Creativity and the city
Milan, once more, bets on design and young artists, launching the project Milan Network for Design.

With MIND, 110 young creative artists, selected at national and international level, will be welcomed by 11 schools in Milan, to attend a master and do a final stage at a company in Lombardy.

The initiative was conceived by the Municipality of Milan, together with Triennale Design Museum, Association for Industrial Design and 11 among the most important design schools in the Milan area.

“Thanks to its numbers, its dimensions, its quality and its fame, Design in Milan represents a significant phenomenon” explains councillor Luigi Rossi Bernardi. Thanks to this project, students will have the chance to work and live for a year in the capital of design. Schools will be able to reskill their academic programmes. It will also be an important opportunity for enterprises and the entire economic system.

“I think the MIND project is of great importance for the promotion and dissemination of Italian design in the world together with the Triennale di Milano and Triennale Design Museum, which, through the scientific coordination of this project – said Davide Rampello, president of the Triennale di Milano – are placed on a line of continuity in their mission of enhancing excellence of Italian creativity.”

Coordinator of the initiative is Alintec, company promoted by Assolombarda, Chamber of Commerce and Politecnico di Milano Foundation.

Info
www.milanetworkdesign.it

Italian version

It was inaugurated in Rome on 2nd December 2009 the White Gallery, the very first big lifestyle store of the capital, dedicated to fashion, food, design, art and fragrances. An enchanting venue where luxury and excellence rule, starting from the very structure of the store.

Andromeda presents Fluxus, a wavering Murano glass sculpture created to adorn White Gallery. The sculpture originated from the collaboration between artist Michela Vianello, whose inspiration gave concrete shape to the overall concept of the sculpture, and designer Karim Rashid, who designed the Knit – individual hand-made glass element.

“Knit – stated Karim Rashid – for Andromeda is a system I designed of hand-made Murano glass loops that can be woven together from a few to thousands to create endless configurations of delicate ornate glass chandeliers and lighting. Our living spaces and objects should ideally be organic, transformable, flexible and allow objects and furniture to breathe,  to shape the personality of the space. And knit is the fabric of light itself, to forever keep space dynamic, luxurious, and inspiring.”

Fluxus covers a surface area of 60 sq metres, using 42,000 handmade glass Knit elements in 5 colors. The lighting is provided by 5000 punctiform micro lights distributed on the internal surface of the wave.

The White Gallery was conceived to be a contemporary art gallery, stretching over a surface of 5000 sq metre where fashion, design, art, books, music, technology and food will interpret the news and cultural contaminations proper of contemporary lifestyles.

Fluxus is “in charge” of expressing the meaning and identity of the place, through the apparent flow of a structure that seems to be a fabric.
“The challenge – stated Michela Vianello, author of the work of art – consisted in imagining myself as an element and being carried away by a rhythm in an optical, and overall dreamy space, where negative and positive, black and white, would make me move around through a grey area as if it were a pause in an endless journey.”

White Gallery
Piazza G.Marconi, 18/19 Rome (EUR)
info@whitegallery.it
www.whitegallery.it

Italian version

Poggenpohl, luxury kitchens producers, has recently opened his new showroom in Texas and among the most precious design items he put on show “kitchen for men”. This marvellous kitchen was conceived and realized by Porsche Design Studio purposely for a male public.

Cookers, and more. “Kitchen for men” is not merely a kitchen but a new environment dedicated to those who love this corner of the house.
The kitchen, equipped with the best of household appliances, features integrated sound system so to enjoy the best music listening experience. Black chrome fixtures, sleek aluminium and textured-wood frame just scream luxury and class.

Men, to own this exclusive item you’ll need 200.000 Dollars.

Italian version

From 4 to 28 November, Spazio FMG in Milan will host “Milano work-in-progress 2,” a truly interesting exhibition.
Luca Molinari and Simona Galateo curated the set up of the projects realized by MABarquitectura, Consalez Rossi, Paolo Pasquini and 5+1AA, at the discovery of Milan to be.

Two are the main themes faced by the exhibition: public housing and retail malls. Very different from each other but both offering interesting prospects for experimental, leading-edge design.

“These are new-generation works, designed by some of the most interesting young architects on the Italian scene, and they convey the concept of a different Milan, which looks out towards Europe and expresses the idea of contemporary architecture responsive to its users’ needs, such as the physical and environmental quality of the complexes created,” comment by the exhibition’s curators Molinari and Galateo.

The winners of “Living Milan,” MABarquitectura and Consalez Rossi put their works on public display on Via Gallarate and Via Civitavecchia. Both projects are currently almost finished.

