The Salone del Mobile.Milano 2025 will take place from April 8 to 13 at Fiera Milano, further solidifying its role as a strategic accelerator driving industry excellence and transformation. This year, the fair will put a strong emphasis on lighting design, with the return of the Euroluce biennial exhibition at its 63rd edition.
In addition, the Salone del Mobile.Milano will host the Euroluce International Lighting Forum, a two-day series of roundtables, seminars, and conferences featuring international speakers such as Robert Wilson, Kaoru Mende, and Stefano Mancuso. The forum will be held on April 10 and 11 at the Forest of Space stage, designed by architect Sou Fujimoto in Hall 2.
Under the theme Light for Life, Light for Space, the event will include six masterclasses, two roundtables, and two workshops. More than 20 speakers will explore how lighting can genuinely improve quality of life, discussing innovative solutions ranging from responsible lighting to smart technologies and the role of light in architectural storytelling.
As an integral element in both public and private spaces, lighting plays a crucial role in sustainable design, prioritizing quality of life and environmental impact. The inaugural Euroluce International Lighting Forum aims to serve as a knowledge and innovation hub for the future of lighting design. Recognizing the need for a comprehensive approach, the fair integrates commercial product exhibitions with education and thought leadership to meet the evolving demands of professionals in the field.
On April 10, discussions will center around the theme Light for Life. Natural light has a biological and psychological impact on humans, shaping circadian rhythms, emotions, and overall well-being.
Is there a simple yet scientific approach to designing lighting that enhances human health and comfort?
How can lighting improve happiness and relaxation?
What does human-centric lighting truly mean?
These and other questions about the role of lighting in optimizing energy and wellness will be addressed throughout the day. The event will open with a masterclass by solar designer Marjan van Aubel, who explores the potential of solar energy in her Sunne project. Stefano Mancuso, a pioneer in plant neurobiology, will follow with a discussion on how plants harness light and how humans can adopt similar strategies for well-being. Renowned American artist Robert Wilson will then present his unique perspective on light.
The afternoon roundtable will feature Nicholas Belfield, partner at dpa lighting consultants, whose firm has completed over 7,500 projects across 80 countries, including The Constellation and the Founder’s Memorial in Abu Dhabi. Rogier van der Heide, a lighting designer known for his work on iconic public spaces such as the Beijing Olympic Stadium and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, will also join. Additional panelists include Shelley James, lighting strategist at Age of Light Innovations and an international expert in lighting and health; Manuel Spitschan, group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics and professor of chronobiology and health at the Technical University of Munich; and Piero Benvenuti, honorary professor of astrophysics at the University of Padua. The day will conclude with a workshop synthesizing key insights and perspectives from all discussions.
Robert Wilson/Michelangelo/Pietà Rondanini
Prova
On April 11, the conversation will shift to the theme Light for Space, exploring the profound impact of artificial lighting on architecture’s aesthetics, perception, and functionality.
How can lighting enhance the expressiveness of spaces and evoke emotions?
Should lighting design focus on replicating natural light variations or emphasize the design of the objects themselves? How can designers balance cultural significance with energy sustainability?
These questions will guide discussions on innovative lighting solutions, from responsible lighting to smart technology, and how light conveys cultural narratives and adds meaning to spaces.
The day’s events will begin with a keynote masterclass by Japanese lighting designer Kaoru Mende, whose notable projects include Tokyo Station Marunouchi Building and Sendai Mediatheque. Mende will discuss lighting design from the perspectives of innovation, sustainability, and well-being. Artist and light sculptor Patrick Rimoux will follow, sharing his experience in urban monument lighting, including collaborations with Wim Wenders, Akira Kurosawa, and Bollywood, as well as his recent work on the Notre-Dame de Paris restoration. Lonneke Gordijn, co-founder of Studio DRIFT, will showcase light sculptures and installations exploring the intersection between natural and artificial structures.
An afternoon roundtable will feature Susanna Antico, architect, lighting designer, and member of APIL (Italian Lighting Professionals Association); Hervé Descottes, founder of L’Observatoire International, known for integrating innovation and art in projects like the Qatar National Museum in Doha and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi; Mariel Fuentes, co-founder of MMAS Lighting, specializing in architectural lighting design, including the Transicions project; Timothy Ingold, honorary professor of social anthropology at the University of Aberdeen; Elisa Orlanski Ours, chief planning and design officer at Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group, overseeing luxury real estate developments such as 56 Leonard and One High Line in New York; and Carla Wilkins, incoming president of the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) and senior partner at Lichtvision Design, which has contributed to projects like the Blue Cinema in Chur. Finally, international lighting designer and artist A.J. Weissbard will lead a closing workshop, providing practical insights and consolidating the day’s discussions.
As the Salone del Mobile.Milano continues to serve as a catalyst for innovation, the Euroluce International Lighting Forum offers a unique platform for global experts to shape the future of lighting design, merging technology, sustainability, and human-centric solutions in an evolving architectural landscape.
Sourced from Our China Media Partner 77° Global Furnishings Media.
