Salone 2023: 10 pieces handpicked by a design curator

Reds, blues, and light blues are illuminated by soft shades of yellow and white, while black creates deep chiaroscuro effects. These are the primary colors used by Mondrian, and the shapes are determined by the intersection of a few precise lines. Everything is accurately achieved through the inlaying of surprisingly brilliant cellulose acetate surfaces. Porro has brought to life three small pieces of furniture – an open cupboard, a two-door closed cupboard, and a drop-leaf desk – in a limited series of just 50 pieces. The design is by the great maestro Alessandro Mendini, rescued from his archives by his daughters Elisa and Fulvia, who, like vestal virgins, have taken great care to preserve their father’s works and found a sensitive and attentive ally in Porro. It feels good to have Alessandro still with us in this unique way.

Nomadic and sedentary, hard and soft, assembled and easily disassembled, the Twain chair is a collaboration between two iconic designers, Grcic and Jongerius. It’s inspired by the classic safari chair, which has been thoroughly explored throughout the history of design but has been reinterpreted here by Grcic in a bold, contemporary, and sustainable way. The joints of the 4 legs are made of spherical elements and the whole structure is stabilized by a strap in orange or signal blue. The textile part consists of three layers: two load-bearing support fabrics for the seat and back, a cushion to support the seat, and finally a draped blanket designed by Jongerius that is easy to put on. Comfortable, easy to disassemble and reassemble, and with minimal packaging for transport.

Francesco Rota, who took over the artistic direction of Desalto, colored the entire booth blue, treating us to some of the atmospheres of French artist Yves Klein. The blue hue not only evokes the artist’s signature shade but also references metal, the foundation of Desalto’s production. But Francesco Rota also designed the striking HEB table. With a tough and expressive personality, it boasts a steel beam that supports a mirrored glass top (or MDF in hand-spatulated cement). The legs feature a steel structure covered with a hexagonal-section brass tube cover, further enhancing the design’s allure.

Have you ever struggled to find a place for a guest bed once the visitor has left? Lorenzo Damiani has a clever solution with Underdog: a bed that doubles as an unconventional chair and can be stored in an almost upright position anywhere, ready to use. Once again, Damiani is surprising and disorienting, almost Duchampian: the mechanical aspects of the bed are exposed and uncompromising. Two oversized wheels allow movement, while a bicycle stand ensures stability when the bedstead is stationary and it can be stowed away at the appropriate moment with a swipe of the foot. The name – Underdog – adds an aura of mystery that is nice to leave unresolved and suspended.

Philippe Starck continues to explore new and sustainable materials in his quest for the purest, essential form of graphic design element. The A.I. Console embodies the concept of artificial intelligence elegance in search of minimalism, the zero point of style. Available in a range of colors (white, gray, green, terracotta, and black), this console is a unique, elegant, and discrete piece of furniture that leaves an essential but distinct mark on entrances and hallways. Its slender line and central leg, featuring a floral motif, give a subtle nod to Art Nouveau design.

The name of this wall lamp draws inspiration from a famous Californian punk rock band of the 70s and 80s. Consisting of a single vertical and three horizontal bars, the extendable lamp is designed to take up minimal space when closed and deliver maximal lighting when open. Its ability to extend up to 3.5 meters brings light to the heart of any space. When folded back, instead, it becomes a vibrant and powerful sculpture. Its strong functionality goes hand in hand with the strong aesthetic and lighting effects it can create.

One of the most beautiful re-editions at Salone 2023 is the iconic Luigi (o mi amate voi) bookcase, designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1982 in collaboration with Bernini. Romeo Sozzi has re-edited the bookcase for Bottega Ghianda, adding two important innovations. On one side, colored resin shelves are applied to the beech wood structure. On the other side, an LED light is inserted into the wooden structure to create a luminous wall or theatrical backdrop.  

In short, an unexpected material such as resin enters the temple of traditional cabinetmaking and woodcraft, while Gaetano Pesce – in keeping with his philosophy of customizing the series – once again creates a multipurpose object of great suggestiveness. The light emphasizes the translucence of the resin, making the shelves emerge like floating galaxies or a mysterious atlas of colorful Rorschach shapes. The bookcase becomes a precious polysemic object in any home: at once a bookcase and a scenic backdrop, but also a luminous and chromatic device that puts design in close dialogue with contemporary art.

Acting on light to redesign spaces: this is the aim of the Array lamp designed by British designer Umut Yamac. A number of technical wires are stretched between two aluminum rings, creating dynamic and light sculptures of light in a variety of large-scale conical and cylindrical silhouettes that can be combined to form a fascinating installation. Suspended overhead, Array emits a pleasant downlight projected from an invisible source concealed within the lower ring. At the same time, indirect light takes shape upward in a gradient of color, embracing rather than invading the space it occupies.

Constellations is a pulviscular exhibition on lighting history, curated by Beppe Finessi and exploded into 12 stations showcasing works from designers, artists, photographers, and architects. The installation is by Formafantasma, who designed a modular structure with a light wooden lattice, buffered in some panels by sheets of paper. The lattice has a circular or linear development, embracing or revealing the works. Technical drawings are hung on the wooden structures that counterbalance the works. The display is completely recyclable, reusable, and, above all, simple, providing effective clarity.

She – Estelle Chatelin – is from Belgium, and he – Georges Ahokpe – from Benin. These two textile designers have decided to combine their respective skills, cultures, and traditions to innovate textile practices for domestic use. Each piece offers a story that highlights the mutual influence of the two cultures. Their design method – cut-shift-work – is fertile and evocative, an experimental co-creation methodology that allows them to combine different materials, traditions, and techniques. The Ku Do Azò hammock is an emblematic example of their work, designed for indoor and outdoor use, made from fabric obtained from the waste bobbins of textile companies in Belgium. They will certainly be among the protagonists of Salone Satellite 2023.