Milan Furniture Fair 2024 – Discover Design Week highlights and exciting new releases!
The Milan Furniture Fair, or Salone del Mobile.Milano, celebrated its 62nd edition in 2024. Finnish Design Shop’s team was on the ground in springtime Milan, diving into the latest offerings from design superstars and emerging talents – all while soaking up the inspiring exhibitions scattered throughout the city.
Marimekko and interior magazine Apartamento's joint pop-up restaurant, Bar Unikko, was set up in Milan in honor of the 60th anniversary of Maija Isola's world-famous Unikko pattern. Photo: Sean Davidson.
Experiences and fresh perspectives
BEYOND THE MAIN Salone del Mobile.Milano exhibition, Milan’s downtown palaces, showrooms, and galleries were buzzing with design-focused events. Innovation, collaboration, and new products were front and center. One example of the increasing popularity of recycled materials was seen at the 100R exhibition, where designers Inga Sempé, Max Lamb, Andreas Engesvik, Shane Schneck, John Tree, Philippe Malouin, and Rachel Griffin explored the possibilities of a new recycled aluminum from the Norwegian company Hydro.
In the 100R exhibition curated by Lars Beller Fjetland, products created by seven renowned contemporary designers were showcased, utilizing recycled aluminum developed by Hydro. Photos: Einar Aslaksen.
The Imperfect Home exhibition by French designer Inga Sempé is on display at the Triennale Milano until September 15, 2024, exploring everyday household items and the industrial manufacturing processes behind them.
In the color-rich exhibition by Danish Muuto, a Milanese apartment was dressed in a Scandinavian style.
Muuto: The Artful Home
Hidden within an old Milanese residential building, The Artful Home exhibition by Danish brand Muuto explored the feel of home and the impact of design on well-being. The six rooms of the exhibition showcased Muuto’s vision of a good life, accompanied by the brand’s latest releases – including the Set lamp by Jamie Wolfond, the Earnest dining table by John Tree, and new parts and colors for the Stacked storage system. Muuto’s new releases will arrive at Finnish Design Shop in spring.
The Finnish company Durat's Porta dei Colori installation captivated as part of the Alcova exhibition. The set-up created by designer Linda Bergroth drew its inspiration from the earthy colors of an old colonnade. Photos: Paavo Lehtonen.
The Panton Lounge exhibition at the 10 Corso Como concept store featured iconic products by Verner Panton. The immersive display included Panton products from Vitra, Verpan, &Tradition, and Montana.
New, old and sustainable
ALMOST 1,900 EXHIBITORS from around the world participated in the Milan Furniture Fair 2024. The trends in new product releases this year leaned towards bolder colors and patterns, as well as a dialogue between old and new: while new technological innovations continued to gain traction, traditional craftsmanship techniques were also gaining increased recognition. At the forefront of the trends, once again, was sustainability, evidenced not just in the use of recycled materials but also in the relaunching of classic products and the focus on recyclability.
One of the Finnish Design Shop team’s favorite releases was the Able chair from Swedish brand Blå Station. Created to be recyclable, modular, dismountable, repairable, and upgradeable, this nimble steel-frame chair was designed by Thomas Bernstrand, Stefan Borselius, and Johan Lindau.
The appeal of Blå Station's new Able chair lies in its assembly-ready frame, which not only makes the chair adaptable and recyclable but also durable.
As the name suggests, Astep's Sorpresa surprises: the structure of the lamp is the same as that used in yarn swifts! The oak frame folds compactly and takes up little space, but when hung, the lamp unfolds into a striking centerpiece for a living room or dining area. Designed by Samuel Wilkinson.
Could this be the most beautiful folding chair ever? The Faneeri oak chair designed by Jonas Forsman for Nikari looks stunning even when folded.
Ronan Bouroullec designed a series of handmade, numbered art objects for the Mutina Editions collection. We especially loved the giant Talea vases and Candeliere candle holders. Photos: Gerhardt Kellerman.
Mater's Alder collection features tables and stools designed by Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola, suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The products are made from recycled material called Matek.
Magis's elegant Twain armchair, complete with footstool, is available in various color combinations. The new design by Konstantin Grcic recalls traditional safari chairs.
The Karimoku Case stand featured a serene collection of wood furniture made in Japan. Photo: Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen.
Karimoku Case: Timeless harmony
Japan’s leading wooden furniture manufacturer, Karimoku, founded in 1940, presented three collections in Milan. One that especially stood out for our team was the architecture-inspired Karimoku Case. This collection features minimalist, clean-lined furniture designed in collaboration with architects, each for a specific project – besides Asia, these site-specific projects extend to Europe. The Karimoku Case collection draws inspiration from the American Case Study House project, which consisted of modernist prefabricated homes designed in the mid-20th century by architects such as Charles and Ray Eames, and Eero Saarinen.
Patricia Urquiola's plush Undique Mas side tables continue the design language of Kartell's Undique table series. Made of beech, these tables can be combined with each other and are available in three colors.
Congratulations to Flos! It's time to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the IC10 lighting series. Special gold-plated and numbered anniversary editions of Michael Anastassiades' favorite lamps have been released.
The base of Miniforms' Nami dining tables, crafted from bent wood, resembles a wave. Available in several colors and top options, this table series is the work of the Italian design studio e-ggs.
Danish brand Karakter took a leap back in time, showcasing classics from the 60s. Featured: Angelo Mangiarotti's Sfera lamp from 1968 and Bodil Kjær's Principal chair from 1961.
Maiju Uski participated in the SaloneSatellite exhibition in Milan, where young designers were spotlighted. The Tyyni series' chair and armchair share a light, airy silhouette and a sturdy elm frame.
Some of the new products showcased in Milan will arrive at Finnish Design Shop during the spring and summer.
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