Salone del Mobile 2017
Milan once again hosted the world’s most important furniture fair, the Salone del Mobile. The Salone del Mobile took place in Milan from April 4 to 9, 2017. The Bruno Wickart team was there for you: Belinda Weinmann, Isidoro Celentano, Kati Löwe, David, Hanspeter and Dario. We have put together some impressions of the furniture trends for you here.
USM Haller E – classics in a new light

USM now integrates light and energy directly into the structure of its USM Haller furniture – and ingeniously without any cables. At the Salone del Mobile from April 4 to 9, 2017, the Swiss furniture manufacturer will be showing how a timeless storage space can appear in a new light with a brilliant presentation.
Whether at reception, in the salesroom or at home in the living room: the new USM Haller E lighting solution puts objects in the right light, creates atmosphere and provides orientation. As a spectacular innovation, the Swiss furniture manufacturer integrates the power supply into the structure of its modules. Dimmable lighting elements can be discreetly clicked into the tubes with a single movement and used for a wide variety of purposes: They can illuminate shelves and display cabinets from the inside or set the room wall effectively in scene with light – cold or warm white. When you open a drawer, you immediately have an overview because the light inside is sensor-controlled. Fitted to the bottom of the furniture, the lighting elements can also be used as orientation and guidance elements.
Not only the light is now an integral part of the USM Modular Furniture system – mobile devices can also be charged directly on the structure. Just like the light sources, USB chargers can be clicked into predefined recesses flush with the tubes and barely noticeable, exactly where they are needed.
A revolutionary feature of USM Haller E is the power supply: there are no cables. The structure itself conducts the electricity through the specially developed e-tubes, e-ball and e-connectors, which replace the conventional components. The furniture is supplied with electricity at any point near the floor. This is done via a feed cable that leads directly into a USM Haller e-ball. The power supply unit is located under the furniture, and the power supply seems to happen as if by magic, as neither cables nor power connections are visible.
VITRA

Vitra presented at this year’s Salone del Mobile:
- the Grand Sofà by Antonio Citterio,
- the Softshell Side Chair by the Bouroullec brothers,
- new versions of the Mariposa Sofa by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby,
- a revised version of the East River Chair by Hella Jongerius
- and two new, specially developed fabrics.
- New versions and revisions of contemporary products and classics round off the presentation.
„Clarity, calm and generosity characterized Vitra’s appearance at the Salone del Mobile this year. Vitra presented four different scenes in four spatially separated structures. The focus of this presentation was on the furniture, which could also be tried out immediately,“ said Nora Fehlbaum, CEO of Vitra.
Natural materials such as linen, wool, solid wood and natural stone are important elements in the Vitra Home Collection. They serve as the design leitmotif of the trade fair stand. Slightly reflective aluminum panels enclose the individual structures. This creates a partially perforated outer wall that provides insights and arouses visitors‘ interest in the interior of the exhibition stand.
Vitra Grand Sofà – Antonio Citterio, 2017

Grand Sofà (2017) is Antonio Citterio’s interpretation of luxurious comfort and contemporary design. It combines the designer’s Italian flair for lightness and elegance with the quality and precision typical of the Swiss company Vitra.
Vitra Softshell Side Chair – Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, 2017

The Softshell Side Chair, whose gentle form is defined by the soft upholstery, offers exceptionally good comfort with its compact dimensions: concealed under the cover, flexible, vertically arranged slats in the upper part of the backrest ensure flexibility and plenty of freedom of movement – and thus exceptionally comfortable sitting, even over longer periods of time. The Softshell Side Chair is fitted with a four-legged base made of robust plastic, which emphasizes the understated elegance of the design.
Thanks to their design proximity, the Softshell Side Chair and the Softshell Chair can be perfectly combined at the same table. The same selection of versatile covers in fabric or leather in a variety of colors is available for both chairs.
Vitra Mariposa Club Sofa – Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby, 2017

The slender construction of the Mariposa Club Sofa and Armchair (2017) by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby offers maximum comfort on the sofa and armchair, while the furniture takes up little space in its external dimensions.

