In this week's interview with 2021 SBID Awards winner for the Kitchen Product Design category, Abode, Design Manager Paul Illingworth answers questions on the company's approach to projects and the technical features and functionality of their award-winning tap filter - Swich.
SBID Awards Category: Kitchen Product
Practice: Abode
Entry: Swich
As a premium manufacturer, we are proud of our products and want to make it as easy as possible for our customers to understand their features and benefits, so entering the SBID International Design Awards is a great way to raise the profile of our brand on a global stage. To be recognised by SBID and its panel of leading industry experts is a great achievement for Abode, acknowledging Swich for its outstanding examples of technical innovation, aesthetic creativity and fit-for-purpose functionality. There is something truly special in knowing that the talents of every member of our team, from product developers to marketing and sales, are recognised and celebrated by the international design community and the entire Abode family.
For me, I think the versatility and ease of use of Abode Swich makes this product an industry game changer for the modern home. It’s a revolutionary design solution that will transform a new or existing kitchen tap into a filtered water tap that delivers a constant supply of crystal clear filtered water! The exclusive and patented Swich water filter system is a discreet yet ultra-luxe device, which is easy to use and install, either retro-fit in an existing kitchen or add to a new kitchen design. Swich works in conjunction with a normal kitchen mixer tap to improve the overall taste, appearance and quality of your drinking water without compromising on style. For the first time, our customers are not restricted to the style of tap they can have in their kitchen and now, they can enjoy fresh filtered tap water while removing the need for a countertop water purifier or bottled water, which we all know is harmful to the environment.
We are strong believers in the power of feedback, so we are in constant contact with our network of retailers up and down the country to ensure that we are developing the very best products with the right functionality. We are highly creative with a strong ‘can do’ attitude and believe in taking care of every member of the Abode family, which is reflected in our high level of customer service and our development of hero product lines with full marketing support.
Our new product development team track lifestyle trends worldwide, as well as focus on the UK market in order to create a concept that seized key consumer concerns with a simple, failsafe solution – using the philosophy of ‘If you can dream it, we can do it’. With that in mind, we wanted to tick the boxes of reducing waste, saving space, enhancing cooking alongside boosting home hygiene as the open-plan kitchen absorbs many of the functions of the living and dining area. Like a Swiss army knife that combines multiple functions in a single unit, we wanted something which could be universal, minimal and super-easy to use. This is why we decided to make Swich available in four high fashion finishes – Brushed Brass, Matt Black, Brushed Nickel and Chrome – simply turn the Round or Square control handle to indicate the type of water supply you wish to channel through the tap. Providing immediate access to both the domestic water supply and Abode-safe water, via the Swich filter cartridge, customers can enjoy clear refreshing results, every time!
We are celebrating 20 years in business in 2022 and are eagerly preparing for KBB 2022 with new products and innovations to introduce to the market. We are investing heavily in every aspect of our business as we want to be in an excellent position for the next 20 years onwards.
Always keep your portfolio up to date, take pride in your work and never be afraid to ask questions. There is no such thing as a silly question and you never know where the answer might take you in terms of inspiration. It is so important to feed your imagination so make sure you take time out to enjoy pursuits you are passionate about and be curious – look at innovations and trends in other industries to keep developing your design ideas and stay abreast of current affairs to anticipate future client and consumer needs. My approach to design has certainly become more subtle over the years and I think that as one matures you start to gather a wider appreciation for the design likes and dislikes of others and these automatically filter into your work, whereas I think the younger version of myself, designed more selfishly. I still probably get the greatest joys from solving annoying or fiddly design problems with the simplest solutions, these are the daily successes - in between the big product launches.
Questions answered by Paul Illingworth, Design Manager, Abode.
Established in 2002, Abode has a team with extensive knowledge of sinks, taps and the kitchen & bathroom industry. Abode is part of the Norcros plc group of companies, a leading supplier of high quality and innovative kitchen and bathroom products.
If you missed last week's Interview with the Lighting category winner II BY IV DESIGN, click here to read it.
This week's instalment of SBID's Product of the Week series features a textured and colourful carpet designs by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, TSAR Carpets.
