Design Chronicles: Milan's Hidden Gems & Inspirations
On our final day in Milan, we had an unexpected encounter with the charming, winding stone streets of the city.
Our journey led us to Casa Manzoni, a captivating location featuring seven distinct rooms and an outdoor patio. Here, we discovered three remarkable new collections by the talented German designer, Sebastian Herkner: Moss, Gem, and Breeze. These collections all share a common thread of inspiration from nature and its elements. Moss entices with its elegant and organically shaped modular sofa system, while Gem playfully graces us with a series of imaginative tables. The Breeze chair, with its gracefully curved and embracing backrest, caught our attention.
What made this experience even more special was the partnership with Dedar, one of our favorite fabric companies. The ambiance was enriched by the scent of wildflowers that filled the space, and the subtle sounds of actress and performer Elena Rivoltini reciting passages from "Promessi Sposi," which added an intriguing layer to the experience. It beautifully evoked the mysterious atmosphere of the Lombard rural landscape described by Manzoni, seamlessly blending the past and the present. To put it simply, this installation was nothing short of a dream.
As our day in Milan came to a close, we stumbled upon the most enchanting street. This magical place was lined with pop-up shops, eclectic boutiques, charming china stores, and captivating galleries. It was here that we had the pleasure of meeting numerous globe creators, each with their own unique stories and creations.
Highlights included Le Salon D’ Annabel, Luma Launische's "Alpine Rising" with Ceramics by Florian Tanzer - Showcase at Milan Design Week, and Bitossi Home, which draws and creates beautiful tables in harmony with those who live them. Bitossi Home, publisher of the Tuscan table, proposes a new language that invites to share and contaminate shapes, styles, textures, breaking the patterns, but keeping alive the link with the past, which emerges in the collections as a slight retro accent.
We also encountered the imaginative world of Lebanese-French architect Annabel Karim Kassar, who devised a vibrant place of gathering for 5Vie Design Week in Milan, aptly called ‘Le Salon d’Annabel’. The makeshift salon, set inside Gilda Contemporary Art, combines modernist simplicity with traditional craft and ornamentation commonly found across North Africa and the Middle East, creating a space that doesn’t shy away from color and is adorned with an assortment of furniture and lighting designs. Featuring her own works and pieces from international design brands, the salon is a showcase of Kassar’s approach to design, which encourages the meeting of Eastern and Western principles and aesthetics.
I hope you've enjoyed this journey with me. As I reflect on my 2023 travels, filled with exploration of new countries, transitions, and creative inspirations, I look forward to keeping you posted on my weaving adventures in 2024. Stay tuned for more exciting stories and discoveries!
