The Ultimate Design Guide For iSaloni & Milan Design Week 2019 – From the powerful design event iSaloni 2019 (Salone del Mobile Milano) to the hype and design celebration of the top Design Districts of Milan, this guide includes everything you need to know and visit in Milan from April 8th to April 14th!
iSaloni 2019/ Salone del Mobile.Milano – General Information
2019 marks the 58th edition of the popular and powerful Salone Internazionale del Mobile event that will be held in April between the 9th and the 14th! It is a design showcase that has always mixed business with culture, shaping the history of design and furnishing yesterday, today, and tomorrow. A global platform for truly top-notch products with an emphasis on innovation. The Salone Internazionale del Mobile is split into three style categories: Classic: Tradition in the Future, which draws on the values of tradition, craftsmanship, and skill in the art of making furniture and objects in the classic style; Design, products that speak of functionality, innovation, and boast a great sense of style; and xLux, the section devoted to timeless luxury re-read in a contemporary key.
EuroLuce 2019
Euroluce: the International Lighting Exhibition, has been running every two years since 2011 and presents the most innovative solutions in the field of light for interiors and exteriors. With more than 480 of the best exhibitors in the sector, half of which are foreign, the International Lighting Exhibition – in its 30th edition – is recognised as the global benchmark lighting exhibition, where technological innovation and design culture take centre stage.
SaloneSattelite
SaloneSatellite was the first event to focus on young designers, instantly becoming the unrivalled place for interface with manufacturers, talent scouts, and the most promising young designers, and since 1998 run concurrently with the Salone del Mobile Milano. Its creation was essentially a declaration of faith in the creative potential of designers under 35.
Workplace 3.0 2019
Workplace 3.0 is conceived as an irreplaceable think tank for finding out about and understanding upcoming necessary changes to workspaces. More than just an exhibition, it is a starting point for stimulating forward-looking ideas capable of catering to a changing market and changing needs. As of 2015, the Salone dedicated to the workplace has taken on the new designation “Workplace3.0”, an innovative exhibition area devoted to design and technology in workspace planning, that confirms its new vocation as an exploration of brand-new approaches, forms, and solutions to the workplace of the future, in which the human factor and smart technologies have a vital role to play.
International Furnishing Accessories Exhibition
The exhibition rounds off the Salone Internazionale del Mobile trade events with a wide variety of products – furnishing accessories, objects, decorative pieces, textiles – and styles. Launched in 1989, in response to the growing demand for decorative goods, the International Furnishing Accessories Exhibition has become the sector’s leading event, showcasing an increasingly varied and comprehensive selection of excellent pieces year by year, encompassing the entire home furnishing system, ranging from decorative objects to furnishing accessories and textiles for the home.
Luxury Brands to Visit at iSaloni 2019
Maison Valentina – At iSaloni, Maison Valentina will be presenting fresh, elegant and unmissable bathroom news. With its bespoke and bathroom pieces, Maison Valentina will present a strong and luxury display that will make several heads turn. Hall 4, STAND E08 – E12 – D07 – D21
Delightfull – Focused on lighting pieces, DelightFULL’s designs reflect a personality, a frame of mind, and strong emotions are present in each detail. Inspired by jazz music, DelightFULL’s mission is to conquer the world through unique lamps! This year is special for DelightFull because 2019 marks the 10th anniversary of this brand, and what better way to celebrate it than in iSaloni and at a special edition of EuroLuce. Pav 13, Stand H24
Boca do Lobo – Haute Craftsmanship & Luxury Inspiration are in Boca do Lobo´s DNA! At iSaloni, they will present a strong showcase of stunning and incredible pieces. Expect waves of contemporary and high-end furniture from this top Portuguese brand that always tries to elevate design and craftsmanship! Hall 4, Stand E08-D07
BRABBU – This top design brand reflects an intense way of living, bringing fierceness, strength, and power into an urban lifestyle. With a diverse range of furniture, case goods, upholstery, lighting, and rugs, and through sensory design, we pass on a unique experience in every piece we design and produce. At iSaloni be sure to also check out BRABBU’s sister brands: Foogo & Brabbu Contract. Pav 3, Stand H32-34.