The Soft Modular Sofa by Jasper Morrison (2016) condenses the characteristics of a modular lounge sofa into its purest form through careful proportions, high comfort and the absence of decorative details.
Minotti
The presentation of the 2017 Collection, like the previous ones designed by Rodolfo Dordoni, was received with great enthusiasm by the numerous visitors who crowded the Minotti stand throughout the days of the fair. Every year, the atmosphere and ambience of the new collection show how the company succeeds in developing its project in a spirit of continuity, while at the same time surprising with imagination and innovative solutions. The Minotti stand – with an exhibition area of over 2000 m² including an upper floor – was like a real installation, representing the concept of a house and conveying an idea of living that perfectly matches the Minotti style.
The aesthetic motifs and colors that have always characterized the brand identity of the label are reproduced in a contemporary and innovative way through the architectural project of the stand, which shows the concept of a house, in perfect balance between classicism and modernity, skilfully mixing ideas from different eras and cultures, merging materials and colors into a harmonious whole.
Minotti, Lawrence Seating System, Design Rodolfo Dordoni
The great versatility of the Lawrence sofa is expressed in the possibility of creating particularly dynamic compositions by combining different elements. A seating system with a classically modern spirit that develops through a series of generous but rigorous volumes that emphasize a clearly horizontal line. In addition to this strong, distinct personality, Lawrence offers a variety of elements that make the range particularly versatile, allowing compositions with a transversal character to be created that fit into spaces of different tastes with understated elegance.
Minotti, Pollock Sofa Design Rodolfo Dordoni
The Pollock seating range revisits – in a modern form – the aesthetic principles that characterized the seating range of the same name, one of the company’s bestsellers at the end of the 1990s. Pollock represents, according to Minotti, the quintessence of the sofa. The Pollock seating range revisits – in a modern form – the aesthetic principles that characterized the seating range of the same name, one of the company’s bestsellers at the end of the nineties: the original high metal base with its unusual design and the proportions of the volumes, characterized by refined profile tracings that create an interesting decoration in perfect balance between classic and modern. The fusion printing technology gives the design of the base soft flowing lines, while the pewter-colored finish emphasizes the refined elegance.
Minotti Jacques – Design: Rodolfo Dordoni design

The Jacques collection includes sofas, armchairs and ottomans in various sizes that follow a common project idea, a slight retro allusion in the sign of an absolutely contemporary style.
Minotti Florida „Outdoor“ – Rodolfo Dordoni design

With the Florida seating program, the concept of the fully fabric-covered sofa is extended to the outdoor area. Florida shows a rigorous aggregation of soft, geometric volumes, traced by piped borders in faux leather for outdoor use, available in four colors – light grey, dark grey, brown and sand. The variety of elements on offer makes it possible to create a wide range of compositions that meet the ever-increasing desire to create intimate, secluded areas and sociable entertainment corners in outdoor spaces too.
Minotti Lawrence Bed – Design: Rodolfo Dordoni design

Lawrence Bed is a modern reinterpretation of the classic upholstered bed, with balanced proportions, enriched by details in the manufacturing process that highlight the label’s capacity to carry out particularly artful finishes. The upholstered headboard consists of two separate elements, available in two different heights and three widths, so that symmetrical and asymmetrical compositions can be created and different coverings can be combined. The Lawrence headboard is completely removable and is characterized by the graphic modern fields, traced with refined stitching.
Cassina

Cassina did not have its own stand at the furniture fair. The new products were presented in its own showroom in Milan, where Cassina is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, Cassina has designed a special exhibition at the Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli.
Cassina: 206 8 CUBE – Design: Piero Lissoni

The great popularity of the „8“ sofa launched in 2014 inspired Cassina to expand this range with the „8 Cube“ model. An upholstered collection that revisits the range of configurations of the „8“ system, but also offers a version with an even softer seat and with smaller, simpler shapes, while maintaining the same craftsmanship in the manufacturing processes and the formal rigor that characterized the previous system. A typical feature is the elegant cast aluminum guides on which the generously sized cushions are precisely lined up thanks to the carefully tailored cover.
Cassina: 552 FLOE INSEL – Design:Patricia Urquiola

