old department store, again filled with an array of presentations. It feels familiar to be here again. In the basement, we find most of the ‘Dutch’. I had a short and fascinating conversation with architect and designer Marre Moerel.
In her youth, Marre was inspired by her architect parents’ white sofa. After many years, she turned the warm feeling of the sofa into beautiful, round modular luminaires: the table lamp LS Unit. The user himself can assemble and stack the elements. Her work exudes a love of minimalism, simplicity and creating warm spaces where light and shadow play a leading role. The modules, made of untreated pottery, are a subtle piece of craftsmanship. Born in the Netherlands, Marre lives and works in Spain after many wanderings around the world.
Baltan Laboratories & Onomatopee | The Body is a Movement
Location: BASE Milano
The Tortona district doesn’t seem to be the same vibrant place during the Fuorisalone, or maybe I just didn’t prepare properly. A quick message from friend Zuzanna Skalska confirms my suspicions. When I ask her what we absolutely must see here, she replies firmly, “NOTHING.” Nevertheless, Jacqueline and I decide to press on and walk to designer Marjan van Aubel’s presentation for Japanese company Lexus. Unfortunately, the outdoor expo turns out to be temporarily closed due to strong winds. Fortunately, Jeroen Junte has written about this, so for details you’ll just have to check DesignDigger.
We continue on our way to BASE Milano, a venue new to me. BASE turns out to be a hybrid centre for culture and creativity, a true discovery. Here we are immersed in the programme “The Body is a Movement” by Baltan Laboratories & Onomatopee, previously shown during DDW 2023 at Section C and now settled here in Milan. Four bold design projects challenge us to think about how we feel and care for our bodies. They hack our movements, change how we listen and explore how we can experience the world differently through our bodies. It is a tad strange, but at the same time hugely intriguing.
Dutch Corner | Isola Design Gallery
Location: Lampo Milano
Isola remains the hip district with hidden gems and groundbreaking ideas, especially during the Fuori. It takes some searching and quite a few metres on foot, especially to the new location, Lampo Milano, but it is well worth the effort. Lampo is a brand new urban renewal project, located in the historic Scalo Farini railway yard. On arrival, we are warmly welcomed with refreshing Aperol Spritz by Bas and Ulrike of mo man tai, a treat.
Isola Design Gallery again presents the Dutch Corner, supported by the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Milan and curated by curator Wisse Trooster. Here, visitors get an exclusive look at cutting-edge contemporary Dutch design. It is a delight to be here and experience the vibrant energy of new initiatives. This really is a super place!
Formafantasma | EARTHIC LAB – Cosentino
Location: Teatro Gerolamo
I close with a gem, an enchanting presentation enveloped in a historical monument, which is what makes Milan Design Week so fascinating. Behind the majestic Duomo, away from the bustle of the shopping streets, we come to a peaceful little square where the entrance to a charming little theatre looms.
Within the old walls, the story of EARTHIC LAB unfolds, a collaboration between Cosentino and Formafantasma. It is a dialogue between past and future, where sustainability plays the leading role. The focus is not only on aesthetics, but above all on the value of production processes. The LAB takes us on a journey that reveals the careful creation of the EARTHIC collection and highlights the importance of sustainable design. Improvements are achieved through the use of recycled, reused and advanced raw materials.
Everything exudes a harmony between client and studio, between materials and the earth. The presentations on each floor and the beautifully designed sculptures exude pure beauty.
Text & photography by Katja Lucas, Design/manager.scout.facilitator