Essential Home is the sister brand of DelightFULL, and like that luxury brand, Essential Home is the epitome of bohemian elegance and design. It’s mid-century modern lines that merge important historical references from the 1930s and 1960s with contemporary influences. The harmony of masculine and feminine, classic and contemporary, is the essence of the Maverick brand with its refinement and emblematic style. Hall 3, Stand L38
Covet House – As per usual, Covet Group will be represented at iSaloni with a super stand by Covet House that will incorporate pieces for all tastes and from all the major design brands in the world. Don’t miss the chance to enjoy a luxury experience at this Covet Stand. Hall 4, STAND E08 – E12 – D07 – D21
LUXXU – With a prestigious and revivalist attitude, LUXXU provides increasingly bolder designs, always combined with the finest craftsmen techniques. This brand’s pieces represent an endless promise of elegance and distinctiveness that shapes LUXXU’s future. Pav 11, Stand G22.
Pullcast – At iSaloni discover the exclusive and luxury world of PullCast and dive in this brand’s amazing and elegant list of decorative and architectural hardware products. Stand E08 – E12 – D07 – D21.
Circu was built on a dream! The dream is to allow children to dream their own dreams and to really give them space to be and live their fantasies in a magical world. Its stunning hand-crafted and hand-tailored pieces are made in Portugal with the finest materials, combined with a lot of passion, so we can deliver only the highest quality furnishings. If you want to dive into some magical inspiration, then you must visit this stand! Hall 4, STAND E08 – E12 – D07 – D21
Rug’s Society is an exquisite Portuguese brand of Rugs and covering selections that mainly aims to transform rugs into pieces of art. Rug’Society appears with a strong connotation to the eclectic style, a brand that transmits emotions, and that is our starting point for every different design that we conceive to stimulate and develop new trends. It’s time to be masters of tapestry and, for that, Rug’Society presents us with a bold and contemporary design, always thinking of the future and giving our products uniqueness, exclusivity, and luxury design.
Luxury Living Group – Fendi Casa, Bentley Home, Trussardi Casa, Baccarat Maison, Heritage Collection, Ritz Paris Home, and Paul Mathieu. All of these top brands belong to the Luxury Living Group, and this top Italian group will have a strong and powerful presence at iSaloni! With an extensive portfolio of interior collections that reflect the perfect combination of tradition and innovation, all the collections of these top brands celebrate the expressive principles of luxury design in a harmonious blend of fashion and design.
Seletti – The worlds of design, art de la table, furniture, lighting, objects and decoration. Seletti has a history of vision and evolution. Ever since it was established in 1964 in Cicognara, Mantova, the company has pursued its mission of making the most of professionalism, service, and, above all, endless product research, striving for improvement, innovation, and originality. A top Italian brand for a top Italian event.
Sahrai Milano is a top brand of luxury custom made rugs designed in Italy. This brand’s products fully embodies the values of Italian tapestry craftsmanship, and Sharai’s Collections are excellent in the furnishing accessories field.
B&B Italia – Founded in 1966 with the entrepreneurial vision of Piero Ambrogio Busnelli, B&B Italia is a leading Italian company in the international world of designer furniture for both homes (B&B Italia Home Division) and contract furniture (B & Italia Contract Division). The company distinguished itself from its inception for its innovative industrial approach to manufacturing, in contrast to the small traditional artisan competitors typical of the sector. Based in Novedrate (Como), north of Milan, the firm’s prestigious headquarters were designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers in 1972. At iSaloni 2019, B&B Italia will present, once again, some stunning products made in Italy.
Milan Design Week/ Fuorisalone 2019
As one of the Design Capitals of Europe, Milan has more events happening during the Milan Design Week besides iSaloni/Salone del Mobile Milano. The major event of this Design Week it’s the Design Week Event itself that is better known as “Fuorisalone”, a term that’s used to define the events and exhibitions that animate the entire city of Milan during this week. During the Fuorisalone, many of the stunning design places in Milan will feature longer opening hours. It’s expected that the most important brands located in the design districts of Milan will introduce their new collections and host special events with live music and entertainment for a totally unmissable extravaganza.
