Milan, a global hub of fashion and finance, increasingly asserts itself as a leading center for architecture and design. Its status as Italy's second-largest city underpins its vibrant cultural scene, attracting both established and emerging creative talent. Additionally, Milan is home to esteemed educational institutions recognized for their focus on heritage preservation and conservation. Its cultural and design significance is increasingly pronounced, as a growing number of creators are relocating to establish their presence in this vibrant creative hub.
Among Milan's most iconic landmarks are the flamboyant gothic Duomo di Milano, and the historically and artistically significant Santa Maria delle Grazie, home to Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece, and the ornate Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, along with numerous renaissance and baroque sites. The city also boasts some of the most innovative modern and contemporary architecture, showcasing a unique dialogue between tradition and modernity. This synergy is exemplified by the contributions of architects like Aldo Rossi,Gio Ponti,Stefano Boeri, Mario Cucinella, Zaha Hadid, Grafton Architects, Herzog & de Meuron, and Foster and Partners.
The following guide highlights key historical landmarks alongside exemplary contemporary architecture curated by ArchDaily, complemented by Designboom's handpicked interiors and installations. This guide serves as an indispensable resource for those planning to explore Milan during the 2025 Design Week, presenting a blend of essential sites designed by renowned local and international architects.
Entrance to Salone del Mobile 2024. Image Courtesy of Salone del Mobile.Milano
For the first time, the Salone del Mobile.Milano offers a comprehensive look at its impact with the release of "Milan Design (Eco) System," a research project developed in collaboration with the Politecnico di Milano. This inaugural annual report provides a detailed analysis of Milano Design Week's influence and impact, showcasing Salone's role as an international catalyst within the extensive program of design events. The report aims to establish a robust, long-term monitoring system that addresses key sustainability challenges – environmental, economic, and social – as well as inclusion and cultural developments. This data-driven approach is set to inform the future strategies for Salone and the wider design community.
Simone Farresin is the co-founder of Formafantasma, a research-driven design studio exploring the ecological, historical, political, and social influences that shape the design industry. Most recently, the studio participated in Milan Design Week 2024 and Salone del Mobile.Milano with various products and exhibitions. Onsite in Milan, ArchDaily had the chance to speak to Simon Farresin about the studio’s installation for Cosentino at the historic Teatro Gerolamo, and the broader Formafantasma design practice.
This year's Milan Design Week brought together designers, architects, producers, and key figures from the design world. The events were divided between the Salone del Mobile at Rho Fiera, a trade fair with over 1950 exhibitors, and Fourisalone, featuring various events across Milan. With numerous installations throughout the city and a wide range of events, conferences, and debates, Milan Design Week stands as one of the most significant design-focused events worldwide. For architects, this represents an opportunity to not only exchange ideas but also to actively contribute through collaborations and explorations across disciplines.
This year, many internationally recognized architects have entered collaborations with furniture and light design companies, exploring the intersection of design and architecture. Despite the change in scale, many of these products reflect the recognizable architectural language of their designers, offering an insight into the principles that guide their practice. In addition to aesthetic explorations, many of the products selected are tackling important themes of interest, from the need to develop more sustainable materials with a reduced carbon footprint, to the potential impact of new technologies such as artificial intelligence.
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Concept redesign routes Salone del Mobile.Milano - Ph. Cristian Catania, Lombardini22. Image Courtesy of Salone del Mobile.Milano
The 62nd edition of the Salone del Mobile at Rho Fiera brought together designers, architects, producers, and prominent figures from the design realm. With more than 1950 exhibitors, the six-day event, running from April 16 to 21, 2024, emphasized conviviality, well-being, and sustainability. Designed with a human-centric approach, incorporating neuroscience principles to enrich visitor interaction, Salone del Mobile is revolutionizing the future of fairs.
On-site during the event, ArchDaily had the opportunity to speak with Cristian Catania, Senior Architect and Project Director for Reinventing Fairs at Lombardini22, responsible for revamping Salone, about the primary changes in the fair’s layout and the implementation of neuroscience approaches in conceptualizing the exhibition spaces.
Milan Design Week rarely fails to deliver on compelling showcases of design and innovation.
One of the exhibitions this year, created by Swatchbox, conveys the “true cost” of traditional approaches to construction. The sample platform founded by architects to provide sustainable sampling methods to the design community launched its thought-provoking showcase at the heart of the Brera Design District in Milan.
The exhibit boldly confronts the issue of wastefulness inherent in traditional construction practices. Installed inside an office in Brera that is ordinarily occupied by a Milan architecture firm, the exhibit displays a large pile of construction materials typically destined for landfill. The materials are meticulously arranged to showcase the sheer volume of waste generated by the design community.
Milan Design Week has long been one of the most significant events in the global design sphere, showcasing groundbreaking concepts and visionary talent and fostering critical discourse in the design community. From the expansive trade fair Salone Del Mobile in Rho Fiera to design districts scattered across the city, Design Week brings together diverse voices, perspectives, and talent. According to Salone del Mobile's press statement, this year’s fair had 17.1% more visitors than in 2023, with a record turnout of 361,417 visitors overall.
