Exhibitions SaloneSatellite and Rinascente: design starts over from young people Text by Marilena Sobacchi Add to bookmarks Design Supermarket, SaloneSatellite e Rinascente From theory to practice, from the incubator of talents to the bright lights of the store. This is the significance of the partnership between SaloneSatellite and la Rinascente on stage again from 5 October to 6 November at the Design Supermarket For the 9th consecutive year, SaloneSatellite and la Rinascente come together to create an extraordinary project: to enhance the most authentic expression of the inspiration and skill of 10 international design studios. They were distinguished last April among all the participants in the event by their furnishings, outstandingly appealing by their evident ecological conscience and awareness of design, plus a certain fascination with the rough, the unfinished, the seemingly casual, the raw or the recycled. From 5 October to 6 November, 14 new eco-friendly objects that simplify the project and are outstanding by research and versatility are on display and on sale at the Design Supermarket. Experimentation, innovation, craft skills, sustainability and inclusion are the threads uniting all these objects and furnishings, in which the striking lightweight design, sometimes very light, softens the forms and uses less material in harmony with an increasingly accentuated environmental sensibility. These are products that show young designers are unafraid to get involved by experimenting, risking and sustaining a greener future. Here are the chosen objects and their authors. Ph. Lucas Denuwelaere KU DO AZÒ (hammock) by AHOKPE + CHATELIN (Belgium) A hanging bed designed and handwoven in Benin for European interiors. Sensitive to the textile, craft and industrial heritage, the designer duo sourced the fabric for the hammock from yarns made from the sweaters that end up on African markets, while the shape depends on the material available. ÉCLIPSE ATELIER (lamp collection) by ALEKSI REMSU (Finland) A limited series of sculptural wall lighting fixtures based on tensile structures and simplicity. The structure consists of three pieces and a lamp, assembled exclusively with the tensioning of a brass sheet. The design process for the collection starts from experiments with paper folding techniques on metal sheets. This made it possible to create three-dimensional forms that reflect light in an interesting and fascinating way. Each lamp is handmade. SUN RUG, ESPIRAL RUG, MINDSET RUG (rugs) by ALLCA (Spain) Rugs made from recycled and recyclable polyester, hand-woven and digitally printed. The innovative production process – rooted in ethics, awareness and sustainable creation – avoids yarn dyeing, amplifies the expressive possibilities and produces customized pieces co-created on demand. These carpets weave together different references: through an abstract and minimalist landscape, they evoke sensations associated with nature and meditation. At the same time they are peace and appeal, energy and serenity. They explore the effects of color on our feelings, creating a sacred and introspective space. INFINIGHTY COLLECTION (lampada) ANDREÍNA RAVENTÓS (Spagna) The Infinighty Collection represents the path of life with its ups and downs, and with its luminous continuity it shows us the way forward. Handmade with natural materials to enhance human imperfections.
Exhibitions The latest outdoor furnishing, championing sustainability, material and colour Comfortable and sustainable, outdoor furnishing lends itself to many different interpretations, channelling innovation and constantly evolving aesthetics Marilena Pitino
Stories The biology of light, according to Manuel Spitschan What does chronobiology have to do with design? Manuel Spitschan, professor at the Technische Universität München, explains why light is essential to our well-being. And why designers should know more about it to design better. Giulia Zappa
Sustainability The Piazze Aperte scheme is really changing the face of Milan Since 2018, the two local governments helmed by Mayor Giuseppe Sala have closed more than fifty of the city’s streets and roads to traffic – but not to people. And this is just the beginning Fabrizio Fasanella