Top Parties and Events
“When Brera meets mid-century” is going to be one of the highlights of Milan Design Week. Luxury brand DelightFULL will join forces with Breadaquaranta, one of the most important chains of showrooms in Milan, to create a spectacular party during Milan Design Week. The company Fatebenefratelli’s Showroom will open its doors on the 11th of April for a casual design cocktail that you don’t want to miss!
Besides being one of the most exclusive Italian furnishing proposals, Illulian represents true works of art that retain their charm unaltered over time. Boca do Lobo shares the same value as this astonishing design brand. Handmade arts and crafts are at the core of both companies, and that’s more than a motive to bring them together during Milan Design Week in the city of Design. The best of contemporary design and costume artwork will be on display at Illulian’s Private Showroom on April 12th, for a spectacular cocktail party that will combine the works and styles of two giants of the Interior Design World!
Credit Knoll
Knoll will celebrate the Design World in their showroom of Piazza Bertarelli, through the exhibition “Knoll celebrates Bauhaus” curated by OMA, a studio co-founded by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, with the collaboration of Domitilla Dardi, historical and design curator, Knoll describes the steps of a path that still today has a powerful reverberation on our contemporaneity. On the 10th, Knoll will host at the same location an incredible Cocktail Party!
Credit Zanotta
Lubiam and Zanotta, companies’ symbols of an all-Italian savoir-faire, come together to celebrate this important event and together create a “relaxation // deluxe zone”, a space designed to welcome guests, but above all to allow them to relax and indulge in a little respite after a stressful day at work or walking through the maze of the salon. e highlight to mark in the calendar will be Tuesday 9 April: on that occasion, the little square at number 30 of Via della Spiga, where the LBM1911 boutique is located, will be transformed into a sitting room where you can experience an experience of “Luxurious relaxation” lying on the legendary Sacco armchair, a symbol of a cultural mood and a lifestyle beyond fashion for 50 years. At the Caselli of P.ta Garibaldi, Zanotta will also interpret the new reality of living: a home animated by global citizens, their stories and their passions. The toll booth in front of Tecno re-draws the workplaces connected thanks to the io.T Solutions technology according to the principles of flexibility, personalization, comfort typical of co-working. A path that opens onto Piazza XXV Aprile in an urban garden that will host the opening event on Monday at 6.30pm (press at 18.00).
With an intense cultural program for 2019, through which ME by Meliá consolidates its commitment to contemporary art and culture, the 5-star luxury hotel ME Milan Il Duca, in Piazza della Repubblica, in the heart of Milan, dedicates the month of April, and in particular the design week, to the architect and designer Zaha Hadid. On the 9th this luxury hotel will host a cocktail party to host this Expo and to celebrate Zaha Hadid’s legacy!
Credits: Mingardo
Mingardo, the brand that for generations has combined the most avant-garde contemporary design with the excellence of metal craftsmanship and natural elements in a single vision, will present a special display for Milan Design Week. et up in Via Solferino 11, the beating heart of the Brera district, to attend this expo that will last all the days of Milan Design Week and will start with a cocktail party on the 8th of April!
Top luxury brand Roberto Cavalli will have a Cockatil Party for the launch of the Just Cavalli P1THON in the Just Cavalli Boutique, carefully set up for the Design Week. Pass by Via Vicenzo Capelli and join the Party! Another party highlight belongs to the Danish company Fritz Hansen which will welcome visitors to the Fuorisalone in its world and presents new projects and collaborations with international designers: furnishings, lights and accessories. Attend the Exhibition and the Cocktail Party (11th of April) at Piazza S. Simpliciano.