Floe Island was born from Patricia Urquiola’s desire to create an unforgettable, versatile, modular seating program inspired by the icebergs that float lightly in the water with their curved, monolithic masses. A soft mass with different shapes resulting from different inclinations, reminiscent of the shapeless ice masses. A series of dynamic elements that, with their generous volumes, also refer to a classic aspect called comfort, the result of an in-depth study aimed at achieving the best possible relationship between the thickness and softness of the cushions. The in-depth study of the relationship between the elastic belts and the voids in the foam materials gives the seat and backrest cushions the appropriate flexibility without compromising the characteristic asymmetries. The system comprises a three-seater sofa and a footstool, which can also be used individually. There are also the end elements and the chaise longue in two different sizes, which can be combined with each other. Each add-on element is characterized by its original, 25° asymmetrical shape, which makes it unique and different. The seat cushions and backrest have transverse beaded seams that emphasize their shapes. The back and armrest cushions are edged with a characteristic upholstery profile that surrounds the perimeter edge. Each element is fitted with a foot that protrudes at the connection point between the backrest and armrests. An additional series of cushions is also available in two different sizes (40×50 cm and 45×55 cm), with down filling and a cover with a special stripe characterized by the upholstery profile that echoes the design of the perimeter profile of the backrest and armrest edging.
Cassina: 503 SOFT PROPS – Design:Konstantin Grcic

Small architectures that grow around things. A system of shapes that surround each other and create a mutual relationship. Soft Props is a system that emerges from a core with two modules that link together to form sofas and give life to a galaxy of independent, versatile configurations. Upholstered seating modules, end elements, intermediate or corner elements, joined together by means of a tube made up of four different interchangeable metal parts attached to each other with invisible connectors, allowing the creation of numerous compositions. The visible tube limits the perimeter of the seating and forms a protective boundary that also defines the space occupied in the room. Some of the outer segments of the tube are covered with solid polyurethane foam for both aesthetic and functional purposes. Starting from the most abstract element, the stool, the system elements can be combined to create the best possible relationship with the surrounding space. The individual modules come together to form a very classic two-seater sofa, an island, a chaise longue or even a bed.
Cassina: 551 SUPER BEAM SOFA SYSTEM – Design:Patricia Urquiola

The Beam sofa system evolves with a new system version whose dimensions have grown for an even more pronounced scenic effect. Super Beam sofa system also enriches the range of elements belonging to the Beam Sofa System, highlighting its elegance and strong modular character, as well as its refined and refined details. Its ample fullness is also expressed through maximum comfort, which is achieved through the masterful use of polyester wadding and polyurethane foam. Like Beam, Super Beam also rests on the same geometric support, which serves as a typical frame that characterizes the model aesthetically.
Cassina: 646 LEGGERA – Design:Gio Ponti

Thanks to the experience and master craftsmanship of our carpenters, the Cassina wooden chair has been given a new lease of life. It fits easily into a wide variety of rooms and meets a wide range of requirements in terms of both aesthetics and price. A historic model given a new lease of life that highlights the company’s craftsmanship. A perfect example of MedaMade brand products. A simple chair with a solid, clear, cultivated form, an icon of design. With the Leggera chair, a process began in 1952 that summarized the entire path of design and implementation shaped by the collaboration between Gio Ponti, Cesare Cassina and his craftsmen in a unique piece, leading to the creation of the Superleggera chair in 1957. Compared to the latter, which is characterized by ultra-thin legs with a triangular cross-section, the Leggera chair has legs with an almost round cross-section and, thanks to its extreme solidity and simplicity, which expresses all the nobility of an anonymous object, it became extremely popular in the trade over the years. A shape made of ash heartwood in a wide range of variants designed to emphasize elegance and the possibility of combining this chair with the other models in the catalog. The chair is upholstered in fabric or leather (both covers are removable).
Cassina, Baleno wall shelf designed by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, 2017

A wall shelf that is the result of the creativity of the two French designers and is included in the accessories range in the catalog: an unusual, graphic shape that forms a wall decoration. Two shelves are joined together by a central element made of very flexible thermoplastic material to form a wall shelf for books and small or medium-sized objects, which adapts and curves to the weight on the shelves.A flexible, highly functional object with a decorative effect, especially when placed on the wall as a combination of several elements.Material: black thermoplastic rubberWall mounting: with recessed wall shelf plugsApplicable maximum weight:4 kg per shelf -8 kg per wall shelf.
KNOLL INTERNATIONAL – KNOLL STUDIO
The prolongation of the collaboration with Piero Lissoni provides Knoll International with balanced products in the field of tension between tradition and modernity.
Knoll International: Avio Sofa System.
Piero Lissoni’s sofa system surprises with a patented mechanism that allows the end section of the sofa to rotate, thus ensuring greater comfort. New to the corner version is an unequal-sided, triangular design
Knoll International, Grasshopper table, design Piero Lissoni
Grasshopper Low Table.
The low version features the same materials and stands out as a collage of table tops with the same geometry but different sizes.
Grasshopper High Table.
The lightweight grasshopper is always stable. What applies to insects also applies to Lissoni’s table design: the thin table top made of ruby red Rosso Rubino marble, glass or wood.
MDF ITALIA,
MDF ITALIA – Shelf Random New