With visitors from China, Germany, Spain, Brazil, India, Turkey, Japan, and many more, the design week showcases a plethora of exhibitions, installations, talks, and panels. As the week comes to a close, running from April 15-21st, 2024, this article highlights diverse installations throughout the city relevant for architects and designers globally. Whether it is Mario Cucinella’s exploration of regeneration, Google’s display experimenting with sensory and color, or MAD architects investigating the boundaries of natural and man-made landscapes, the week was filled with fruitful collaborations that showcase the future of design.
Simone Farresin from the Italian studio Formafantasma talks about his practice, together with his partner Andrea Trimarchi, their work, and the different approaches to projects. He also tackles their participation in the MilanDesign Week, and the political role of creatives in the world.
https://www.archdaily.com/1015806/simone-farresin-from-formafantasma-talks-on-milan-design-week-and-the-responsibility-of-the-designersArchDaily Team
Milan stands as a beacon of mainstream fashion and economic vitality, drawing visitors from around the globe. As Italy’s second most populous city, it serves as the stage for some of the world’s premier fashion and design events. To kick off the 62nd edition of Milan Design Week, we partnered with Felt to create an interactive map highlighting some of the city’s most iconic tourist attractions, as well as contemporary landmarks designed by renowned local and international architects such as Aldo Rossi,Gio Ponti,Stefano Boeri, Mario Cucinella, Zaha Hadid, Grafton Architects, Herzog & de Meuron, and Foster and Partners, amongst others.
https://www.archdaily.com/1015736/discover-milans-architectural-gems-with-this-interactive-city-guideArchDaily Team
With over 30,000 visitors, the GROHE SPAinstallation at the Pinacoteca di Brera during Milan Design Week 2023 left a lasting impression, eventually receiving the Red Dot ‘Best of the Best’ award. Building on this success, GROHE is returning for Milan Design Week 2024 with an immersive experience in one of Milan’s most prestigious locations: the Palazzo Reale. The former royal palace near the Duomo serves as a cultural nexus and is home to international art exhibitions, making it the ideal scenery for its premium sub-brand GROHE SPA and the celebration of the revitalizing power of water.
From April 16-21, the courtyard of Milan’s historic Palazzo Reale will transform into an exhibition space. Conceived by the in-house LIXIL Global Design and Brand Identity team, the installation pays tribute to the history of the building by evoking its past and interweaving it with the contemporary GROHE SPA "Salus per aquam" (Latin for "Health through Water") concept.
Milan Design Week stands as one of the most important events in the global design calendar, serving not only as a showcase of innovation but also as a catalyst for critical discourse and creative exchange. This year, the event unfolds with a multitude of exhibitions, installations, and talks happening throughout Milano during the week of April 15-21, 2024. By bringing together diverse voices, perspectives, and talents, Milan Design Week becomes relevant for architects and serves as a nexus for interdisciplinary dialogue. To help you better navigate the plethora of events, conferences, and installations, this article highlights the main venues hosting activities revenant for architects and designers, from the expansive trade fair Salone del Mobile in Rho Fiera to design districts across the city and unexpected locations hidden in Palazzo courtyards or reimagined industrial heritage sites.
Italian architect and industrial designer Gaetano Pesce has passed away at the age of 84, as announced today on the creator's official Instagram page. Known for the famous UP5 Chair (2000) by B&B Italia which can be compressed like a sponge, and the Organic Building in Osaka, Japan (1993), with a vertical garden irrigated by a complex, computer-controlled hydration system, Pesce dedicated over six decades to his craft, accumulating a portfolio that spanned architecture, product design, and art.
During Milan Design Week 2024, a monographic exhibition titled "Nice to See You" showing at Biblioteca Ambrosiana, is set to feature unreleased works of Gaetano Pesce. Additionally, Gaetano was presenting "L’Uomo Stanco" an outdoor installation in Piazza San Pio XI.
Make the most of Milano with our curated fair and city guides – put together by our expert team of architects and designers to make sure you know exactly what to see and where to go. As Designboom, Architonic, and ArchDaily, our core vision is to inspire, connect and empower. And while we can’t physically steer you in the right direction on the city streets or Salone del Mobile’s redesigned 2024 floor plans, we can make sure you have the optimal tools to locate the biggest discoveries, best new contacts, and most exciting stories: our two curated Milan guides, one to the fair and one to the city.
Salone del Mobile.Milano has announced the opening dates and events program, expanding the trade fair event to encompass more narratives and projects relevant to the design community. The 62nd edition will take place at Rho Fiera Ilano from April 16 to 21, 2024. It is expected to include over 1900 exhibitors from around the world, with contributions from emerging designers and several design schools under the recurring SaloneSatellite, now in its 25th-anniversary edition. The cultural program also includes immersive installations, like David Lynch’s “Thinking Rooms.”
