Milano Design City. SOLO exhibition by Dimoremilano – Photo by Silvia Rivoltella.

Milan 2020 – In march, Milan became the global epicenter of the pandemic which led to the cancelation of Salone del Mobile fair and Fuorisalone. But despite lockdown closures, companies, brand and designers didn’t stop to think and create. Now the city is hosting Milano Design City, a small fall edition organized by fuorisalone.it – all in line with anti-covid regulations.

• RELATED STORIES: read more about Milan Design Week 2020 on Archipanic…

Durini Design District

MM1 San Babila.

Milano Design City. ANTOLOGY installation by Ferruccio Laviani @ Lea Ceramiche showroom – Courtesy Lea Ceramiche, ph. by Alessandro Nassiri.

In the heart of Milan, a stone-throw from the Duomo cathedral, the Durini Design District opens the door of the showrooms of some of the leading Italian brands including B&B, Porro, Natuzzi, Barovier & Toso, Molteni&C, Dada and Giorgetti. Ceccotto Collezioni and Ivano Redaelli inaugurate their showrooms designed, respectively, by Calvi Brambilla and Simona Silenzi. The Cassina Perspective 2020 features re-editions of furniture by designs masters such Ico Parisi e Giacomo Balla while Lea Ceramiche presents Anthology, a high-tech collection highlighting the materic features of stone and marble, on display in a space-like setting designed by Ferruccio Laviani. In Corso Monforte, Italian lighting design companies such as Artemide, Flos, Foscarini, Luceplan and Nemo present their ultimate launches.

Brera Design District

MM2 Brera and Moscova.

HOTEL CHIMERA by Elena Salmistraro x Florim @ Studio CEDIT – Photo by Florim.

Located in the heart of Milan, Brera Design District is probably the most design dense neighbourhood in town. Among some of the must-see showrooms are Boffi, De Padova, Moroso, Salvatori and Agape. At Spazio CEDIT, Foro Buonaparte 14, Elena Salmistraro has interpreted the Chimera collection by ceramic slabs manufacturer Florim with a ‘dream hotel’ graphically blending architectural styles and colours. In Piazza XXV Aprile, Zanotta presents the exhibition Zanotta Stories: Back to emotions.

SOLO and [fil] NOIR exhibitions by Dimorestudio 

Via Solferino 11, MM2 Moscova.

[fil] NOIR exhibition @ Dimoregallery – Photo by Silvia Rivoltella.

With the SOLO exhibition, Britt Moran and Emiliano Salci of Dimorestudio present the new spaces of their Dimoremilano label in Brera Design District. Across 5 main rooms from the drawing room to the studio, the newly conceived 160 sqm showroom showcases furniture, fabric, decorative and home collections. SOLO – ‘alone’ in Italian – refers to the studio’s independent style “crossed by an understated timeless elegance” which comes in a rich colour palette. At the second floor of the same building, the studio’s gallery presents also the [fil] NOIR exhibition featuring new collaborations with contemporary designers.

Ro Guiltless plastic

Via San Vittore 21, MM2 Sant’Ambrogio.

Photo via IG by @guiltlessplastic.

Famed gallerist Rossana Orlandi scouted for creative talents across the globe committed to give new life to use plastic and wash exploring endless possibilities of transformation. 120 responsible projects were selected by an international jury for the second edition of the Ro Guiltless Plastic Award and are on show in the cloisters of the Museo della Scienza e della Tecnica Leonardo da Vinci.

TROPICAL MILAN by Erez Nevi Pana

Viale Cesare Correnti 14 – MM2 Sant’Ambrogio.

Photo by Dor Kedmi.

Israeli designer Erez Nevi Pana ha imagined a future where a ‘climate-changed’ Milan is taken over by tropical vegetation. On show a dystopic video and a furniture collection made from banana stems and leaves. The ethical collection is “Not only to be 100% sustainable but also fully responsible.” Says curator Maria Cristina Didero.

IN WOMEN’S HANDS at Superstudio

Via Tortona 27 bis – MM2 Porta Genova.

Photo via IG by @superstudiogroup.

Superstudio presents IN WOMEN’S HANDS a project dedicated to female creativity between art, design, architecture and craftsmanship, which is composed of two complementary exhibitions. I Fiori della Materia, curated by Gisella Borioli, features works by Isabella Angelatoni Geiger, Adriana Lohman, Ilaria Marelli, Paola Navone and Elena Salmistraro. Narcisi Fragili is curated by Sabino Maria Frassà and promoted by Cramum.

BRASSLESS at Nilufar Depot Caveau

Viale Vincenzo Lancetti, 34 – MM Lancetti.

BRASSLESS by Studio Vedet @ Nilufar Gallery Depot – Photo by Archipanic.

In recent years brass dominated design experimentation. At famed gallery Nilufar Depot, Studio Vedet has curated an exhibition exploring alternative used of the materials. Titled BRASSLESS: NEW ACCORDS FOR THE METALLIC WAVE the exhibition features works by Odd Matter, Martino Gamper, Destroyers/Builders and Objects of Common Interest. On show in the central hall also sculptural rock-like tables in vibrant colours by French-Lebanese artist Flavie Audi.

THE SKY IN A ROOM by Ragnar Kjartansson

Largo Fra Paolo Bellintani 1, MM1 Porta Venezia.

Photo by Fondazione Trussardi.

Fondazione Nicola Trussardi presents THE SKY IN A ROOM by Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson. The project, staged for the church of San Carlo al Lazzaretto in Milan. Everyday, accompanied by the church organ for 6 hours non-stop, professional singers take turns to perform an ethereal arrangement of the famous song Il cielo in una stanza – The sky in a Room. The art installation by Beatrice Trussardi and the Massimiliano Gioni was conceived in the wake of the city’s difficult lockdown and celebrates the 18 year of the Fondazione’s nomadic activities.

Milano Design City. ANTOLOGY installation by Ferruccio Laviani @ Lea Ceramiche showroom – Courtesy Lea Ceramiche, ph. by Alessandro Nassiri.