Credits: Bang & Olufussen
On the occasion of the Salone del Mobile 2019, Salvatori’s showroom in the heart of Brera will be transformed by Elisa Ossino. The curator has devised a path for visitors to discover through a series of rooms in which Salvatori’s coatings and textures follow each other, in which it will be possible to admire products made by international designers such as Piero Lissoni, John Pawson and Elisa Ossino. The expo will open on the 8th of April with a great cocktail party! For the 2019 Fuorisalone, Bang & Olufsen will present 93 Years of Magic – a dialogue between past and present. The Danish design brand has worked closely with museums and collectors to create a retrospective exhibition of products that have given rise to its unsurpassed reputation for combining innovation and unique sound and will present a new project that hides a magical movement where the most advanced technology blends with exclusive craftsmanship. To celebrate this expo, this top Luxury Brand will promote several parties at Via S Carpoforo!
Armani Casa & Rubelli Casa will join forces to organize a great selection of shows that will celebrate classic and precious fabrics! On the 9th, the Rubelli Casa Showroom will host a Cocktail Party at Via Fatebenefratelli that will kick off the celebration. Also focusing on Great Exhibitions will have top brand ETEL that will explore at Via Maroncelli the developments and revolutions of José Zanine Caldas. ETEL, the most important brand authorized to re–edit the pieces of the great Brazilian masters of design, includes 16 Zanine icons in its collection, already rich in all the most significant names in the country’s design culture, such as Jorge Zalszupin, Lina Bo Bardi, Giuseppe Scapinelli and Oscar Niemeyer. You must attend the Party / Cocktail with Zanini de Zanine on the 10th of April!
Cappellini will celebrate its 30th Year Anniversary on Milan Design Week. This brand will recount the contribution it has made in thirty years of work to the development of the contemporary design. A lean, brutal and spectacular presentation with strong references to art, from Jackson Pollock to Banksy with his visual protest. The party kicks off on the 8th of April at CAPPELLINI POINT – Ramparts of Porta Nuova with a great Cocktail Party!
Last but not least, we leave you with another great event by a great Italian brand: Molteni! The showroom of this brand, will be at Via Solferino corner of via Pontaccio, will explore howVincent Van Duysen continues his research into the world of contemporary living by designing the Gregor modular seating system for Molteni & C. At the same location, don’t miss Molteni’s Cocktail Party on the 12th of April!
The force behind Fuorisalone is the Design Districts of Milan. It’s at these districts that most of the top events, design showcases and parties take place and you have to get to know them better. Let us introduce 4 of the Most Popular Design Districts:
Brera Design District
This is the district that houses a Pinacoteca and art Academy famed throughout the world. This artsy neighbourhood with its narrow, cobbled streets boasting a dense concentration of antique shops, galleries, showrooms and prestigious locations, exudes a truly alluring, bohemian aura year-round.
Ventura Centrale Design District
The formerly abandoned 9 spaces of the Magazzini Raccordati via Ferrante Aporti, once home to important local warehouses, provide visitors with a visually evocative experience. Under the rough tracks and characteristic vaults of Milan’s Stazione Centrale creativity – a specific focus on design from the Netherlands and Belgium – takes centre stage featuring an eclectic mix of contemporary design by showcasing both emerging as well as established brands.
Tortona Design District
Although Tortona is the name of a single street, during the Fuorisalone the events in its neighbouring area – namely the one lying behind the Navigli, known for its “vibey” atmosphere – multiply. The area, home to former warehouses and factories, becomes a major display platform featuring a slew of futuristic, original and experimental events targeted, according to the organisers, at creating a truly knockout effect. Big names and loads of emerging talents create an urban workshop of contemporary design.
5 Vie Art Design District
Aptly named 5vie after the “five streets” that form the area, the district is simultaneously one of the city’s oldest but also emerging districts. The area spans from the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, up to the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio and the church of San Satiro, where Bramante worked. One of Milan’s least touristy and best-kept secrets, the area participates officially in Design Week with a triple circuit consisting of showrooms displaying the latest in design, old artisan workshops where you can admire traditional handicrafts (in particular in via San Maurillio and via Santa Marta) and a cultural itinerary featuring museums, churches, cloisters, archaeological sites and breathtaking inner courtyards. 5vie District involves a cultural and territorial marketing project to promote Milan’s Old Town.
