Hasta La Ideas

This year, for the very first time ever, Villa Borsani opened its doors to the public. Made possible by Design Miami co-founder Ambra Medda, this sumptuous 50s villa located some 12 miles south of Milan mixed architectural brilliance and Italian craftsmanship with pieces from Italian manufacturer Tecno’s historic catalogue.

One of the most photographed parts of the villa was perhaps the staircase in the entrance hall – and for good reason. With its carefully sculpted handrail, eclectic detailing and modernist glass railing it very much typifies the design tastes of the Borsani brothers.

Set in the beautiful Gerolamo Theatre, Lasvit not only took the opportunity to showcase their more traditional products but also took a bold risk to set up what it called the Monster Cabaret. Spread out on the upper balconies of the small theater, 17 artistic collaborations were presented to the public, ranging from Maarten Baas’ colorful creatures to darker interpretations of the topic – from star shaped sex-toys by Fabio Novembre to asymmetrical statuettes of Lenin designed by Maxim Velcovsky.

Also by Czech designer Maxim Velkovsky, was the Cabaret’s ‘central’ installation; a pillar made up of many crystal-covered screens, playing looped news footage.

At the University of Milan, the former General Hospital inside the ancient Bathing Courtyard Filippo Taidello from studio FTA presents an installation about the future of healthcare.

In conversation with the other, the mirrored cell represents the opposite trend in healtcare future: healthcare becoming virtual. An artificial window in the inside, designed by CoeLuxÒ reproduces the effect of natural sunlight and enhances the virtual atmosphere.

The second scenario of healthcare in the future – an interior design that develops more and more into a domestic space, focusing primarily on the well-being of the patient – is represented by a completely transparent cell that should integrate nature into the patient’s life.

Magis and Konstantin Grcic presented their new drawer units in a playful way to break with the strict and robust office-like typology of the furniture. Offered for the moment in two contrasting colours, the redesigned units were humorously set up through the space as pieces of chess.

Created in close collaboration with Italian metal furniture company Fami, Grcic made careful alterations to the units; lifting them with a deep-set oak base plinth and tactile oak handles to make them better suited to a domestic setting.

Both based in New York, Adelman and Calico discovered by chance that they were both working on a similar topic, so they decided to join forces for an exhibition, exploring the chemical reaction of salt with different surfaces. The lights from Adelman and the Wallpaper from Calico come together to a symbiosis of light and interior design.