SBID Awards Category: Flooring & Floor Coverings
Practice: TSAR Carpets
Project: Sierra Collection
The Sierra Collection is a series of broadloom wool-rich Axminster carpet designs inspired by mountainous terrains and desert landscapes. An exploration in woven process and natural textures, the collection’s patterns were derived from an array of experimental and labor-intensive hand, seersucker and jacquard weaving techniques, which were then digitally translated into broadloom Axminster carpet designs.
While keeping in line with TSAR’s signature use of bold and signature designs, the collection transforms the company’s vision for the future of hospitality, commercial and residential projects into paired-back contemporary statements teeming with topographical dimension. Available since February 2021, the collection is sold exclusively at TSAR’s studios in Melbourne, Sydney, New York, London, and Shanghai.
The SBID International Design Awards programme serves to recognise, reward and celebrate design excellence across a broad range of categories spanning Interior Design, Product Design and Fit-Out. Click here to find out more.
In this week's interview with 2021 SBID Awards winner for the Lighting Design category, REPUBLIC OF II BY IV partners, Dan Menchions and Keith Rushbrook answer questions on the winning experience, the creative process behind designing the Boga Collection, and what's in store for the company's future!
The internationally renowned interior design practice, II BY IV DESIGN was founded in 1990 by Dan and Keith - both dreamed of a creative firm that was deeply rooted in design and guided by a passion for constant innovation. "Continually travelling the world, we seek out art, architecture, fashion, theatre, food and culture to fuel our imaginations, while inspiring globally celebrated designs."
SBID Awards Category: Lighting
Practice: REPUBLIC OF II BY IV
Entry: Boga Collection
The SBID Awards are regarded as one of the most prestigious accolades in the interior design industry representing talent and design excellence across all corners of the industry.
Being named a finalist for a SBID Award is a notable achievement but being a category winner has made our studio tremendously excited and thrilled. We are truly honoured to receive this recognition, especially considering the products of all the other finalists.
The benefits of receiving an SBID are vast but most notably the acknowledgement and exposure within the international design community. It gives immense credibility to our product to win a world class award.
The simplicity of the design. It is truly a study in form and shape. It’s elegant and refined. The purity of the design comes from a simple line. Our design team didn’t want to overcomplicate it. Sometimes less is more and it’s important to keep it simple.
Having said that, the design is only as strong as those who manufacture it. So, we celebrate hollis + morris’ true craftmanship and their team for fabricating this product. It’s a true partnership and we share this great accolade with them.
Our team wanted to evoke emotion, we hope everyone who sees the fixture is inspired and curious by the design.
Boga, which takes its origins from the Old English word “bow” was inspired by the wonders of how wood can be transformed. The bow in archery is so powerful and we wanted to emulate that with a lighting fixture.
Inspired by narrow natural wood material, the Boga Collection pendants maximize the surface area available to emit light, delivering glow with absolutely no shadowing. The substantive solid wood frame supports its elongated scale and lends to its striking yet whimsical presence. Customizable, and dimmable from cool to warm tone, with wood finishes offered in primarily natural ash, walnut and black stain, the Boga Collection is an elegant complement to any residential, hospitality or commercial interior.
As for bringing this concept to life, we had to ensure to was structurally sound. So, we 3D printed small samples then a full-size model once we had our design perfected. Each pendant is milled out of one natural wood piece using 5-axis CNC technology to follow the natural curve of the wood grain. The design teams focused on creating a pendant that embodies a natural wood grain finish that flows into the piece with intentional joinery resulting in a pristine and clean aesthetic.
First and foremost, it must be able to be fabricated. You can’t create a super complex design that will only make it to the prototype stage. Also, you must keep in mind finances. The cost of fabrication directly leads to retail price. We keep in mind fabrication in order for it to be affordable or what we like to call ‘affordable luxury’. We wanted this piece to have a mass market appeal with a high-end look.
The materiality is a huge consideration as well. For all our projects, we factor in the environmental aspects. Minimizing our carbon footprint is very important to our studio so we ensure it is locally sourced and fabricated.
Our background of over 30 years in interiors definitely influences and contributes to how we approach the products we create. We think about how specifiers and the public can use it in their spaces. Ensuring the product can have as many applications as possible.
After all, light is so very crucial to a space, without lighting there is no design.
