MILAN DESIGN WEEK 2019
THE 5 HIGHLIGHTS OF VITA DI LUSSO
You could not have missed it: from Monday 8 to Friday 12 April I visited the 58th edition
of the most prestigious furniture fair in the world: the Milan Design Week. And what a week it was!
Together with photographer Hans Gorter and business partner Eline Prins,
I enjoyed everything there was to see. Five days, five highlights. Goditi!
Milano – Design Capital
Monday, April 8. I took the early morning flight of Alitalia to visit my oh-so-beloved Milan. As soon as I set foot on ground there, I feel at home. Italian design, art, architecture, beautiful and inspiring people, sun and delicious food. In other words: the ultimate energy boost!
Fortunately, only half an hour late, I arrived at Piazza Duomo around 10 am. The sun was already shining and on the stairs of the impressive cathedral I enjoyed my deliciously scented cappuccino as well as the pleasant buzz on the large square.
Just a few hours later, I found myself on a terrace in the lively Navigli neighborhood with good company, a glass of wine and a delicious tuna tartar. Ready to rumble!
Salone del Mobile – EuroLuce
Tuesday, April 9. Of course a visit to the Salone del Mobile cannot be missed. Since I will put four lighting brands in the spotlight on behalf of Flinders Design, I walked directly to the EuroLuce in the adjacent halls 9, 11, 13 and 15 when I arrived at this immense complex. And I was lucky: insanely spectacular presentations from various major brands and to top it all, an interview with Dutch designer Tord Boontje about his first design for the Italian brand Foscarini: Sun-Light of Love! I will publish that article next week.
Masterly – The Dutch in Milano
Wednesday, April 10. For the fourth time, curator Nicole Uniquole organized Masterly – The Dutch in Milano in the fairy-tale like Palazzo Francesco Turati. At a stone’s throw from the Duomo, Dutch designers and artists present their most beautiful works there.
During the so-called “Architects Breakfast” Osiris Hertman referred to the Golden Age and this year’s theme Rembrandt van Rijn with, among other things, a cooker hood and a cooking island, which he designed together with Wave Design and Dekker Zevenhuizen. Also designer Carina Riezebos rocked the floor with her “Suger & Spice” installation, which she realized with BLOK Plaatmaterialen and the Italian Abet Laminati.
Again a beautiful edition. On to the 5th anniversary next year!
Brera – Couleur Locale
Thursday, April 11. It’s always nice wandering around in the artistic district of Brera. At the Palazzo di Brera, I spotted a huge multimedia installation that seemed to connect culture with knowledge and art.
Down the street I enjoyed the golden FOLD kitchen by Steininger. After that, I got lost in the presentation of Hermès, who presented their newest home collection through a sensory-stimulating maze in the historic building of La Pelota.
And last but not least Eline and I enjoyed a delicious dinner together in one of the many restaurants in this neighborhood. Oh, and the fact that we spent the rest of the evening in Just Cavalli, we just keep that to ourselves. Mixing business with pleasure: -)
The Manzoni – London meets Milan
Friday, April 12. The moment I heard that no one less than Tom Dixon himself would open a new restaurant in Milan during Milan Design Week, I suggested an interview with him. When that was honored, I couldn’t suppress a smile on my face. And now I was standing in front of The Manzoni’s door, in the middle of the city centre of Milan. What a prime location. And what a top concept….
The stunning space of The Manzoni is subdivided into several functions. First of all the casual restaurant, where you can sit down at a long table and enjoy the atmosphere and the food. Further on there is a chic private dining room, a “hidden” showroom, a surprising patio and a real office. What a nice meeting point where the Italian culture and the British world of Tom Dixon are combined in a sublime way!
Tired, yet inspired I returned home. In the upcoming weeks I will put all my inspiration, energy and impressions into some beautiful articles for you. Ciao Milano, a presto!