Explore the City
This is the basis of what you can expect from ISaloni 2019 and Milan Design Week, but Milan has a lot more to offer. You can enjoy these events, but you should also enjoy the city and that’s why we want you to present a complete Milan City Guide for your enjoyment!
Top Hotels to Stay In
BVLGARI HOTEL – Settled in an 18th-century edifice, the Bulgari hotel will make you feel right at home in the heart of Milan. It’s impossible not to fall under the charm of the ideal setting. The friendly staff will give you the impression of being welcomed in a luxury private residence. All rooms and suites are so elegant and combine modern design, polished lines and luxurious details. The centrepiece of the Bulgari hotel is probably their private garden, an oasis of tranquillity. A perfect place to enjoy an aperitif alla milanese. For some downtime away from the hustle and bustle, guests can retreat to the stunning spa for a swim.
MANDARIN ORIENTAL MILAN – Mandarin Oriental Milan offers luxury accommodation a short walk from the fashionable Milan fashion boutiques. The property features a restaurant on-site with 2 Michelin stars and meeting facilities. Set in a complex of 5 connected 18th-century buildings, all rooms and suites are air-conditioned and designed by Antonio Citterio, modern décor and taco floors. They offer views of the courtyard or the street, and some even offer views of Milan’s Cathedral.
Park Hyatt Milano offers luxury and serenity in the form of clean design and quiet comfort in all of its 81 rooms and 25 suites. Park deluxe executive king rooms feature fruit baskets and your choice of mineral waters, while a Park terrace suite boasts gorgeous views of Milan from a private terrace. You’ll never go hungry with mouth-watering, on-site dining options like Michelin-starred Restaurant VUN, where you can enjoy a multicourse tasting menu unlike any you’ve ever tried. For breakfast, La Cupola features daily selections of croissants and fresh juices.
From the outside, Palazzo Parigi Hotel & Grand Spa looks like any of Milan’s modern office buildings — glassy windows, metal frame, business style. Just take a deep breath and walk inside. If the magnificent Murano glass chandelier doesn’t blow your mind, then the “I wanna wear a ballgown and traipse down this luscious marble staircase” will. Palazzo Parigi is neoclassical luxe with a French twist throughout its ten floors. Its vibe is cosmopolitan and stylish, shown off by its staff, a well-heeled team of polyglots straight from the runway. Location is key: Turn the corner, and you’re in the Fashion Quadrangle, the very epicentre of Milan’s finest.
BAGLIONI HOTEL CARLTON – The excellence of the services offered by this hotel, along with its strategic location in the heart of the fashion district and the most important city hubs, make the Carlton one of the structures favourite by many tourists, but it is its attention to privacy to have gained the trust of major international personalities, from the world of finance to that of music and fashion. The Guest Book at the Carlton and at the whole Baglioni Hotel group really has few equals. The whole project was designed by the Spagnulo & Partners Studio.
Hotel Principe Di Savoia is located 100 metres from Milan’s Repubblica Metro and Railway Station. The rooms at Hotel Principe Di Savoia are decorated with traditional dark wood furnishings and luxurious fabrics. The spa has a sauna, a hammam, and a pool with frescoes. Principe Di Savoia’s attentive staff can book tickets and provide free limousine service to the city centre. The ideal place to stay during Milan Design Week 2018.
Top Restaurants & Bars
RISTORANTE BISTROT MARTINI DOLCE&GABANNA – This luxury location owned by the popular fashion brand Dolce & Gabanna is the perfect spot to have a fine dining experience. It’s also the place to relax and become aware of the latest interior design trends.
BAR LUCE – This restaurant interior was designed by director Wes Anderson. With green as the base colour, it includes stunning patterned wallpaper prints, Formica chairs, terrazzo floors and pinball machines that create an atmosphere with a quirky, retro feel.
T’A – This restaurant was designed by local architect Vincenzo de Cotiis who gave the space a 1960s retro Italian flair mixed with the designer’s signature edge. It has a mix of white and black marble on the floor, sophisticated upholstery and modern suspension lights. The food is just as good as the decor!