We are always planning our next steps at REPUBLIC of II BY IV. We have more lighting lines being developed with local and international manufactures, working with existing, well-known brands as well as completely new brands. We are also launching a brand-new wallcovering line.
Our studio has a lot planned for 2022 so be sure to follow us to stay up-to-date! @republicofiibyiv
This is such a great question and many thoughts come to mind but the one that sticks out the most is, dare to be yourself. Authenticity is what lasts in this industry. Don’t just follow the trend, start the trend.
It’s imperative to have your own point of view on design and always push the envelope. Be willing to take risks and dare to be different. You need to stand out in this business.
Focus on materials that do not harm the environment and don’t just design for the sake of designing. Always design with a solution in mind. Add your clever take to the design and be mindful of the craft. Celebrate as much as possible and look for inspiration everywhere.
Questions answered by Dan Menchions and Keith Rushbrook, Partners of II BY IV DESIGN and REPUBLIC of II BY IV, proud members of SBID for over a decade.
Established by Dan Menchions and Keith Rushbrook and credited with countless awards and esteemed publications, II BY IV DESIGN is distinguished by a balanced approach that captures the essence of each client’s vision. From concept to execution the entire team believes in delivering the highest level of design excellence.
This week's instalment of SBID's Product of the Week series features a minimal shower tray design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Acquabella.
SBID Awards Category: Bathroom & Sanitaryware
Practice: Acquabella
Project: Flow Zero
Flow Zero is the new shower tray by Acquabella. It has been designed to fully merge with the water. The shower tray is silhouetted by soft lines that direct the water towards an almost homogeneous grid that can easily accommodate the significant volume of water that flows over its surface.
A design perfectly in line with the softness of its Zero texture, a microtextured finish that fits perfectly with the Flow Zero model. The shower tray immerses us in a universe of calm and relaxation through the use of minimalism in its purest form, applied to the bathroom.
This week's instalment of SBID's new Product of the Week series features a candle vessel design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, SA Baxter Design Studio & Foundry.
SBID Awards Category: Accessories & Homeware
Practice: SA Baxter Design Studio & Foundry
Project: Accessories Collection
Scott Alexander designs and manufactures timeless solid bronze art vessels with world class candles for residential homes and commercial buildings, offering organic and sustainable coconut wax and a palette of in-house crafted scents.
All of the Scott Alexander candles are hand made to order by a group of local, world-renowned artisans using both modern and old-world manufacturing techniques in their eco-friendly foundry and atelier, located in the New York Hudson Valley.
Lorenzo Tondelli Collection is pleased to announce the release of the new Hyperborea series. A family of furniture, containers, seating, objects and lighting with a common philosophy: elegant and refined sobriety, high technology combined with the excellence of the finest Italian craftsmanship, clean lines and a contemporary touch.
The name Hyperborea draws its inspiration from legendary territories where the terrestrial and celestial met, sparking the beginning of civilization. As was the first home of Apollo, so those territories were blessed with days of endless light and an eternal spring. The series recalls the spirit of such mythic places, featuring both eastern and nordic undertones. The elements seem to come from a midway land where indoor and outdoor landscapes overlap, creating dynamism and intimacy through a silent yet engaging dialogue with the inhabitants. They couple magnificent minimalism with the in-depth technical know-how of how things work. Each piece comes with an unerring sense of measure and proportion. Each piece knows how to live and breathe in urban extensions. In its dedicated space, it finds meaning and prominence — a perfect joy.
The series is composed of completely unseen pieces such as the Dune armchair, the Drop and Levare low tables, and the Aura lamp, as well as reinterpreted and innovative Lorenzo Tondelli bestselling classics. The limited edition Atlante cabinet, a finalist in the Product Design category at the SBID Awards 2021, is also part of the selection.
Dune’s strangely beautiful silhouette looks straight to a sci-fi visual narrative. Its sleek, untouched curves interplay like sandy waves to recall fantasies of moonlit trips to a dream planet we might call “home”. Dune Armchair has ultra ergonomic lines and a cleanest design ensured by almost non-existent seams. The armchair belongs to a series that acknowledges material matching: customize it with leathers in different colours or combine leather with wood or metal.
