Salone Del Mobile is held annually in Milan. It is the largest trade fair of its kind in the world. Showcasing the latest in furniture and design from leading designers and manufacturers worldwide.
With over 370,000 visitors from all over the world, it is prime real estate for exhibitors to showcase their latest products and gage attention from buyers.
It is a prime networking hub that undisputedly boasts the latest in cutting edge design trends and the basis for many designers and manufactures to launch their brand new ranges.
This year proved no different with exciting new pieces from some of HG’s favourite brands and sure did wow the visitors.
Resident
Resident New Zealand again wowed us all with their “Dark Matter” exhibition at Euroluce in Milan. They featured exciting and bold innovations that challenge the everyday design purpose of lighting. Sculptural yet beautifully functional they showcased three new products:
Circus Lights:
The Circus lights consist of interconnected rings which can be arranged in a sequence to create an elegant yet striking vertical form. Each brass ring softly projects a warm LED light. Theatrical yet flexible, this pendant is suitable for both residential and commercial spaces.
Bloom Pendant by Tim Rundle:
These pendants are inspired by the dramatic yet gentle flow of lanterns. The effect is simple and beautiful. The lights have two contrasting materials, a fine perforated mesh core and a frosted blown glass. This combination draws focus to the inside of the shade whilst extruding light to object downwards below.
Offset Coffee Table and Stool / Side Table by Philippe Malouin:
Made from Solid Oak, the Offset Stool and side table are a screw together furniture piece. The legs attach to the top of an off centre threaded connector, giving it a playful look.
The popular Parison pendant has also a new option for a smoked white finish.
Normann Copenhagen
Normann Copenhagen presented a mixture of familiar and new designs in furniture and lighting. Their stand exhibited steel clad walls and velour of contrasting colours. A playful mixture of textures and colours was the perfect backdrop to their stand. As for their new releases, brand new shades of the Circus Pouf were presented. They also launched a new striped Pavilion rug.
The Form collection gained a new addition with the Form Coffee Table – available in three heights (standard, and two bar table versions at 65cm & 75Cm). The Form Seating range also includes the option for as swivel base. The Era collection has also gained the option of a swivel base.
Mattiazzi
Italian brand Mattiazzi brought us two new collections from brilliant designers Erwan and Ronan Bouroullec and Konstantin Grcic.
The Bouroullec brothers introduced their Quindici collection. The seating comes in two editions – an armchair, and a chaise lounge version with an additional leg rest. The chairs design in both options have a T-Shape armrest that work in contracts the soft looking silhouette of the seat that is made from thin panel of ash.
“The balanced angles of the wooden plates create a minimalist, compact furniture experience,” describes Mattiazzi.
Quindici comes in several finishes, including grey and black, with upholstery in white, dark green or black Kvadrat textiles – creating a visual “sandwich”, as Ronan Bouroullec describes it.
Konstantin Grcic brings us the Primo Collection consisting of A Table and a chair. The design’s basic yet sophisticated elements give it strong architectural presence and minimalist appeal.
The design itself comprises of 3 basic elements: four legs, seat and backrest. The legs harvest a strict vertical alignment yet the ‘strictness’ of the legs is vastly contrasted by the curved backrest.
Several versions of the Primo are available; Solid beech, black lacquered, gold, solid American oak with an upholstered leather seat. All models of primo chair are stackable.
In addition to the chair is the Primo table. Bearing the same minimalist look the four legged table comes in different sizes and finishes. The square sectioned legs are fixed to each corner of the table top and are in fact detachable – both space saving and easy packaging for shipment!
Sovet Italia
Sovet Italia exhibited their existing and most popular collections but with new range of finishes.
The Slim, Flute, Totem and Palace tables can now be made with a new marble effect ceramic table top in Arabescato light, Portoro, Gaudi Stone and Stone grey. The Genius and Tulip coffee tables are also available with this option.
The Lambda has a stylish sinuous shape, which now has a new burnished finish for the base. Adding some more personality to this charming table.
The Visual mirrors offer new shapes and dimensions as well as the Piktor coffee table.
Fast
Staying with Italian brands, Fast ‘s “Outdoor Lifestyle” presented us with three new outdoor collections, designed by Studio Lievore Altherr: the chair collection Zebra, the table collection Moai and the collection New-Wood Plan, a family comprising tables, a sofa, a chaise longue and a classic yet versatile garden bench.
Creating a setting in tune with nature is the creative purpose of Zebra, a collection of outdoor furniture made with aluminium which is a great versatile material. The collection boasts a striking yet simple silhouette,
which is also very comfortable. There are three different types of lounge chairs and a rocking chair. There is an option for leather upholstery and contrasting stitching – an invitation to relax and unwind, which is further
enhanced in the rocking chair version, which has Iroko wood sleds.
The setting is completed by a family of tables that are available in different frames, materials, shapes and dimensions, to offer multiple furnishing solutions.
The Moai series is inspired and named after the statues on Easter Island. The monolithic human figures which represent sacred ancestors carved between 1100 and 1500 D.C. by the ancient Rapa Nui people and preserved over the centuries, withstanding all weather conditions. The ranges of tables are available as rectangle, square or round with painted aluminium, stone or wood-look table tops.
New-Wood Plan is a collection which includes seating, sofa, and chaise lounge, and garden bench, low tables, dining and bar tables. This family of outdoor furniture combines weather resistant materials including aluminium and wood. The seats are accompanied by soft cushions that are made from waterproof and hydro-repellent fabric. This range is the perfect addition to either residential or contract spaces.
Plust
Plust collection sees two new items to their characteristics as well as their current products popular to the brand.
Inspired by the Greek-Roman architecture colonnades, ‘Atene’ (Athens in Italian) designed by Valerio Sommella challenges the traditional sofa concept. This source of inspiration can be seen in the legs of chairs and table. Completed with coffee table, Atene Family creates a versatile and refined living space, with soft cushions to make it just perfect for both indoor and outdoor.
Tool by Philippe Tabet, is a collection made up of a stool and an occasional table. The aim of this design was to challenge the thickness and bulkiness usually associated with plastic furniture. This rotomoulded technique has accomplished a thin piece of furniture.
Also, Plust Collection launches Plust Junior, a group of item-sculptures that depict the appearance of real and imaginative animals; these are toys for toddlers and for adults who want to add a touch of humour and lightness to their space.
Sancal
The Spanish firm presents six new products and one concept home and contract environments. Two worlds are brought together, one real and the other imaginary creating the Enigma Collection. This specially devised scenography takes you on a journey to another dimension, where everything is normal, but something strange is happening outside…
Deep, Isla, Magnum, Beetle, Tortuga Mini, Pion Petra and Estante make up this Enigma Collection; the most theatrical exhibit.
Deep by Rafa García is a modular sofa that reverts to basics by providing maximum comfort for compact spaces.
La Isla by Note is a tantalizing destination in a sea of nothingness.
Magnum by Estudihac Jose Manuel Ferrero, has drawn inspiration from cognac glasses that perhaps members of an elite club sip from.
Beetle by Mut Soundscapes sculpted by beautiful insects.
Estante by Juan Ibañez. Fabric, metal and wood. Combine to create a modular, sound-absorbent cabinet.
Tortuga Mini by Nadadora Tortuga, Spanish for tortoise, has experienced a change with two new mini versions of the lounge chairs
Pion Petra by Ionna Vautrin. Building on the popularity of the Pion range of tables, the collection now has a range of finishes available – natural stone was used as a new material and colour inspiration.
We look forward to show you some of these new exciting products in our Alexandria showroom. Many products will not be available for purchase till much later this year.
