Two Dwell Staffers Debate the Best of Salone del Mobile

Salone del Mobile, held at the Rho Fiera Milano Fairgrounds in Milan, Italy, is the largest design event of its kind in the world, both by size and attendance and because of this, it can be an overwhelming experience. If you haven’t yet been, we’ll put it simply: this trade show is damn huge.

Spanning 16 pavilions, Salone, as most call it, is a truly global design event for industry folks and design lovers alike. And while it feels impossible to see everything on your list, there’s still the thrill of the chase when looking for the next direction design will take.

For Dwell’s visual media producer, Ian Zunt, and visuals editor, Alex Casto, it was their first time at the fair, and they were on a mission to see everything they could during their one day wandering the halls. Below, you’ll find a brief selection of the objects and presentations that got them talking the most—along with their relatively unfiltered thoughts.

Leuchte 47 by Niklas Rechfelden

For the University of the Arts Berlin presentation in the fair’s emerging designers section, Rechfelden took a closer look at one of the most utilitarian objects out there: rain gutters, reimagined as floor lamps. The lights are constructed from Formfleece, an extremely moldable (and recyclable) material that takes on a felt-like quality without losing its shape.

Ian Zunt: Alex felt so negatively about these lamps that I had to basically beg her to let us include them here. But thankfully, this is about what moved us, no matter which direction. And maybe it’s my Seattle origins, but I felt very connected to the clear utilitarian inspiration behind these lamps, and I’ll give Rechfelden points for using a warm bulb.

Alex Casto: I really don’t love these lamps! I’m probably being overly dramatic, but there is something about the material choice (and seams) that looks unfinished. I suppose sustainability really is the point here, though, so my respect to Rechfelden for being far less picky than I.

The Memphis Room by Memphis and (AB)NORMAL

Memphis’s immersive display at the fair found itself in balance between the concepts of archive and renewal. For the fair, the brand introduced several never-before-seen pieces, and placed them into a remarkably groovy living room.