“Milano work-in-progress 2” also focuses on the subject of new retail developments through the design for the Food Park in the Maciachini area realized by Paolo Pasquini and the Retail ParkArea at Milanofiori by 5+1AA.

“With ‘Milano work-in-progress 2’, Spazio FMG continues its investigation of the near future and reinforces its mission as a space open to quality architecture and a responsible approach to the destiny of our habitat,” concluded Luca Molinari and Simona Galateo.

For further information:
SpazioFMG per l’Architettura
Via Bergognone 27, Milano
4– 28 November 2009
tuesday – saturday h 15:00 – 20:00
Free Entrance
Info: 0039 (0)2 89.41.03.20

Italian version

A section of the space, with a seven-marble qualities wall on the background, coming from India, iran, China and South America, is dedicated to flowers: clients can admire a rich variety of orchids exclusively distributed by Trussardi 1911. The new concept store is open at night as well: it’s open everyday until 10 pm. Conceived and designed by the creative directore of Trussardi 1911 Milan Vukmirovic, able to interpret with his contemporary sensibility the excellences of the maison of the Greyhound, the new shop re-creates all the ground floor of Piazza della Scala.

The Café Trussardi as well, inaugurated in April 2008 (with the déhors designed by the architect Carlo Ratti and the vertical installation of green created by Patrick Blanc) now unites and shares its spaces with those of the boutique, creating a unique 400 s-m environment whose floor is made of over a thousand wooden staves painted with craftsmanship. On the first floor of the building lies the restaurant Trussardi Alla Scala, decorated with two stars from the Michelin Italia 2009 guide book, which has recently re-opened after a complete restoration.

Each of the group activity is directed by a young international talent: Milan Vukimirovic, creative director of Trussardi 1911, Massimiliano Gioni, artistic director of the Foundation Nicola Trussardi, Andrea Berton, director of the restaurant Trussardi Alla Scala and of the Café Trussardi. All the activities are created and coordinated by Beatrice Trussardi, who is managing director and head of the group. In particular, in fashion department, Trussardi 1911 represented for the group a great revolution but is a synthesis of the values that have always characterized the Trussardi world: craftsmanship, made in Italy production, use of prestigious materials, definition of the cuts, care of the tiniest details but also an eclectic and contemporary taste redefining the idea of luxury.

Milan Vukmirovic represents a way of working very close to today’s rhythms and values: as a  designer, director of a magazine like L’Officiel, buyer for a multibrand like The Webster in Miami and as a photographer has a wide overlook over all the variables of the fashion world. It’s rather the perspective and the outlook rather than Trussardi’s taste that have changed: Trussardi today is much closer to new generations whose values he represents (mobility, eclecticism, speed but also the great care for details and the taste for prestigious craftsmanship) and it is a luxury brand whose quality is easily be recognized.

Besides Trussardi 1911 there are Tru Trussardi and TJ: both expressing a more informal world, the former dedicated to the city and its rhythms, with its soft but elegant style, the latter for the spare time. Variety is one of the elements of the winning formula by Trussardi: each moment of the day and each occasion can be accompanied by a Trussardi experience.

The restaurant Trussardi Alla Scala is acknowledged as one of the greatest experiences of the new Italian Cuisine and, while it has been growing within its own walls cultivating an informal, elegant and cosmopolitan environment, it has also contributed to renovate the centre of Milan, offering a new outpost of absolute quality. The chef Andrea Berton has been able to combine experiments with a certain rigour in his proposals: the restaurant Trussardi Alla Scala is, in fact, a place where the culinary technique is never showed off and where the pure taste gets the better of complexity or of the research per se.
One of the keys to the success of the restaurant Trussardi Alla Scala has obviously been placing again the clients at the centre of the gastronomic experience: The great novelty of the restaurant has been the recent restoration of the room to make it even closer to the new identity of the brand. With a new inspiration, taken from the urban atmospheres of the contemporary world, the clients can now choose whether to spend the evening looking out on the spectacular view of Piazza Alla Scala, comfortably seating on soft armchairs, or in a more dynamic environment, right at the centre of an open kitchen with a monumental golden wall in the background. It is very important for Trussardi to keep the public away from the idea of a classic starry restaurant where one can almost be in trouble because of the gastronomic research.

Eventually the Trussardi Foundation is currently busy organizing a project which is still at an early stage when it’s preferable not to spread news. The Foundation became popular in the city because of quick and sudden events, but also because of more private and introspective projects, like the last exhibition at Palazzo Dugnani showing the films by the English artist Tacita Dean. The Foundation has a gipsy and varied identity that led it to gain over the past years an important role not only among the institutions of contemporary art in the world, but in the collective imaginary of the city.

