words by Gabi Logan
From the 17th to the 22nd of April, the international design community is congregating at the Salone Internationale del Mobile (International Furniture Fair). Held at the Milan fairgrounds in Rho just outside Milan, the annual event showcases the latest advances and collections of furniture, lighting, and home furnishings.
Now its 51st year, the fair is one of the preeminent events in the design community, spanning a total exhibition area of 530,000 square meters and hosting nearly 2500 exhibitors. Though the event began as a way to highlight Italian products to export markets, it now features the work of designers and artists from around the world.
One of the most talked about releases this year comes from German company Mercedes-Benz, who is launching their new furniture line at the fair. The living, dining, and bedroom furnishings in the line “reflect [our] progressive, dynamic design idiom”, according to Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at the company.
Italian fashion designer Marni is also releasing a new furniture line, focusing on 100 vibrantly coloured chairs made from metal and PVC pipe by former prison workers transitioning back to the work force. Proceeds will benefit a charity in Milan supporting children of imprisoned mothers.
Several of the most anticipated products to be showcased at the fair are not furniture or even strictly home furnishings. The Hydro-Fold printer creates small, self-folding sculptures at home in minutes by substituting traditional ink with an ink and water mixture that contorts the paper as it dries. A trio of printers will create souvenirs for fair visitors. Offsite at the Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia, the SodaStream Soda Bar showcases a new bottle-free system for making fresh soda at home.
The fair will be open to the public on the 21st and 22nd of April.
