When it was first launched back in 1961, the Salone del Mobile was exclusively a furniture fair – intended to shine a light on the very best ‘Made in Italy’ brands. Among the first to attend, and integral to its creation, were brands such as Molteni & C and Cassina – companies that are still the beating heart of the yearly event. It cannot be ignored, though, that things have changed.
Milan design week has grown and continues to grow exponentially, the army of often deep-pocketed lovers of all that’s fabulous in the world of luxury design attracted more and more brands to descend on the city every April. And, as more brands arrive, the event, which long ago spilled over from Salone del Mobile to include larger Fuorisalone installations, exhibitions and launches across the city, it becomes ever more difficult to stand out amid the noise.
We seem to experience the new sectors that join the Milan design week party in waves – there was the moment when fashion officially claimed as much of the headlines as design. That particular surge peaked for us perhaps last year, when queues to view two bags created in collaborations between Bottega Venetta and Italian architect and designer Gaetano Pesce caused bemused chats.
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This year, although fashion was still a big part of the design conversation, it was car brands that seemed to be everywhere. In fact, showcasing at 2024’s Milan design week there were Alfa Romeo, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Bugatti, GAC, Honda, Kia, Lamborghini, Lexus, Porsche… That’s not even a full list.
Several got into the design spirit with collaborations that strengthened their links with the world of design week. For Porsche, that meant using its ‘Pepita’ pattern, seen on its cars’ upholstery, on three iconic limited-edition Vitra chairs – we loved the ‘Pepita’ version of the Eames ‘Side Chair’. Audi, meanwhile, invited Bjarke Ingels, founder of architecture firm BIG to create its second annual installation in the courtyard of the Portrait Milano hotel. A huge mirrored cross, its ‘Reflaction’ statement was striking, but perhaps not as interactive as the ‘Lines of Flight’ installation-cum-sculpture by Numen/For Use in Porsche’s Palazzo Clerici that encouraged visitors to climb and hang out in its giant hammock-like form.
Mercedes-Benz looked to the art world, continuing its partnership with artist David LaChapelle that, this year, took influence from three artistic movements of the early 20th century: futurism, cubism and surrealism. The resulting blend of modern automotive design and art was on display at Meravigli gallery – live performers adding to the wow-value (something perhaps learnt from Hermès’s always epic design week appearances).
One automotive brand with a stronger case than many to be in attendance was Bentley. Instead of showcasing one of its luxury motors, it was Bentley Home that shined at design week. This year, it launched its first pieces for home offices, all intended to capture the luxurious craftsmanship of the brand’s automotive heritage.
The six-piece collection, designed in collaboration with Carlo Colombo, Federico Peri, and Francesco Forcellini, was displayed in the Bentley Home Atelier within the historic Palazzo Chiesa in a dramatic, immersive installation inspired by the red sands of Salento in southern Italy, where Bentley Home collaborator Paper Factor is based.
If you took a walk around Milan’s Tortona district, you may have spotted Dutch solar designer Marjan van Aubel’s ‘8 minutes and 20 seconds’ installation for Lexus (first shown at Miami art week in December 2023) or ‘Beyond the Horizon’ by Hideki Yoshimoto/Tangent, an installation inspired by the LF-ZC (Lexus Future Zero-emission Catalyst) concept car.
There can be no denying the correlation between design and the car industry – indeed many of us treat the interior of our car like a (rather messy) extension of our home, proving that they need to align with similar principles. And an ongoing expansion of Milan design week can only be seen as a positive reflection on the industry as a whole. Our only moment of pause is for our poor feet because, as there is more to be seen our already impressive Milan step counts are sure to increase too. Perhaps we need a car!
