The Milan Report 2022
Stories
13.06.2022
Another Milan Design Week has been and gone. Known as the world’s most highly anticipated design event, Salone del Mobile and Fuorisalone see all of the most influential brands launch new collections and set the agenda for the year to come.
“The city centre was alive,” said Mobilia’s commercial director Mirella Scaramella who was on-the-ground during the week. “A major theme that we saw this year was many of the brands choosing to stay within their showrooms and create individual experiences to launch their new collections.”
Modular Imagination by the late Virgil Abloh was a showstopper in orange at the Cassina showroom, meanwhile Poltrona Frau showcased a limited edition version of the iconic Archibald armchair in celebration of 110 years.
Among the brands with a presence at Salone del Mobile, at the Rho Fiera Milano fairgrounds, was leading Spanish outdoor furniture company Kettal who presented its new collections at an impressive stand.
“Another common thread at the Salone in 2022 was sustainability. Kettal presented a stand designed by Patricia Urquiola that featured recycled and reused materials, minimising the amount of waste when it comes to packing down the fair,” explains Mirella.
Leading Italian design company CC-Tapis chose to bring people together in two locations—the CC-Tapis showroom and Rho Fiera. The company’s stand was designed by Barcelona-based architecture studio Arquitectura G who is also behind the interiors of fashion house Acne Studios.
“CC-Tapis’ stand was noteworthy. There was a myriad of colours and textures, which created the perfect environment to experience the brand’s show-stopping new collections by the likes of Patricia Urquiola, Bethan Laura Wood and Mae Engelgeer.”
With so much to see and do, this is Mobilia’s round-up of the biggest releases and trends the team saw on-the-ground at the 2022 Salone del Mobile and Fuorisalone.
Modular Imagination by Virgil Abloh at Cassina's Milan showroom. Photography: Luciano Romano.
Mobilia's commercial director Mirella Scaramella with Patricia Urquiola at the Cassina showroom in Milan. The pair are seated on Modular Imagination by the late Virgil Abloh.
Cassina
Cassina presented its collection (“The Cassina Perspective 2022”) at the brand’s flagship showroom in Milan. Among the many highlights was an extraordinary installation to honour visionary Virgil Abloh. Characterised by the colour orange, the display presented “Modular Imagination”, a unique project developed by Abloh alongside Cassina. The project is composed of two different-sized building blocks, which can be arranged in various ways to create seating or to be used as a side table, among other uses.
The company’s art director Patricia Urquiola released a new, “bold” take on the Sengu sofa. Featuring abundant curves that reach all the way to the floor, Sengu Bold is a reinterpretation of the original sofa where the base disappears. The chosen textured upholstery further emphasises the soft lines of the padding.
Another standout was London-based designer Michael Anastassiades' “Flutz” dining armchair. The perfect accompaniment to the Ordinal table, also designed by Anastassiades, the Flutz features an aluminium frame and a soft, inviting seat.
Cassina's 2022 collection–Tramonto a New York sofa by Gaetano Pesce paired with Soft Corners by Linde Freya Tangelder. Photography: Paola Pansini.
Customised trams in Milan featuring the Cassina-Abloh logo. Photography: Courtesy of Cassina.
Cassina's newly released Flutz dining armchair pictured with the Ordinal table, both designed by Michael Anastassiades. Photography: Paola Pansini.
"The perfect accompaniment to the Ordinal table, the Flutz dining armchair by Michael Anastassiades features an aluminium frame with a soft, inviting seat."
Poltrona Frau
Poltrona Frau celebrated 110 years with the release of its “2022 True Evolution Collection”, which represents the continuous development of the company through its rich history and manufacturing culture. Some of the key designers featured in the collection include Ludovica + Roberto Palomba, GamFratesi and Neri & Hu.
The brand also marked its 110th anniversary with a special collaboration. Mark-making artist Felipe Pantone has reinvented Poltrona Frau’s iconic Archibald armchair designed by Jean-Marie Massaud. Available in an apt 110 pieces, the armchair features a spectrum of colours inspired by the brand’s palette of leathers.
As with many of the 2022 releases, sustainability is highlighted as a key focus for Poltrona Frau. This year, the brand has introduced Pelle Frau® Impact Less, which is leather tanned without chromium that uses less water and fewer chemicals.
Poltrona Frau's flagship showroom during Milan Design Week.
Poltrona Frau's flagship showroom during Milan Design Week.
