Reprinted from: public number there is a square space
On June 7, Milan Design Week 2022 officially kicked off. This is one of the most important international events in the field of furniture and product design, and the first grand opening of Milan Design Week after it was cancelled due to the epidemic in 2020 and downsized in 2021. This year also marks the 60th anniversary of salone del Mobile.Milano, which focuses on product innovation and quality while also focusing on improving quality of life and sustainability.
Although this may seem like a carnival of product designers, artists and major brand institutions, with the continuous penetration and influence of interdisciplinary fields, architects have brought more and more surprises in cross-border cooperation. In the major exhibition areas of this design week, a number of cross-border works by architects such as the classic furniture reproduction of Zumto and the contemporary high-performance office furniture of OMA were exhibited, and the wonderful works of MAD and Ruen were also unveiled.
Here are 7 architectural firms at the Milan Design Week furniture exhibits and design presentations, classic or innovative, to see how architects design furniture.
Peter Zomto Studio
Extend the atmosphere and details in its architecture
The Peter Zumthor Collection is Zumto's first furniture collection, launched by Tokyo furniture brand Time & Style in collaboration with Zumto, using Japanese craftsmanship to recreate four classic pieces of furniture he designed during his career.
△ ©Time & Style
Valserliege lounge chairs
This is a set of loungers designed by Zumto for the Vals Thermal Baths. Originally made of laminated wood, the gentle curves conform to the human body, giving the impression of floating in the air.
The recliners on display were remade using Japanese craftsmanship and replaced by traditional steam bending techniques to make wooden frames. The wood is softened by steam and then placed in a metal mold to form its graceful curve. In this way, no wood is wasted and the long-term durability of the recliner is guaranteed.
△ ©Time & Style
Atelier Zumthor work desk
This table is a work desk used by Zumto in his own home and studio in Switzerland. The design is simple and retains the original beauty of the wood, supported by four detachable solid wood legs. The overall scale, thickness and material combine to create a clever sense of balance.
△ ©Time & Style
Handmade in a Japanese factory, this table has two finishes to choose from: original tannin black finish and beeswax finish; Neither finish affects the texture of the wood.
△ ©Time & Style
2011 Serpentine Gallery Table Stool
This is the table and stool designed by Zumto in the 2011 Serpentine Gallery, without excessive decoration, this set of tables and chairs is hot-dip galvanized for outdoor use and easy folding storage.
Three thin legs are tied together with iron wire, and the table has a simple and clean structure while maintaining its strength. The edges of the table top are smoothed out, guaranteeing its safety and giving a soft image.
△ ©Time & Style
Kolumba side table
This was originally a side table in the reading room of the Columba Museum. Time & Style is made using traditional Japanese techniques for carving beech wood, creating a pure form.
The table is carved from a single piece of beech wood, with beautiful textures on the sides and bright colors on the table top. The paint is applied only to the topmost surface, contrasting with the natural grain of the wood. Four bright color variations add a highlight to the space, and two different size variations also create a sense of rhythm.
△ ©Time & Style
Ruen Design Laboratory
Launch the latest designs in collaboration with several well-known furniture brands
During the Week, a range of products designed in collaboration with renowned brands Ariake, Ento, La Manufacture, Poltrona Frau, Very Wood and Wittmann were unveiled.
There is no series
The bedroom series "Youwu" designed by Ru En for Ariake is inspired by the traditional Chinese aesthetic philosophy concept of virtual reality. "Virtual reality" embodies the concept of symbiotic relations in dualism—"being" and "nothing" together form what we know as "space." The "presence or absence" design proposes a frame structure that connects different components, integrating the bed itself with the functions required at the bedside, and the three combination forms meet different spatial and usage needs.
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△ © Ruen Design Laboratory
Re-series
"Again" means "again", "again". Working with Ento, The design is inspired by the timeless aesthetic of flat metal, with soft curves that match the shape of our hands and can resonate emotionally. The brass material is plated with different surface layers, and the detailing of the rounded corners cleverly balances the cold feeling of the metal.
△ Re-series of manuscripts
△ © Ruen Design Laboratory
Intersection Series & April seats
This set of furniture was designed in collaboration with La Manufacture. Inspired by the simple life of a monastery, the Intersection collection was born during the epidemic, with a simple yet rigorous design that exudes a calm and remote temperament. Whether it's an oval table or a round seat, they're made of simple wooden planes with clear lines reminiscent of the simplicity and solemnity of traditional furniture.
