The New Event: "VENTURA LAMBRATE"

Salone always sees the launch of an overwhelming number of new products. While its core remains a furniture trade fair, its appeal lies in the ability to experience the year's changes firsthand, with special exhibitions and diverse creative outputs from designers.

This year, a new event was held that was both substantial and highly educational. It was an event called "VENTURA LAMBRATE," located in the Lambrate district, a short distance from Milan's city center.

Particularly striking were the works by Dutch designers, including Maarten Baas and an exhibition from DESIGN ACADEMY EINDHOVEN.

Around 20 exhibitions were held in this district. Additionally, there were displays from the UK's ROYAL COLLEGE OF ART and numerous experimental presentations, all of which were of high quality. If it's held again next year, I would definitely want to participate.

Maarten BaasIn an apartment room, he exhibited iPhone apps for sale, as well as the "Grandfather Clock" in a Moss finish, shown in the photo.

Designers Who Shone This Year

Here, I'll briefly introduce some of the exhibitions by designers who stood out this year.

First, representing the Dutch contingent this year, I'd like to mention "richard hutten," who presented rugs combining classical patterns with stripes, and the exhibition "Wonderlamp," a collaborative lighting project by Pieke Bergmans and STUDIO JOB. It was a year that reaffirmed the strength of Dutch designers and their ability to translate concepts into form.

Martino Gamper, who exhibited large shelves, lighting, and rugs at the "NILUFAR" gallery, also impressed. With chairs released from "Magis" and "Established & Sons," his presence was particularly notable this year.

Nacho Carbonell, who exhibited at "Rossana Orlandi" and "droog design" last year, had a truly breakthrough year. At a venue in the city, he captivated visitors with unique forms that integrated desks, shelves, and chairs, presented in various material variations.

Italian Masters Who Made a Strong Impression

To conclude this report, let's look back at the work of Italy's masters, the originators of Salone.

Among the masters, Gaetano Pesce, as always, was highly active with "Meritalia" and "Cassina." At the Triennale, his "LE FABLIER" exhibition featured a rare wooden cabinet. Its exterior, initially resembling ceramics, was finished with a soft resin coating. This piece, along with the "Cassina" sofa, was a personal favorite of mine this year.

Next is Enzo Mari, known for his products with "DANESE" and his picture books. His work is steadily gaining renewed appreciation, with his past chair designs being commercialized by the Finnish furniture manufacturer "artek," and an exhibition showcasing his 60 personal paperweights. This year, amidst the volcanic eruptions that disrupted travel, I couldn't help but recall his poster "Volcano," released by "DANESE," which depicted a volcanic eruption.

Finally, though deceased, Vico Magistretti left behind a legacy of numerous remarkable products. His studio, where he worked, was opened to the public, and I had the opportunity to visit. The building itself, designed by Magistretti, is worth seeing. It offers a glimpse into his creative process through samples of his designs and architectural models.

New Designs, Unchanging City

Reflecting on this year's Salone, the image that comes to mind is the Milanese cityscape I saw after leaving Magistretti's studio.

A landscape where historic brick and stone buildings coexist naturally. The latest designs, encountered while navigating the city via subway and tram, create a striking contrast. The entire city stimulates the senses as a fusion of tradition and innovation.

This year, with the addition of "VENTURA LAMBRATE" introduced at the beginning, I feel its depth has further increased. The 2010 Salone del Mobile offered encounters with new facets of the city.