Aura is all about soft magnetism finding freedom through a cage. The wall becomes the sky as light leaks, spreading symmetrically across it, catching the eye through a sought-after movement of shades. Aura Lamp celebrates the utmost pleasure of skywatching: it conveys the aesthetic of northern lights through a stern yet appealing reproduction of an ancient Chinese cricket cage. Filtering the light through a unique screen surrounded by tiny bars, it reverberates an alluring game of shadows in the room.
Drop captures stillness and change at the same time. There’s a quiet, flat pond, and then some tiny raindrops falling: the exact moment when they become water happens and freezes right before us. Drop has a fluid identity lying in its shapes and attitude. It has a unifying presence, with its flat and large plateau creating harmonious combinations with different pieces from the collection.
Levare was born to be as necessary and daily as the flavor of salt. And yet, it’s shaped and named after Michelangelo’s sculptural manner of taking away, instead of adding, to reach the peak of essential artfulness. Levare is a leather and metal low table with a soothing feel deriving from its blatant efficiency and plain essentiality. Geometries and volumes are subtracted, reduced to a minimum — just enough to serve intelligently, clearing the space for anything else.
About Lorenzo Tondelli
Since the early fifties, Lorenzo Tondelli have been makers at work. They adorn places where meeting, talking, learning, playing, working, and relaxing feels just sublime. At Lorenzo Tondelli they love to gather their fabrics, fantasy, and experience, and then let the inspiration lead them somewhere new. Every element they design has a unique storyline, combining culture, art, and tradition to create comfortable yet inspiring spaces.
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The SBID International Design Awards winners for 2021 have been revealed at the Nobu Hotel Portman Square in London.
Shining a spotlight on the world’s brightest design talent, the creative A&D community came together to celebrate the industry's most revered interior designers and makers with the announcement of this year's prestigious category Award winners!
The Overall Winner of SBID Awards 2021 is Angel O'Donnell! They were tasked with creating interior that could echo the vibrancy, artistry, culture and colour of the epic London views that could be enjoyed from a large 18th floor apartment.
The Winner of the CGI & Visualisation category is Alex Kravetz Design! Their project, The Carlton is a major regeneration of the city centre’s pedestrian zone, transforming early 20th century buildings into a modern Grand Hotel and apartments.
The Winner of the Club & Bar Design category is ICRAVE! Marquee and Avenue are a premier nightlife destination in Southeast Asia. The blend of technology and design allows the space to morph over the night and change from season to season, offering a truly unique experience every single visit.
The Winner of the Healthcare & Wellness Design category is Rachel Laxer Interiors! The ARTAH health retreat in Spain is the flagship hospitality project for the client. Rachel Laxer Interiors brought this brand to life through a design which reflected the wellness elements of restoration and transformation.
The Winner of the Hotel Bedroom & Suite Design category is MGM Grand Paradise! The design for MGM Emerald Villas is the product of profound reflection on Chinese architecture, integrating its elegance into a contemporary interior.
The Winner of the Hotel Public Space Design category is Richmond International! They created the lobby-bar interiors for Múzsa at the Four Seasons Gresham Palace, Budapest that fuses the building’s rich past with the needs of today’s sophisticated clientele.
The Winner of the KBB Design category is Extreme Design! Their project, The Lake House is a beautiful demonstration of blending the contemporary style of today with the features from iconic design movements of the past.
The Winner of the Office Design category is 4SPACE Design! With BE Meliorism's stunning view of the lake and 180 degrees of natural light, the designers were able to come up with a unique, instagrammable, and trendy design for this ambitious space.
The Winner of the Property Development Asia Pacific category is ENJOYDESIGN! The project is a sales centre for the real estate property Gemdale Harbin Upview. The design reshapes the relationship between people and space with a positive concept.
The Winner of the Public Space Design category is Zaha Hadid Architects! Echoing principles within traditional Chinese architecture, the Beijing Daxing International Airport design guides all passengers seamlessly through the relevant departure, arrival or transfer zones towards the courtyard at its centre.
The Winner of the Residential Apartment Over £1M category is IAIA - Idea Art Interior Architects! Coupled with the clients’ desires, daylight in this penthouse was delicately directed into the space, creating different scenarios and ambiances.
The Winner in the Residential Apartment Under £1M category is Nar Design Studio! The SV Apartment was designed to be bold and unique, incorporating futuristic and technological approach based on the fluid contrast of curves and surfaces.
