Milan Design Week is back in its regular calendar spot and the world is ready to descend on the city to discover what's now and next in interiors. Ahead of the opening day on 18 April, we preview the highlights at the Salone del Mobile furniture fair and across the different areas and events. Consider this your exhaustive guide to the hottest launches, the most inspirational installations and the must-see exhibitions.
San Vittore e 40 Martiri, a deconsecrated church located in the centre of Milan, has hosted some unexpected events over the years - most recently, it's been used as a basketball court - but for Design Week, it's going to take people's breath away. Galerie Philia has invited a worldwide roster of designers (from Ukrainian studio Faina to Chinese Kar Studio) to present work inspired by objects and ideas that were once considered sacred. Italian duo Morghen's 'Cascades of Light' chandelier (pictured above) is worthy of attentive contemplation. 18-23 April, galerie-philia.com
Step into the heritage Italian brand's pleasure palace - its fresco-painted flagship store on Via Manzoni - during Design Week and you will be presented with a wealth of exciting new launches. These include the 'Duo' collection (comprising an armchair, tables, storage and rugs) developed with wood-furniture experts Ceccotto Collezioni and designed by Roberto Lazzeroni. All pieces guaranteed to make life more, well, pleasurable. poltronafrau.com
The French designer's original drawings - part of a sketchbook full of bold, confident, swooping colour - were the starting point for a brand-new three-part textile collection. Stop by Kvadrat's showroom on Corso Monforte to see an installation that places the designs alongside Bouroullec's striking works. kvadrat.dk
A meditation on proportion, Milan-based designer Toan Nguyen's new sofa for Turri aims to provide peaceful interludes amid the pace of modern life. Take your own quiet moment at the brand's Salone del Mobile stand and experience its generous proportions wrapped in a leather weave reminiscent of woven ribbons. turri.it
MIlan-based designer Celestino has made it her mission every year to transform iconic but sometimes overlooked locations in the city. For this Milan design week, Tennis Club Milano Bonacossa, designed by Giovanni Muzio in 1923, will be receiving her magic touch. The lines and semi circles of the courts serve as inspiration for a collection of objects and materials - as well as a special pop-up restaurant. cristinacelestino.com
The Design Week crowd may not be wilting in the heat this year, thanks to the event being back in its usual spring slot, but that doesn't mean that outdoor furniture is going to be any less of a highlight. As proof, Perennials & Sutherland is curating its own dedicated pop-up space on Brera's Via Ciovasso. Pop over to see its new 'Monaco' chair by recently appointed creative director Eugeni Quitllet. perennialsandsutherland.com
Now in its fifth year, this global platform for emerging and innovative designers and brands has become a Milan Design Week staple. Known for using unique locations throughout the city, the event will this year be held in Ex Macello di Porta Vittoria, an atmospheric and overgrown former slaughterhouse that is due for renovation.
Always concerned with sustainability in design, Alcova will present an immersive look at eco materials (from bioplastics to mycelium and more) compiled by research studio Atelier Luma, and a large installation by Finnish platform Habitarematerials, curated by Nemo Architects. Throughout the rusted, crumbling and graffiti-adorned space, you will also find pieces by new and exciting names - we can't wait to see Brooklyn-based Greek designer Kiki Goti's maximalist pieces crafted from acrylic and soft foam, as well as young Californian creative Kate Greenberg's latest furniture. Finally, for the first time, you'll be able to purchase a keepsake of the show, as Alcova launches its first ever concept store, in collaboration with Danish/Italian duo Older. 17-23 April, Ex Macello, Viale Molise, 62. alcovamilano.com
Designed by the brand's art director Antonio Citterio, this piece is the star of its new 'collection that is not a collection'. Preferring to make furniture that speaks to the timelessness of Italian design, Maxalto does not do trends. What it does create are items that impress with their functional beauty. Find this fine example of the company's ethos at its Salone Del Mobile stand and indulge in a moment's rest. maxalto.com
Translating to 'Wonder Red', high-end silverware and tableware brand Buccellati's exhibition, situated on the Portaluppi Terrace above its headquarters in the heart of Milan's Cinque Vie neighbourhood, is intended to astonish. Designed in collaboration with AMDL Circle studio and designer Michele De Lucchi, it showcases a new collection conceived in collaboration with glassware company Venini, as well as gems from its historical archive of tableware. buccellati.com
Fashion brand Marni is bringing its off-beat, rule-breaking style to homeware, with a 120-piece porcelain tableware range for Serax. Designed by creative director Francesco Risso, the collection is botanical-inspired but with Marni's signature avant-garde edge. Officially unveiled at Salone del Mobile, this will be an exclusive chance to see the designs before they launch this autumn. serax.com
You can always count on Nina Yashar, the founder of Nilufar Gallery, to curate a timely and thought-provoking mix of historical designs (this year, an area will be dedicated to the work of the late Italian architect and designer Osvaldo Borsani) and of-the-moment delights. The latter will include 'Poikilos' a site-specific installation by Objects of Common Interest, as well as 'Noveconi Chandelier' (pictured), a unique lighting display by British designer Joe Armitage. nilufar.com
The biannual celebration of lighting design is back and ready to illuminate a whole new gamut of talent. Now in its 31st year, the show (taking place in pavilions 9-11 and 13-15) has been reimagined as a 'city of lights' with, at its heart, 'Aurore', a central plaza by prolific Italian design duo Formafantasma, which will host engaging talks and lectures.
