Preview day here in Milan was a busy one. Here’s our round-up here at Zona Tortona:

Swarovski Crystal Palace

Sustainable design continues to be the theme for many here in Milan, starting with Yves Béhar’s “Amplify” for Swarovski Crystal Palace. This is a series of six paper lanterns in different shapes with light refracted from a real crystal with an LED source.

Tokujin Yoshioka brings his “Stellar” showcase with a suspended one-meter diameter globe in a smoke-filled space. Perhaps the picture doesn’t do the display justice, but I had thought the accompanying piece, which is a tank with natural crystals growing into a globe, was going to be contrasted with the suspended globe. Nevertheless this was still stunning to watch.

Superstudio Più’s Temporary Museum for New Design

Whether it’s lighting by Flos, or relaxation display by Dutch company Fatboy, Superstudio Più showcased a series of eye candy for those interested in design. I found pieces such as this Claesson Koivisto Rune W101 LED lamp from Swedish company Wästberg. The lamp itself is completely made of bio-degradable paper, specifically sandwiched sheets of DuraPulp, which is a mix of paper pulp and starch polymer. The lamp itself is surprisingly strong – actually at first glance one would never have guessed it’s made of paper! Very environmentally friendly indeed.

This Koura arm chair from Finnish company Punkalive is made of a material called Kerto, which is laminated veneer lumber. The sustainable factor here is that the entire manufacturing process is made within the Finnish town of Punkaharju, and all raw materials were collected from within 100 kilometers of the mill.

Environment

This California-based company Environment launched “e-pack”, which is a series of products including seating, planters, tables and stools, lighting and shelving that used recycled materials that also requires minimal packing – another sustainable series of products. The shelving in the photo below is made of recycled paper and honey comb cardboard. It is sturdy yet light. Other products such as bedding are made from recycled wood pieces from Brazil.

Lavazza

Lavazza showcased the machines that brew the aromatic Italian espressos, with the creativity of its display beginning with the entrance to its showcase – a walkway made of coffee beans…

Linteloo

Dutch company Linteloo also showcased some of its oversized-sofas that was very, very comfotable. I almost didn’t want to get up (perhaps it was the very tiring flight over to Milan).

In less than a month, the Salone del Mobile (aka the Milan Furniture Fair) will open. After a year’s hiatus, we will be back in Milan reporting on what’s hot and new in design when the whole city is turned into a big design showcase. Before we begin our coverage on the ground in Milan, we’d like to share some of the items that will be displayed at this year’s shows, including the Fuori Salone events, which is concurrent with the actual main show.

We’d like to start with Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka, who has several works and installations during the shows. The first is a chair called Memory for Moroso which is made of a special fabric with recycled aluminum by Yoshioka. There seems to be a little mystery as to how the chair takes its shape, but it’s definitely one I will be trying out during the shows. Please note that the photos are concept only.

Yoshioka’s installation will also be featured at the Swarovski Crystal Palace with a 1m globe (diameter) with Swarovski crystals and lit from within by LEDs. There will also be an accompanying piece that will feature another globe suspended in a tank, on which crystals will be growing naturally.

“What is important to me is not just designing another new chandelier with crystal, but to create a star which shines in the viewer’s heart,” Yoshioka explains. His approach was to “incorporate the element of beauty born of coincidence” into his piece, adding that “it was technically challenging because the unpredictable element found in nature had to be accurately expressed by human design.”

Lastly, he will be showcasing his “Invisible” series of products with Kartell. More to come later on this.

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