Last week, our designers Maria and Maddie had the privilege of attending the esteemed Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan.
This annual extravaganza is a melting pot of creativity, innovation, and design brilliance.
Since its inception in 1961, Salone del Mobile has been a beacon of creation, consistently pushing the boundaries of design.
The 2024 edition, held from April 16th to 21st, once again solidified its status as one of the premier events in the design calendar. It showcased many furnishing products that seamlessly blend expressive design power with innovation.
All images: Salone del Mobile
Wandering through the sprawling halls of the Rho Fiera Milano, every corner reveals beautiful and interesting products, giving a glimpse into the future of living spaces and changing lifestyles. Amidst the myriad exhibits, Maria and Maddie have discovered five inspiring exhibits/products exemplifying the fusion of design and innovation.
Here are their top five discoveries from Salone del Mobile 2024:
1. Sparking Change – the principles of circularity and decarbonisation.
‘Sparking Change’ tells the story of the cycle of renewal that underpins sustainability. Designed by Mario Cucinella Architects, it is made up of 1,200 uniquely coloured 3D-printed ceramic blocks. The installation vividly illustrates the progressive temperatures required to achieve superior-quality ceramic products. Each block has details displaying the temperature reached at every production stage.
Beyond their visual appeal, these versatile blocks double as seating areas, inviting visitors to relax, converse and socialise.
Aligned with the principles of circularity and decarbonisation, ‘Sparking Change’ highlights the significant environmental benefits of Roca’s pioneering electric tunnel kiln for producing bathroom ceramics. Visitors could also explore Roca’s commitment to innovation and sustainability through augmented reality.
More information regarding Roca’s decarbonised ceramics production can be found here.
2. Incognito sofa beds
The Verto sofa system is designed to cater to the changing requirements of modern living spaces. It can effortlessly be transformed into a comfortable sofa bed.
This unique design defies the typical appearance associated with sofa beds. Its extension mechanism is distinctive, and the overall aesthetic is very modular. It is a beautiful visual design innovation where form meets function perfectly.
Details of Liu Jo’s Verto sofa can be found here.
3. A superior wood finishing treatment flooring
BioPlus, from Fiemme Tremila, is made from over 50 carefully mixed vegetable and mineral substances. It nourishes the wood’s deep structure and removes the need for varnish while retaining a sturdy natural protective barrier.
It is a biocompatible product that caresses and nourishes without clogging the surface pores and leaves the wood free to breathe, thus restoring its self-protective capabilities, which are inevitably lost during manufacturing.
Using BioPlus, the emissions released by wood floors treated with its formula are the same as those found in an uncontaminated forest, and, just like these, they can benefit people’s health.
This innovative formula includes the essential oils of Swiss pine and spruce, which can emit Alpha-pinene, the therapeutic substance typical of mountain air.
4. A multisensory exploration of the states of matter
Presented by Stark, “Materia Natura” invited guests on a multi-sensorial exploration of the visual states in which matter manifests itself. This immersive kinetic art installation will emulate ‘the shapes that matter assumes through the presence or absence of water.’
Stark’s collaboration with the creative team of Alice Buroni, Gloria Lisi and Alex Buroni leads to a sensorial and interactive representation in the form of a perceptive path, in which an unexpected trompe-l’oeilre reflects matter and human being as part of the same nature.
These captivating experiences stimulate the senses and encourage visitors to engage with light, sound, and motion in unconventional ways. The exhibits range from kinetic sculptures that react to human touch to installations that transform in real-time in response to the surrounding environment.
By blurring the boundaries between art and technology, these dynamic creations evoke wonder and curiosity and challenge the conventional norms of static design. As a result, they pave the way for a more participatory and interactive future.
5. A new take on classic, timeless travertine.
Travertine reveals different textures depending on its cuts. Italgraniti Group uses RealUp® technology to achieve a unique depth and level of detail and the overall design of the ceramic surface, and StrideUp®, the technology that expands the versatility and functionality of porcelain stoneware, to give life to a new type of surface that is highly slip-resistant and, at the same time, soft to the touch and easy to clean.
The geometric decorations showcased in Milan captured our attention. The tiles can be used in multiple compositions and enhance the sophisticated essentiality of travertine. Delicate micro stripes and simple semi-circles can be freely combined in the background and foreground, enhancing the textures with ever-changing aesthetic effects.
As the curtains closed on Salone del Mobile 2024, attendees departed with a palpable sense of inspiration. The exhibition provided a pragmatic glimpse into the future of design and technology, offering practical solutions to contemporary challenges.
From the creative approach to circularity and decarbonisation exemplified in ‘Sparking Change’ to the versatile functionality of the Verto sofa system, each innovation showcased real-world applications. BioPlus’s eco-conscious wood treatment and Italgraniti’s modern reinterpretation of travertine all emphasised a commitment to sustainability and utility.
Reflecting on the event, it became evident that the innovations unveiled at Salone del Mobile will undoubtedly shape living spaces and interactions in tangible ways, and we look forward to incorporating elements of what we have learned into our projects.