△ © Ruen Design Laboratory
"April" derives from the Latin word "aperit", which means "open". April is the fourth month of the year, when people see it as the season when trees, flowers, and everything "opens" again. The April series seats are designed to open up a whole new perspective and a new perception.
△ © Ruen Design Laboratory
Ren supporting character derivative series self-supporting bookshelf
Ruen's Ren supporting character spin-off series for Poltrona Frau is inspired by the character "ren" in chinese characters. Judging from the source structure of its oracle bones, a stroke outlines the image of a human being. Each piece of furniture is mainly supported by two "human" shaped wooden structures and is connected to a secondary wooden structure. The series goes beyond accessories to not only achieve functionality, but also gradually begins to define the living space.
△ © Ruen Design Laboratory
Saturday & Sunday, Weekend Series
The Weekend Series seats continue The Spirit of Very Wood's design – the fusion of function and craftsmanship revolves around the concept of "different materials represent different specific functions". The seat is designed with precise construction so that the hierarchical relationships are clearly visible. The curved backrest of the upper part utilizes the flexibility of curved wood to form a comfortable support surface and become a self-contained.
△ © Ruen Design Laboratory
Blocks sofas
Ruen tried to get rid of the bulkiness and blurry line of the ordinary sofa, and the Blocks sofa carefully designed for Wittmann was more like an elegant slender armchair. The backrest and armrest of the sofa adopt a classic arch, showing simple and elegant lines and volume. The texture of the surface gives the design a soft feeling, reducing the weight of the sofa and making it suitable for most modern interior designs.
△ © Ruen Design Laboratory
98.6°F Series
In addition to a series of new products unveiled in Milan, The 98.6°F series designed for De La Espada is also officially released here.
△ © Ruen Design Laboratory
In 1868, a German doctor took the temperature of 25,000 people. After collecting more than 1 million body temperature values, the "average" body temperature of the human body was established to be 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Since then, this value has been widely used and has been used today to determine whether the human body temperature is "normal". Drawing inspiration from the "average" body temperature, the collection has a clean look and a calm and understated temperament, making it suitable for a wide range of uses. Although tables and chairs are common objects of daily life, when approached and carefully observed, people will find and marvel at the complexity and refinement of the design and construction.
△ © Ruen Design Laboratory
MAD
It is both a chair and a sculpture / material into a wonderful art
At the just-opened Milan Design Week, MAD Ma Yansong unveiled the prototype of the latest limited edition chair "Flow" and "Silhouette" in collaboration with SAWAYA & MORONI.
"Stream"
The exterior form and color of the seats seem to be cold, but the lines formed in one go give the work a sense of energy flowing. The speed and power representing energy are softened here, and the design reveals a futuristic charm that transcends linear space-time. The interrelationship between the armrest, the backrest and the seat height is subjected to multiple deliberations and is finally formed in one piece.
△ ©MAD
"Silhouette"
The "silhouette" is made of simple aluminum rods superimposed, showing its organic form and beauty through structure and materials. Seemingly inadvertent bends and unique curves give the seat its natural shape, making the work look like a soft and delicate web. Slim lines, organic shapes and intricate visuals give the seats a dynamic feel like they're being blown by a breeze. The metal material thus becomes a work of art.
△ ©MAD
This is the third collaboration between MAD and Sawaya MORONI after the "mushroom chair" (mogu chair) and "bone chair", which is based on the special theme "Back to the Future". Previously, the "gu chair", first exhibited at Milan Design Week 2018, has been in the permanent collection of the Centre Pompidou in France.
△ "Bone chair" ©MAD
OWN
Meet the diverse needs of contemporary office scenes
This is the "PRINCIPLES" furniture series designed by OMA in conjunction with UniFor, an international office furniture design and manufacturing company. The basic concept of the series is to create workplace furniture that is suitable for everyone and can be used in any time scene, aiming to better support the operation and communication processes required by contemporary office scenes.
The range consists of a variety of elements, available in different sizes such as S, M, L and XL, and is divided into different categories – they can be combined in a variety of ways to meet different arrangement needs.
