Salone Internazionale del Mobile, the annual Milan furniture fair opened on Tuesday. The furniture expo has slowly transformed itself into a platform for launching marketing campaigns. That could be one of the reasons why the attendance to the furniture show has been dropping every year over the last few years. However you get to see thousands of new and innovative designs that get unveiled at the fair. This year, interestingly the most appealing product introduced is a spoon, an elegant, impeccably made risotto serving spoon. The spoon has been designed by French designer Inga Sempé. The spoon made by the Italian manufacturer Alessi reminds you of the 1960s and 70s which was the golden age of Italian design. The spoon has an elegant design and is pleasing to look at. It has a slender rim and has been shaped to scoop the risotto as deftly as possible. In terms of design there are many products with sleek and fancy design and we have listed the most interesting ones below.
The Prisma Kitchen brought by Samsung integrates their touch screen technology into a futuristic kitchen. It has been designed by Italy’s Toncelli Kitchens by Experientia, an “experiential design†firm. The futuristic kitchen enables chefs to pull up their favorite recipe texts, photos, and videos directly on a counter-top surface. An additional tablet computer dock will allow the user to install a computer in the kitchen as well.
Mercedes Benz is also participating in the Milan Furniture Fair as they have developed their first line of furniture which they will be unveiling at the furniture expo. The elegant tables and chairs sport the same clean lines like their sedans and sports cars. The new furniture line created in collaboration with the Formitalia Luxury Group, an Italian manufacturer will be marketed under the brand name Mercedes Benz Style. DuPont will be showcasing its Corian material and suggesting new usage for the material. Designers recruited specifically for the project have created innovative shapes and sculptural design objects from the material. They are exploring new commercial contexts in which the material can be used. They have also introduced new color lines for their Corian material.
Medici, a beautifully proportioned wooden chair developed by the German designer Konstantin Grcic for Mattiazzi is another innovative design seen at the furniture expo. Iy is a low chair with a comfortable reclined posture. It can be used as a solitary chair or in small groups. The chair is produced in three different woods, namely American wallnut, douglas fir and thermo-treated ash.
Shelves designed by the French brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Vitra attracted a lot of attention ate the Milan furniture fair. Ronan Bouroullec explained that Corniches was developed to address the need for small storage spaces to spontaneously keep items. They are neither regular shelves nor simple horizontal surfaces. Corniches are a new way to use the wall in the living space.
French designer Constance Guisset has created the SOL Rocking Chair for the Italian furniture manufacturer Molteni&C. The chair was a highlight of the international fair. The rocking chair has a very sleek and contemporary design and is produced in several bright color options.
Salone Internazionale del Mobile was successful in highlighting some of the sustainable designs. The Dala line of furniture designed by American designer Stephen Burks was the most prominent example. It is a collection of outdoor furniture which has been produced by Dedon. The furniture has been made by using a specially developed fiber made from recycled packaging and recyclable polyethylene.
Living Divani was showcasing products developed in collaboration with young designers from across the world. Singapore based duo Timo Wong and Priscilla Lui, from Studio Juju have created a set of seven tables they call Rabbit and Tortoise. These low tables are all in different shape and size.
Salvatori unveiled the Soft Marble seating by the Israeli designer Ron Gilad. It is a collection of four objects — Galleria, Girella, Cuscini and Paravento. Ron has been able to interpret marble in a novel way. The furniture industry has been hit hard by the recession but these fairs and expo help to generate new business and boost the European export. Hopefully the 2012 edition of Salone Internazionale del Mobile will also serve its purpose.