The Winner of the Residential Budget Up To £50K category is Carton Interiors! This townhouse sits over three levels and is part of a newly constructed boutique riverside development.
The Winner of the Residential House Over £1M category is Shenzhen Fanst Design! Their project Futurism Villa is a high-end modern five-story villa. The designers adopted the Chinese garden-style design technique to purposefully create a free, mobile viewing space.
The Winner of the Residential House Under £1M category is Sheree Stuart Design! Their project entailed the overhaul of a 1928 detached brick home. The design team created a home infused with vintage and colour harmonised with modern architecture.
The Winner of the Restaurant Design category is design command! Inspired by the lively beach bars in Ibiza and Greece, they have designed the interiors of Mickeys Beach Bar and Restaurant as places to relax and unwind by the coast, evoking a sense of escapism.
The Winner of the Retail Design category is G.A Group! Their design for the new Harrods Beauty Hall is forward-thinking, whilst embracing the heritage of the Harrods brand.
The Winner of the Show Flats & Developments category is Aria Property Group! The TreeHouse seeks to respond to both the immediate context of the adjacent park and the broader suburb of West End – a well established inner-city neighbourhood.
The Winner of the Accessories & Homeware category is Gym Marine Yachts & Interiors! The Dumbbells from the Paragon Studio collection strive to break the mould of fitness equipment with its bespoke and sustainable qualities, made with premium natural materials.
The Winner of the Bathroom & Sanitaryware category is RAK Ceramics! The RAK-Valet collection is composed of functional elements featuring practical surfaces and stylistic solutions of significant visual impact.
The Winner of the Flooring & Floor Coverings category is IVC Commercial! Through geometric shapes and wood, stone and colours that can be arranged in countless patterns, Studio Moods makes bespoke design simple, bringing creativity and freedom to the floor.
The Winner of the Furniture - Contract category is Quinti & Furniture Hive! Designed to provide a personal escape from busy spaces, the product cocoons you in a seating pod, allowing you to sit, relax, think and create.
The Winner of the Furniture - Residential category is Lalique! The Cactus table seamlessly blends with the most creative and contemporary interior design spaces.
The Winner of the Interior Fittings category is Finfort! The FinBolt Triple Door Set is the ultimate combination of ultra-security, convenience and beautiful craftsmanship.
The Winner of the Interior Technology category is Ko Tu Elpo! Elpo is a smart air biofilter that improves indoor air quality by combining technology and the power of nature.
The Winner of the Kitchen Product category is Abode! With the emphasis on reducing the amount of plastic waste going to landfill and harming the environment, filtered water taps are becoming an increasingly popular option among consumers.
The Winner of the Lighting category is REPUBLIC OF II BY IV! The Boga Collection offers timeless elegance of nature’s awe-inspiring display of light in the form of a highly sculptural pendant.
The Winner of the Outdoor Product category is Belgard! Artforms is the first modular concrete panel system for outdoor living. The concrete looks modern, is unique and durable, and offers all the class and purity of raw material at an affordable price.
The Winner of the Surfaces & Finishes category is Fameed Khalique! This hand-crafted collection of wood veneer wall coverings and joinery inserts offers the natural, organic beauty of real wood but with the modern look of wallpaper.
The Winner of the Fit Out Project of the Year category is Cumberland Group! The key elements of the design for Twinings on The Strand were to create an interactive concept store to engage the customer.
The Winner of the Fit Out Contractor of the Year - Residential category is Alter Ego Project Group! In this coastline villa, Alter Ego Project Group has embodied one of the customer’s key desires – a house exposed to nature.
The Winner of the Fit Out Contractor of the Year - Workplace category is Modus Workspace! Their mottos of ‘coming to Modus to do your best work’ and ‘winning clients not jobs’ have once again underlined their success.
Lorenzo Tondelli Collection is delighted to invite SBID members to the official launch of Hyperborea: a contemporary and intuitive family of decorative pieces.
From 11 to 15 October, you will have the opportunity to preview the latest products, enjoy a private digital tour of the showroom and satisfy your curiosity: the event will be exclusively dedicated to those who join.
To ensure everyone who will attend the event the best possible experience, allow an exchange and give them the opportunity to ask specific questions, Lorenzo Tondelli Collection has decided to host individual meetings - moments dedicated to you and your team. The places for this event are limited.