Alessandra Iannello

Italian version

Protagonists of this exhibition Sitting and seating, limited edition collection of seating by Martino Gamper + Costellazioni, a limited edition collection of lamps by Duccio Trassinelli. An exhibition aiming at comparing two generations of design and the work of two contemporary authors dealing with wood.

Sitting and seating by Martino Gamper is a limited edition of three seatings made of oak, nut and pine wood, with five copies for each shape. Together with the two big benches Audio benches (in this case two copies each shape) has been created in 2008 as commissioned by Manifesta 7, European Contemporary Art Biennal, for the multimedia  exhibition and ‘nonmaterial’ Scenarios.

Costellazioni by Duccio Trassinelli is a series of ‘enlightening objects’ in limited editino drawing on studies and sketches dating back to the Seventies. The woods used range from pine through chestnut and the prestigious nut and cherry-wood. The lighting system makes use of low voltage electromagnetic contacts.
Hydra has an arm with a movement going from the ground up to 4 meters heigh. Cetus is an arch lamp featuring a rotating 360° basis. Cassiopea is a swinging source with a light spot adjustable towards all directions.

The event takes place simultaneously with the exhibition Martino Gamper organized at the Milan Triennial.

Opening hours:
15th October 2009 – 14th November 2009
Tuesday through Saturday from 10.00 to 19.30,
Monday from 15.00 to 19.30

For information:
Nilufar Gallery
Via della Spiga 32 – 20121 Milan
www.nilufar.com
www.gampermartino.com
www.ducciotrassinelli.com

Italian version

The tallest European skyscraper will raise in S. Petersburg. Future headquarters of the biggest Russian energy company, the Gazprom Tower will be 403-metre tall. It was projected by the English studio RMJM.

The official name of this mighty building is Okhta Tower. It will develop over 77 floors and to make it even more special, a part from its height, is the presence of state-of-the-art eco-friendly solutions.

The delivery of this eco-friendly project is due in 2016. The building will raise far from the historic centre of the city that is part of UNESCO world heritage.

Italian version

Pedro Almodovar becomes designer for illycaffe.
A collection composed of six cups, expresso and cappuccino range, that continues the collaboration between the Spanish director and illy; collaboration that originated with the launch of the unique cup Los abrazos rotos, inspired by the latest film by Almodovar, which will be on Italian screens from November 6.

“Illy is the coffee that for a long time has been present on movie sets directed by Pedro Almodovar. Right there originated the idea of approaching him to see whether he was interested in collaborating to Illy Art Collections” stated Carlo Bach, artistic director of illycaffe.

Decorations present a collage of images and colors that go back over the artistic career of the director, using six of his most famous feature films: Women on the verge of a nervous breakdown, Tie me up! Tie me down!, High heels, The flower of my secret, Bad education, and Volver.

www.illy.com

Italian version

Endowed with a heating system able to save about 25% of power compared to its competitors on the market, this kettle by Bugatti will allow you to set the exact time to start heating the water and the maximum temperature to reach, variable between 113° F and 212° F.

It will cost about 200€ and it will be on the market at Bugatti’s since late September 2009.

Italian version

The theme of the project of the Atkins Design Studio is water. Particular care has been given to eco-sustainability: geothermic energy will be used while the quarry has a natural climatisation and the green roof favours thermic isolation.
The hill will be transformed in roof-gardens with terraces with a waterfall at the centre.
The first two floors of the building will be underwater, with luxury rooms and a restaurant, overlooking a ten meters deep aquarium.

For the fans of extreme sports there is the rocky gym and a Bungee Jumping. And of course there will be a waterfall with a swimming pool, besides the possibility to practice various sportive activities linked to the water world.

Italian version

Harmoniously set into classic coffee-table, of various shapes and colours to so satisfy any kind of furnishing, these fireplaces are fuelled with Fanola, an eco-friendly combustible. The only waste products produced by the combustion will be water and carbon dioxide, the flames are odourless and smoke-free, thus an ideal solution for indoor spaces.

For those who want to “heat” also the exterior, Planika suggests great solutions as well, also in various shapes but especially of different heights.

www.planikausa.com

Italian version

Ideated, co-ordinated and sponsored by DesignPartners, Milano design-in-the-city will be an event dedicated to the product design that will involve the city in showrooms journeys, cultural and entertainment activities, to create occasions for communication, public relations and sales.

The main theme will be “The shape of dreams”, that will lead the participants in the arrangement of the shop windows, in the organization of the single events and in the commercial offers. Three the main souls of the exhibition: shops, culture and entertainment.

To welcome to the best of their ability visitors and participants, there will be organized in Milan many reception and information desks in strategic positions and design hotels, spa and restaurants will play their role in a journey dedicated to entertainment and welcoming guests.
Italian version