Follow the glow emanating from the exhibition's many stands, host to more than 420 international brands, to find delights that include Lasvit's showstopping 'Cloud' by Czech designer Maxim Velcovský and British designer Michael Anastassiades' incredibly versatile 'String' lighting system for Flos. He will present four new designs for his own brand - the 'Blue Skies' table lamp and 'Peaks' pendants, as well as floor lamps 'Relay' and the bamboo 'Ta-ke' - while fellow London-based super-talent Tom Dixon is also attending. His 2023 theme is 'choice', so expect to see the studio's first portable lamps - new additions to Dixon's iconic 'Melt', 'Bell' and 'Stone' collections - as well as 'Puff', a pendant light that chimes with the trend for inflated forms. 18-23 April, Fiera Milano, Rho, salonemilano.it
If there's a brand that can be trusted to bring the opulence to Milan Design Week, it's Dolce & Gabbana, and this year the fashion house delights once more with the launch of this gold star of a collection - on display at the brand's grand showroom on Via Broggi. Paying homage to the craftsmanship of the Italian baroque period, it features precious fabrics, like the upholstery seen on the 'Valeria' chair, and hammered metallic surfaces. The week also sees the launch of the label's GenD initiative supporting emerging design talents. dolcegabbana.com
Conviviality is the theme for the Italian brand's re-editions, on display at its Salone del Mobile stand. The trio of notable pieces includes two chairs by Afra and Tobia Scarpa - the 'Dialogo' from the 1970s and the 80s 'Sempronia' - as well as the 'Orpheus' tables by Lorenzo Bini. tacchini.it
Palazzo Orsini, the headquarters of Giorgio Armani, opens its doors for the first time this Milan Design Week. Stroll through to its garden courtyard and you will find the luxury brand's outdoor collection, including the 'Terence' chair, made from solid teak that's been skilfully carved to achieve a woven appearance. The accompanying sofa is upholstered in a jacquard with a palm-leaf motif inspired by Armani Casa's 'Aida' wallcovering. armani.com
Molteni & C's recently opened Pavilion at its headquarters in Giussano, north of Milan, inspired creative director Van Duysen's new dining table, set to launch at Design Week. He is also responsible for the architecture of the Pavilion, a welcoming place, he explains, 'conceived to create an atmosphere of Italian hospitality'. A fitting influence for the 'Mateo' that, available with an oval or circular tabletop, and in either wood or two lacquered finishes, will be a sociable centrepoint of many homes. molteni.it
Pure geometry defines Living Divani's new 2023 collection, which will be on display at its Salone del Mobile stand in Design Week. The brand's dedication to precision and elegance is notably conveyed by the 'Ark' chair. 'The idea was to create an object-like armchair that's almost a graphic sign,' says designer David Lopez Quincoces of the piece, available in two varieties of wood. livingdivani.it
Wunderkammer, the art space at the heart of the Visionnaire Design Gallery on Piazza Cavour in Brera, will this Design Week be taken over by Milan-based Studiopepe. A literal feast for the senses, punctuated by dance performances, the studio's installation will coincide with the launch of 'Volare', a collection that is Visionnaire's new manifesto for the home - look out for the 'Drusilla' cabinet by Fabio Bonfa. visionnaire-home.com
What would it be like to step inside a scribble? Find out at Kirkby Design's installation in Brera (on Via Solferino), where its 'Scribble' wallcovering, made from sustainable FSC-certified wood pulp and corn fibre, has been bought to life by Korean artist Greem Jeong using waste plastic from the 3D-printing industry. kirkbydesign.com
The courtyard of Palazzo Isimbardi will, between 18-23 April, host 30 stick chairs, all marvellously reinvented using weaving and embellishment. Expect to see the traditional (leather and raffia), but also the entirely unexpected - a chair covered in foil from thermal blankets? The presentation is an extension of Loewe's commitment to craft, with all of the seats available for sale, along with bags and other leather goods inspired by the techniques shown. loewe.com
This lacquered bar cabinet (perfect for preparing aperitivo) is an example of the new-season delights to be found at Cassina's Milan store on Via Durini. Designed by the brand's creative director Patricia Urquiola, this piece is a continuation of her 'Hayama' sideboard, released in 2019 - a console table is also available. Plus, for a unique take on the brand's classic 'iMaestri' collection, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, head to its 'Echoes' exhibition at Palazzo Broggi (17-21 April) curated by Urquiola. cassina.com