To book your appointment follow the link and choose your preferred date and time according to availability. You will then receive an email with all the information you need to access the presentation.
Lorenzo Tondelli Collection look forward to meeting you!
About Lorenzo Tondelli Since the early fifties, Lorenzo Tondelli have been makers at work. They adorn places where meeting, talking, learning, playing, working, and relaxing feels just sublime. At Lorenzo Tondelli they love to gather their fabrics, fantasy, and experience, and then let the inspiration lead them somewhere new. Every element they design has a unique storyline, combining culture, art, and tradition to create comfortable yet inspiring spaces
If you'd like to feature your news or stories here, get in touch to find out more.
The creative industries will benefit from Government support thanks to a new package of measures announced at an event hosted by the Department for International Trade (DIT) on Monday 20th September.
The event brings together business leaders from the UK's creative industries to celebrate their export success and encourage more businesses in these fields to take advantage of the opportunities to sell their world class goods and services globally. It is part of DIT's new 'Made in Britain, Sold to the World' campaign, that provides practical export help and encourages the nation to take pride in our exporters.
From fashion to film, the UK is home to some of the world's leading creative talent, exporting £37.9 billion in 2019. With global demand increasing, our creative industries are one of the UK's export success stories.
Minister for Exports Mike Freer said: 'The UK's creative industries are a force to be reckoned with. We create, write, produce and code amazing products, and sell them to the world. The nation can be proud of our creative industries exporters, and the jobs they create in our economy.'
'Along with the trade deals we're striking, we are committed to helping our creative businesses fulfil their potential on the world stage, fuelling sustainable growth for British businesses and creating new jobs in every region and nation of the UK.'
Demand internationally is growing for the UK products, particularly in Asia with the region set to be home to the 66% of the global middle classes be 2030, hungry for high-quality British goods and services.
DIT has an array of existing support for budding exporters, who supported 6.5 million jobs across the UK in 2016. DIT is developing an ambitious cross-government Export Strategy to drive an economic recovery and level up the entire country, which will be published later this year.
About Department for International Trade DIT secure UK and global prosperity by promoting and financing international trade and investment, and championing free trade.
The special 2021 Salone del Mobile.Milano event, supersalone will open with the accent on safety, design transversality and an ambitious green commitment (avoiding 1.2 kilograms of CO2 being pumped into the atmosphere by recycling the installations). It will feature more than 423 brands and 50 independent designers, 170 projects from 48 international design schools, 20 of the most influential figures on the creative scene today, 110 Compasso d’Oro award-winning chairs, five great chefs, six films selected by the MDFF and 200 trees from Forestami.
When: 5th - 10th September from 10am to 7pm (Friday: 10am to 4pm) Where: Rho Milan Fairgrounds
Complimentary tickets are available for SBID Members!
Get in touch with [email protected] to register your interest.
The Salone’s digital platform will provide an opportunity to follow the events both in person and virtually, with work on the “supersalone” going full pelt, the event is helmed by the curator Stefano Boeri, the international team of co-designers – Andrea Caputo, Maria Cristina Didero, Anniina Koivu, Lukas Wegwerth, Marco Ferrari and Elisa Pasqual of Studio Folder, along with Giorgio Donà, co-founder and director of Stefano Boeri Interiors – and the entire staff of the Salone del Mobile.Milano with huge commitment, courage and, above all, a great sense of responsibility.
Maria Porro, President of the Salone del Mobile.Milano, had this to say: “We are pouring our hearts into organising this “supersalone” because we believe it’s crucial to go back to meeting each other, conduct relationships and see for ourselves the products that our companies have carried on creating. In 2020 we felt the lack of being able to have a collective vision on the direction of the entire sector even more keenly, and this event will allow us to find out the latest products and the prospects for the future. We took on a tough challenge with a great sense of responsibility. The issue of safety is key, and so we are working with all the regional institutions and bodies involved to ensure a totally safe experience for our exhibitors and visitors, starting with the green pass. The new Salone del Mobile.Milano platform with its palimpsest of events, live streamings and dedicated content will ensure that we can also fully involve that part of the design community that has been prevented from travelling due to the restrictions in force.”