△ Photography: DSL Studio
One of these categories is the "Spine" in the range, which contains two types of partition plates, straight and curved, which provide a more intimate and focused space through the combination of connections. The other category consists of ring sofas and soft nakajimas that create informal interactive spaces. Different types of spaces can be seen as an interior miniature building, distinguished by form, color and size, each with its own identity.
©△ OWN
Each piece in the collection has been carefully designed to ensure flexibility in the use of office space while providing maximum functionality and convenience to the user. Each table is designed with a double-layered surface to accommodate a variety of uses, such as dining, office and tidying. The furniture is plugged into a power/network line, giving users the flexibility to work in all corners of the office. In addition, the use of sound insulation materials has been added to the design to improve the sound absorption performance of the product.
△ Photography: DSL Studio
The exploration of technology and materials is also an indispensable part of the development of this series of products. The series combines textile fabrics for high-tech sportswear, extra-thick ColorCore laminates with carefully selected colors, and specially designed micro-perforated metal panels that absorb sound to create this high-performance furniture collection.
△ ©Studio Amos Fricke
EMBT
Flexible furniture, as if it will "dance"
EmBT Studios, in collaboration with the Enric Miralles Foundation, hosted the exhibition "Perpetuum Mobile" at Milan Design Week and presented furniture designed by Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue for their home in Barcelona.
Exhibits include tables, chairs and shelves designed between 1992 and 1999, as well as works found in design manuscripts that were first produced in 2020. The furniture was re-produced with the support of the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC).
△ ©EMBT
Miralles designs furniture that is vibrant, varied in structure and form, and can be used for a variety of purposes through deformation. Even with traditional furniture, its winding lines and structure reflect Miralles' distinctive design style. The works on display also include design works found in drawings that have never been realized before. Each piece of furniture has no fixed position or purpose, and can be moved or reassembled to meet different needs.
△ ©EMBT
MVRDV
The aesthetic value of discarded materials
At this year's Milan Design Week, MVRDV and belgian lighting brand Delta Light jointly released the "High Profile" series of luminaires. Inspired by the remnants of discarded aluminium profiles, the design critically examines the manufacturing and production process of the material, exploiting the potential of the waste material.
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△ Introductory video ©MVRDV
Contour lighting is a key element of architecture, but often produces a lot of residue and scrap material. These discarded materials became the starting point for the design. The series consists of a cubic chandelier, an arched wall lamp and a set of floor lamps. By giving the profiles a lively color, the original industrial-style appearance becomes soft.
△ ©MVRDV
MVRDV NEXT, MVRDV's digital R&D and design group, has developed a small program called the "Profile Mix and Match Operator", which can generate all possible collocation combinations using 50 profiles and evaluate them with real-time data. With this tool, Delta Light's designers can sustainably develop and adapt the range to the changing sizes, shapes and combinations of profile residues.
△ ©MVRDV
By recycling existing materials, the series eliminates the need to manufacture or transport new aluminium components from production plants, greatly reducing the environmental impact. The luminaire is removable, which means that a portion of the material can be recycled again. Through this design, MVRDV hopes to evoke consumers to observe and think about materials in daily life, to find beauty in the ordinary, and to see hope and possibility in places that are often overlooked.
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△ ©MVRDV
UNStudio
Adaptable smart furniture systems tailored for the future
Designed by Ben van Berkel and developed by UNStudio Experience Design Team UNSx, Node+ and Soliscape were exhibited together at this design week.
Node+
Created by UNStudio in collaboration with Italian sofa and chair brand LaCividina, the design is designed to meet the needs of people at different times of the day, at different times of the day. Node+ combines privacy, entertainment, relaxation, and social features in one product.
△ ©UNStudio
Soliscape
UNStudio and Delta Light collaborated to develop the Soliscape sound and light lighting system. It can be seen as a lighting landscape toolbox of flexible components and modules that architects and designers can design into a variety of feasible and livable lighting landscape solutions depending on the project.
△ ©UNStudio
Versatile and easy to use, the system is designed to improve people's well-being in a rapidly changing work environment and adapt to the changing needs and activities of users. It is not only an intelligent system, but also a system that can collect and organize knowledge and information and self-responsive adjustment and optimization.
△ ©UNStudio