Kasthall: Tegel by David Chipperfield
The recent Pritzker Prize laureate modeled this dusky wool-and-linen rug collection on the weathered brick facades of the historic buildings that house the Swedish rug mainstay’s factory and headquarters.
Our Favorite Product Debuts From Milan Design Week
From India Mahdavi’s mouse-eared Thonet chair to Faye Toogood’s elegant reinterpretations of sprightly Matisse sketches, keep these hotly anticipated Milan Design Week product debuts on your radar.
BY RYAN WADDOUPS April 18, 2023
Photography by Simon Menges
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Roche Bobois: BomBom Outdoor by Joana Vasconcelos
The Portuguese feminist artist previously inscribed her identity into Roche Bobois’ signature Mah Jong Sofa, wielding handicraft techniques like embroidery and crochet to create fantastically sculptural cushions that added new dimension to the French classic’s square cushions. Her latest outing follows the same formula with stellar results—a delectable set of fluid, organically shaped outdoor sofas whose saccharine palette channels the pastel-hued houses in Lisbon’s Old Town.
Gebruder Thönet Vienna: Loop and Mickey by India Mahdavi
Last year, Mahdavi debuted the Loop family’s lounge chair and banquette with incomparable flair. Design’s reigning queen of polychrome expands the offering with two new pieces—the Loop Dining Chair gracefully bends beech wood to create a seductive coil at the armrest, while the same technique makes the Mickey Lounge Chair a nostalgic ode to her childhood heroes with the addition of two mouse ears perched at the top.
Loro Piana: Apacheta by Cristián Mohaded
Apachetas are small rock piles assembled over time in remote regions of the Andes, equal parts trail markers and odes to pachamama, or Mother Earth. The geological formations have long been a source of comfort and inspiration for Mohaded, a Buenos Aires–based designer who translated them into a series of cushiony, vicuña-upholstered sofas and stools. Catch them at the brand’s Cortile della Seta headquarters nestled within a dreamlike installation of a dozen 26-foot-tall sculptural towers of rocks arranged in a circle.
Dedon: Cirql Nu by Werner Aisslinger
Werner Aisslinger is known for stirring up the realm of product design with previously unused materials, such as the novel polyurethane integral foam that made Cappellini’s Juli Chair a trailblazer. The Berlin talent wields the same approach here to update a veritable Dedon classic, using the company’s proprietary groundbreaking invert fiber to create an intricately woven piece whose diverse textures and geometric patterns have an iridescent sheen.
B&B Italia: Quiet Lines by Gabriel Tan
Besides being places to rest one’s head, bedrooms have started becoming places for ritual and reflection in the age of remote work. This notion inspired the up-and-coming Singaporean designer to envision a pristine range of bedroom furniture—a writing desk, stool, bench, bedside table, and folding screen—tailored for focus and quietude. Leather touches with sling-like elements foster feelings of lightness and soothe the nerves after a long day.
Fendi Casa: Ottavia by Cristina Celestino
For her latest round-back chair, the Italian architect and longtime Fendi Casa collaborator looks toward quintessential Roman arches and the distinct architectural features of Fendi’s headquarters at the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana. A choice of micro bouclé, pink velvet, and gray bouclé upholstery lends comfort—as do stained wood finishes in the same colorways.
Lasvit: Constellation by David Rockwell
According to David Rockwell, there’s no better way to arrive in New York City than through Grand Central Terminal. So he teamed with the Czech lighting wizards on a cutting-edge collection that references the celestial motifs adorning the Art Deco transit hub’s ceiling mural. The Constellation series encompasses ceiling fixtures, wall sconces, a floor lamp, and table lamp with metal-coated glass lighting domes that connect to resemble the stars.
Moooi: Knitty Lounge Chair by Nika Zupanc
If scooping up Andres Reisinger’s petal-clad Hortensia Chair was any indication, Moooi knows when they spot an icon in the making. So it’s no surprise the Dutch brand is introducing what may very well become their next. Extra-large “yarn” resembling ship ropes knitted in a basket-weave pattern defines this lush lounger, a product of Zupanc at her most eclectic.
CC-Tapis: Telegram by Formafantasma
CC-Tapis’s rugs are far from traditional and anything but square—that’s largely because the French-Italian textile brand’s collaborators rarely design in the medium. It’s also because of skilled Nepalese artisans who use centuries-old techniques to faithfully render a designer’s contemporary vision. Formafantasma founders Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin pay tribute to them through Telegram, which unites woven scraps into a melange of motifs that recount the names, places, and thoughts each rugmaker holds dear.
Flos: Bilboquet by Philippe Malouin
Bilboquet owes its name—and its shape—to the popular game born in 16th-century France, but Philippe Malouin’s first-ever fixture for Flos has far more flexibility. The playful luminaire features two colored cylinders connected by a magnetic sphere; the upper rotates to direct the flow of light, taking the role of either an understated sconce or a bedside reading lamp.
Contardi: Baggy by Paola Navone
We wouldn’t fault you for thinking the crumpled surface of Paola Navone’s intriguing Baggy lamps was the result of glassblowing prowess, but it’s actually made of satin polycarbonate. The soft textile rope that supports the suspended lamps can be used to bunch freestanding fixtures together for a sculptural floor lamp with tubes of varying heights.
Photography by Genevieve Lutkin
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Maison Matisse: Esquisses by Faye Toogood
Henri Matisse once quipped that creativity takes courage—and Faye Toogood maintained her mettle when the French painter’s foundation was eager to collaborate. The resulting Equisses collection of furniture, rugs, and accessories keeps Matisse’s creative spirit alive thanks to the British talent deftly replicating the energetic shapes and gestures from his sketching process.