423 brands in all goods categories will set out their wares in four pavilions, in a committed response to the call Stefano Boeri, and the firm belief that the “supersalone” will become a symbol of a new Renaissance. The stars of the show will be increasingly innovative products, capable of fully responding to the changes inherent in the contemporary social structure, and their knock-on effects on a rapidly changing furnishing market and the individual needs of each client. Recognising the importance and the symbolic value of this “supersalone” will also be confirmed by the presence of high-ranking government and institutional authorities – first and foremost the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, on the day of the launch – testament, as always, to the fact that the Salone is one of the drivers of the Italian economy, thanks to the fertile relationship that it manages to set up between businesses, cities and regions.
“The “supersalone” will be the first great Italian fair since the pandemic erupted. Super because it’s unmissable. Unmissable because it will see the great design brands, the young makers, the international schools, the great icons of design, the most renowned Italian chefs and many stars of the art and architecture scene gathered together for the first time. Unmissable because everybody will have a chance to see the top products from the top companies – live – and purchase or reserve them on the Salone del Mobile web platform. Unmissable because all the display components have been designed to be reused or recycled. Unmissable because at such a difficult time in our history we’ve mustered the courage, the passion and the generosity of the best of Italian business and creativity. “supersalone” is a cheerful response from a SuperItaly after the long night of the pandemic,” said the architect Stefano Boeri, curator of the event.
Innovation, attention to environmental impact, creativity tout court, cultural exchange, and digital experiences are the “supersalone” buzzwords. It will be an event that will draw on the power of design creativity to become a hub of experimentation and cross-pollination, a meeting place and a forger of new opportunities for reflection on the world of design and for acquainting ourselves with its protagonists – from the furnishing manufacturing system to the schools turning out the new cohorts of designers, from the independent makers to the most influential current figures in every field of design, from filmmakers who iconise the ability of design to shape worlds and tell stories to those who support and promote creativity.
With circularity and sustainability uppermost, all the materials and components used in the installation designed by Andrea Caputo - long parallel sets, designed for the specific goods categories, and the communal areas such as the Food Courts, arenas and lounges designed by Stefano Boeri Interiors - have been devised in collaboration with Lukas Wegwerth to be dismantled and reused. With the onus on circularity, the installation systems, which involve no loose components and reduced amounts of material, will be completely recycled. All the chipboard panels made from 100% recycled timber will go back into the production cycle. The overall benefit from avoiding emissions of CO2 deriving from the use of post-consumer reclaimed material is a lower emissions figure of 1.125.000kg CO2eq. The same goes for the bricks used in The Lost Graduation Show installation, which are all reusable; all the arenas, benches and seating will be “dry” mounted and can therefore be disassembled and used again at different times and in different contexts.
The trees supplied by Forestami will underscore the green credentials of “supersalone” with an ad hoc project that provides for a “forest” of around 100 trees through which the turnstiles at the East Gate entrance can be accessed. Another 100 tall trees will lead visitors into the various exhibition areas and living areas dedicated to relaxation. The selected trees – lime, ash, oak, flowering plum trees – will subsequently be planted in Milan’s metropolitan area.
One of the special “supersalone” exhibitions will be The Lost Graduation Show, curated by Anniina Koivu, showcasing 170 projects from students who graduated between 2020 and 2021, hailing from 48 design schools in 22 different countries in all five continents. A first in the history of the Salone that will involve every sector of furniture design and more besides. Incursions into the world of mobility, inclusive, medical and sports design, research into materials and design sustainability will map out the status quo of the entire sector. An example of how the Salone del Mobile.Milano works to support design schools, promoting the latest generation of designers, narrating their enthusiasm, courage and efforts at a time when the profession is undergoing swingeing change.
The exhibition Take Your Seat / Prendi Posizione – Solitude and Conviviality of the Chair / Solitudine e Convivialità della Sedia, curated by Nina Bassoli in partnership with ADI / Compasso d’Oro Award, will be another major highlight. Featuring 30 Compasso d’Oro award-winning chairs and more than 80 chairs that have gained honourable mentions ranged around the four “supersalone” pavilions, the exhibition will tell the story of the most iconic of all design objects, the chair, more capable of synthesising the value of good design than any other artefact. Split into four themed sections, with the addition of an “extra” section at the ADI Design Museum – the ideal end or start point to the visit – it will illustrate just how design has harnessed languages and content throughout the great changes in society and how it has managed to respond to new cultural paradigms with new inventions.
