From 16 to 21 April, the Salone del Mobile innovates and is inspired by a rich schedule of meetings, talks, round tables and site-specific installations.
One of the features of the 62nd edition of the Salone del Mobile.Milano is the neuroscientific approach, starting from its renewed exhibition layout, redesigned by Lombardini22 to improve the visitor experience by analysing visitors’ neurological, emotional and perceptual reactions to the different routes, locations and distributions of exhibition and rest areas. But this in itself does not suffice. Since the brain is stimulated to leave its comfort zone by art, culture and aesthetics, there will be a broad array of cultural offerings to involve the visitor across the whole exhibition itinerary. A Thinking Room project also saw the collaboration of the Piccolo Teatro di Milano – Teatro d’Europa, which oversaw the executive design and staging.
Three significant installations
The first, “Interiors by David Lynch. A Thinking Room“ (Pavilions 5-7) offers a tribute by the famous director to the Salone, featuring two mirrored “thinking rooms” curated by Antonio Monda as symbolic portals into the Event, reflecting on the interplay between interiors and inwardness.
“Under the Surface“ (Pavilion 10), created by Accurat, Design Group Italia, and Emiliano Ponzi for the International Bathroom Exhibition, explores water ethics and sustainability in bathroom furniture design through a submerged island installation. It presents an educational narrative on water’s environmental impact, with shifting reflections of light symbolizing global water consumption data and dynamic displays showcasing technological advances.
Meanwhile, EuroCucina hosts “All You Have Ever Wanted to Know About Food Design in Six Performances” (Pavilions 2-4), featuring six international food magazines presenting innovative visions of nature’s ingredients. These experiences aim to push boundaries in food experimentation, intertwined with talks and tasting sessions, shaping the future of food design.
Talks and Round Tables
The “Drafting Futures” Talks and Round Tables, curated by Annalisa Rosso, will explore the role of design and architecture in deciphering the present and envisioning the future. Held at 11 a.m. in the “Drafting Futures” Arena (Pavilion 14), notable speakers include Francis Kéré, John Pawson, Jeanne Gang, and Hans Ulrich Obrist, discussing sustainability, social inclusiveness, and innovation. Following these discussions, Round Tables will delve into topics like artificial intelligence, pleasure boating, and hospitality innovation. Additionally, the Salone del Mobile Library project will be inaugurated, housing books recommended by event speakers for shaping future actions and prospects. Scheduled events include discussions on the role of design in pleasure boating, the influence of high-quality skincare brands, strategic investments in the furniture sector, evolving shapes of hospitality, and the impact of artificial intelligence on architecture and design.
The Corraini Mobile Bookshop, for book lovers
After the success of last year’s debut, also this year the Corraini Mobile Bookshop, curated by Corraini Edizioni, will be set up next to the Arena. On display and for sale, it will present a broad selection of international publications dedicated to design, art and illustration, with incursions into food and food design, representing over 110 publishers. It will include numerous children’s books, posters and graphic works in limited editions, ceramics, small art objects and one-off pieces, curiosities and rarities. With a view to all-round design, it is a space that, by dialoguing with the installations and set-up of the Fair, will be an integral part of the exhibition.
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