CERESIO 7 – Ceresio is located on the rooftop of fashion label Dsquared2’s Headquarters and it has a stunning view over Milan. The restaurant, designed by Dimore Studio, has a polished, clean-lined design that almost feels like being transported to midcentury Palm Springs with an Italian twist.
GIACOMO ARENGARIO – Envisioned by design firm Studio Peregalli, this Art Deco Bar & Restaurant is located on the top floor of the Museo del Novecento and overlooks the stunning Piazza del Duomo. This gleaming cocktail bar is surrounded by 1930s decorative touches and walls covered with geometric patterns that provide a stunning bar vibe.
Top Galleries & Museums to Visit
GALLERIA CARLA SOZZANI – The gallery is located in a former industrial building, typical of Milanese architecture. Since its opening, Galleria Carla Sozzani has established itself as one of the most important photography galleries in Italy. Over 200 exhibitions have been shown in the presence of famous photographers, often presenting works that had never been shown in Italy before: Helmut Newton, Annie Leibovitz, Bruce Weber, Bert Stern, Sarah Moon, Paolo Roversi, David Bailey, Hiro, David LaChapelle, amongst others.
PAC – PAC’s exhibitions are often a source of interest and debate in Milan because they highlight issues of great social importance (for example Regina José Galindo’s 2014 “Estoy Viva” show addressed the female condition, while the 2013 “Rise and Fall of Apartheid” exhibition gave insight into life before, during and after apartheid).
MUSEO DEL NOVECENTO – The Museo del Novecento was established on December 6, 2010 with the goal of spreading knowledge of 20th-century art and offering a more comprehensive insight into the collections that the city of Milan has inherited over time. Besides its core exhibition activity, the Museum is active in the conservation, investigation, and promotion of 20th century Italian cultural and artistic heritage, with the final aim of reaching an ever wider audience.
HANGAR BICOCCA – If you love art, design, and getting out of the city centre, you’ll love Hangar Bicocca. Housed in a converted industrial building in an up-and-coming area outside the city centre, Hangar Bicocca attracts artsy types with its cutting edge exhibitions and workshops. This place is famous for its site-specific installations (similar to those at London’s Tate Modern) that over the years have included giant balloons and rooms set at -30 °C.
MUDEC – In line with constant efforts on the part of the municipal authorities to preserve the memory of the economic and social processes that have shaped the city’s identity, the Milan City Council took steps in 1990 to buy the old Ansaldo industrial plant at Porta Genova and use it for cultural services. The disused factories, authentic monuments of industrial archaeology, have been converted into studios, workshops, and new creative spaces.
LEONARDO DAVINCI SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MUSEUM – After seeing the last supper of DaVinci at the Santa Maria delle Grazie, you should visit the Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Technologia Leonardo da Vinci where you can find more of his original drawings and numerous models of his scientific innovations. Moreover, it has interactive labs, a submarine exhibit, and a section devoted to science for young children.
MIART – The international fair of modern and contemporary art, has just announced its 24th edition, organised by Fiera Milano and held from April 5 to 7 at Pavilion 3 of Fiera Milano City in Milan. Under the artistic directorship of Alessandro Rabottini, 186 international galleries from 19 countries will exhibit works by modern masters, established contemporary artists, emerging talents, and experimental designers, divided into seven different sections.
Top Attractions
You can’t visit Milan without visiting the Duomo di Milano. It’s like visiting Paris without going to the Eiffel Tour or the Sacre Coeur. Is hard not to know anything about Duomo di Milano, not only because it’s the fourth largest cathedral in the world, but mainly because it’s Milan’s main touristic and cultural attraction.
Besides Design Events and Luxury Hotels, Milan’s also the home of the Centuries of History. To experience Art and History, you must pay a visit to some of the hundreds of museums, cathedrals, shops, gardens, historic places and art galleries of Milan. One of the top museums of Milan is also one of the Most Historical Buildings of the City: The historical Castello Sforzesco. It’s in the Pinacoteca of this castle that you can find Michelangelo’s Rondanini Pieta, one of this legendary’s artist most recognized works of art!
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