Devised by Maria Cristina Didero, the “supersalone” programme will be packed with conversations, talks and lectures by designers, architects, artists, scholars and managers from all over the world. The protagonists will endeavour to respond to a variety of questions on design, art, architecture, education, the circular economy, environmental impact, the relationship between project and curation and much more besides, in a series of dialogues and one man shows. There are many famous names among them: from Humberto Campana to Bjarke Ingels, Carsten Höller, Paola Pivi, Beatriz Colomina, Cecilia Alemani, Formafantasma and Philippe Malouin. There will be three fixed appointments every day: round tables at 12pm, talks at 3pm and lectures at 5pm. In addition to these events and in collaboration with the Milano Design Film Festival, every day at 4pm studies, biopics and docufilms will allow for crosscutting insight into design, architecture and the current social and sustainable implications. The programme includes Newmuseum(s). Stories of Company Archives and Museums by Francesca Molteni; Tokyo Ride by Ila Bêka and Louise Lemoine; Paradigma Olivetti by Davide Maffei; Precise Poetry. Lina Bo Bardi’s Architecture by Belinda Rukschcio and Honeyland by Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov.
“supersalone” is also and especially open to cross-pollination between different spheres and languages, featuring Identità Golose Milano – International Gastronomic Hub in the event, because food is a product on the same level as any other, and has always evolved on the basis of human creativity and need. It calls for careful planning and the study of craft and industrial processes, both traditional and otherwise. It also requires a good pinch of curiosity and openness. The Identità Golose Food Court is a new bespoke concept tailormade for “supersalone,” conceived as an integral part of the visitor experience and an opportunity to savour the original recipes of some of the greatest Italian chefs and artisans, including Carlo Cracco with pastry chef Marco Pedron, Massimo Bottura with the workshop Il Tortellante, Michelin star chefs Cristina Bowerman and Matias Perdomo, Eugenio Boer, the Italo-Dutch chef renowned for the international influences that he weaves into his cuisine, as well as Renato Bosco, considered one of the greatest master of pizza, the great ice-cream maker Paolo Brunelli and Andrea Besuschio, who has been ranked among the top 10 best pastry chefs in Italy for years. Each of them will come up with an iconic dish – either sweet or savoury – that the public will be able to purchase, putting together their own ideal menus to enjoy in an informal and inclusive environment.
As per another well-established tradition being revived at this special September event, the Salone del Mobile will venture beyond the confines of the Rho Fairgrounds to underscore and valorise its deep ties with Milan and, in the spirit of increasing openness to the exchange and circulation of ideas, culture and creativity, will reinforce its dialogue with Triennale Milano, the city hub of “supersalone.” Triennale will be marking the occasion with Il Salone / La Città (The Salone / The City), an exhibition conceived by the Triennale Museum of Italian Design for the Salone del Mobile.Milano and curated by Mario Piazza. The exhibition will narrate the cultural events held in the city by the Salone that, over the years, have communicated design to its fans. A spectacular show that will draw on the archives of Triennale Milano and the Salone del Mobile.Milano.
The mix of digital and in-person presence will make for a thoroughly engaging experience and allow those unable to be physically present to observe the products on exhibit, visit the exhibitions virtually and attend the talks and lectures. The Salone del Mobile.Milano platform has been designed to promote the design on exhibit with original content and medium-specific language, and to put the user at the centre of the event before, during and after their visit. The exhibition spaces and themed itineraries will dialogue with the platform in a wholly original manner, allowing the products to be observed and reserved for purchase. These are the digital crossroads that will create new forms of integration and interconnection between different worlds, users and markets.
“supersalone” will be all this and much more - a special project through which the Salone del Mobile.Milano intends to serve as a promoter of and catalyst for activities, thoughts and feelings that will allow the entire sector and the supply chain as a whole to breathe life into a new Renaissance.
About Salone del Mobile Launched in Milan in 1961 as a vehicle for promoting Italian exports of furnishing and accessories, the Salone Internazionale del Mobile is the global benchmark event for the furnishing and design sector.
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