Poltrona Frau's showroom during Milan Design Week.
Kettal
With a presence at this year’s Salone del Mobile, Kettal presented an impressive display of their new collections. Designed by Patricia Urquiola, Kettal's stand had a sustainable focus with the use of recycled and reused materials, minimising any waste as much as possible.
In keeping with a “global gardening boom” spurred on by the pandemic, Kettal released a hydroponic vegetable garden. Created by an interdisciplinary team of environmentalists, agronomists, architects, designers, engineers and scientists, the Hydroponic Garden uses a drip system for watering, which contains water-soluble fertilisers.
Also among the company’s new releases is the Plumon collection designed by Patricia Urquiola. Similar to her Anorak release, this new outdoor family is based on the concept of dressing and undressing furniture. The collection is roomy and abundant with padded upholstery and distinctive stitching detail.
Kettal's Plumon side table by Patricia Urquiola.
Paladin by Konstantin Grcic.
Kettal's Plumon sofa designed by Patricia Urquiola. Photography: Courtesy of Kettal.
Kettal's sustainable stand at Salone del Mobile.
Moroso
Beyond their new releases and showroom activation, Moroso this year presented a scenic installation titled “Forest Wandering” at Milan’s Teatro Dei Filodrammatici. The project, created by Moroso and Kvadrat, together with Front Design, presents a series of upholstered volumes that resemble the organic form of rocks. The installation explores the therapeutic effects of nature on people’s physical and mental health, not to mention the cultural significance of unspoilt environments.
At the Moroso showroom, the company revealed an advanced prototype of a new, highly-anticipated modular sofa system by Patricia Urquiola. The “Anorak” is centered on the theme of wearability, with each piece of upholstery able to be removed from the structure. The result is an extremely comfortable and cosy sofa that can be completely disassembled. The showroom itself featured an installation by Patricia Urquiola, which utilised a material derived from textile offcuts and Kvadrat production scraps.
Forest Wandering by Moroso and Kvadrat, together with Front Design at Milan's Teatro Dei Filodrammatici.
Moroso showroom during Milan Design Week, featuring the Pebble Rubble system by Front Design. Photography: @eesseoeffeia
"The project, created by Moroso and Kvadrat, together with Front Design, presents a series of upholstered volumes that resemble the organic form of rocks."
Moroso revealed an advanced prototype for their Anorak sofa system designed by Patricia Urquiola.
CC-Tapis' stand at Salone del Mobile, Rho Fiera fairground, was designed by Barcelona-based architecture studio Arquitectura and played with the concept of a piazza. Photography: Andrea Bartoluccio.
CC-Tapis
The team at CC-Tapis know how to throw a good party. They also know how to create beautiful and inspiring collections, and this year was no exception. CC-Tapis released a number of new projects with top designers including Patricia Urquiola, Bethan Laura Wood and Mae Engelgeer, not to mention a number of existing best-selling designs in new colourways.
The collection was available to view both at the Salone del Mobile and in the company’s showroom. Barcelona-based architecture studio Arquitectura G, also behind the design of interiors for Acne Studios, created a stand that played with the concept of a piazza; an open space where people meet. The rugs themselves were arranged around an empty void, like the façades of buildings do in public squares. According to CC-Tapis, "It is not a stand built to have products on display, but the products themselves are the ones that build the stand and create a space to meet." An approach that captures the innovative nature of CC-Tapis.
The CC-Tapis stand aimed to use the products themselves as the infrastructure to create a space for people to meet. Photography: Andrea Bartoluccio.
CC-Tapis' showroom during Milan Design Week. Photography: Claudia Zalla.
Bethan Laura Wood with her new Euphorbia collection at the CC-Tapis showroom.
Memphis Milano
At design and art museum Triennale di Milano over 200 pieces of furniture and objects were on display for the "Memphis Again" exhibition. Curated by Swiss-born designer Christoph Radl, the exhibition featured pieces that were produced between 1981 and 1986 for the Memphis collection. The objects were displayed in chronological order within an environment that felt reminiscent of a nightclub. American DJ and record producer Seth Troxler provided the soundtrack, while quotes from critics, architects and designers were displayed on the walls.
Carlton room divider by Ettore Sottsass on show as part of "Memphis Again" at the Triennale Milano.
"The objects were displayed in chronological order within an environment that felt reminiscent of a nightclub."
To view more from Milan 2022, view our collection of newly released pieces.