Introduced in 2005, the bookcase is being offered with additional modules and an extended color palette – the latter dominated by pastel shades – as part of a renewal byNeuland Industriedesign
MDF Italia – Tense Carbon
Tense Material table with new monomaterial finishes.
The significant technical innovation of this element and the ability of the components to remain taut allow for the large dimensions of the table top, which remains perfectly flat and is also extremely light.
Frame and tops
- Carbone, made of black carbonized natural oak, surface treatment with transparent acrylic. Table top, edges and legs are coated with an approx. 3 mm thick veneer.
more:
- Wood, in natural oak, clear acrylic top coat. Top, edges and legs are covered with 3 mm thick solid wood.
- Stone, in artificial stone, clear acrylic top coat. Top, edges and legs are covered with approx. 3 mm thick artificial stone.
- Brass, in sheet brass, matt brushed finish with clear acrylic top coat. Top, edges and legs are covered with sheet brass.
The 35 mm thick table top consists of a load-bearing composite top with an inner frame made of aluminum profile, a polystyrene filling (for wood or stone version) or a honeycomb structure made of synthetic resin and two aluminum layers (brass version). Steel legs, 35×35 mm, with integrated tension rod.
MDF Italia: FLOW COLOR chair – Designed by Jean Marie Massaud
Walter Knoll
Walter Knoll: Sofa Tama Living – Design: EOOS.

The feeling of arriving. At home on the sofa, in the evening after a long day. With a good glass of wine or a chat with friends. Valuable in every respect.
Tama Living creates this special moment. The soft, elegant cushions spread out generously. The upholstered elements rest seemingly weightlessly on delicate solid wood runners. A clear picture of symmetry, line and surface. This is where the sofa unfolds its rhythm: openings in the backrest make the volumes appear lighter. Side tables made of the best saddle leather sit comfortably on the upholstery. And the glass of wine also finds its place, not next to, but in the sofa – the tray made of solid wood and saddle leather ensures this. A sophisticated play on a keyboard of soft tones. Tama Living – a sofa like a piece of classical music. A composition for cultivated living.
ClassiCon
We presented our new products for 2017 at the Salone del Mobile. With the Lantern Lights, we are presenting another product by designers neri&hu from Shanghai. The Tadaima console by designer couple A+A Cooren also offers a welcome in Japanese.
Classicon: Lantern Light Floor Lamp, Neri&Hu 2017

Light serves us in everyday life by highlighting everything around us, although it itself is often neglected. With the Lantern Light, the light source itself serves as inspiration; like its ancient predecessor, the fire torch, this design simply consists of an upright rod with a glowing tip. The Lantern Light by neri&hu is available as a floor lamp in two different heights and as a table lamp. The design of the Lantern Light, which neri&hu is presenting at ClassiCon in 2017, is based on a design by Italian designer Vico Magistretti from 1977.
Classicon: Tadaima Console from A+A Cooren, 2017

With its light, sculptural form, the Tadaima console by designer couple A+A Cooren invites you to arrive. The Japanese expression ‚Tadaima‘ roughly corresponds to our ‚I’m back‘. Like a bowl or a leaf, the console offers space for the personal items we carry in our pockets.
Classicon: Sax side table by Christoph Böninger, 2017

Sax is a constructivist masterpiece that takes the theme of the height-adjustable table to a whole new level. A small twist is all it takes to transform Sax from a low side table into a high serving trolley and vice versa. With its infinitely variable height adjustment and castors, Sax is a practical companion with many possible uses.
Classicon: Pli table series by Victoria Wilmotte, 2016 / 2017

With a second height of the side table and a table, we are presenting two new versions of the Pli table series at the imm cologne. With the Pli tables, French designer Victoria Wilmotte brings objects of unusual crystalline elegance and astonishing geometry into the living space. They can also be used as spectacular eye-catchers in entrances, galleries and stores.
Classicon: Bell Table by Sebastian Herkner, 2012 – product extension 2017

The Bell Table by Sebastian Herkner in the new color amber and variants of the table top in black and white marble.
Classicon: Centimetre rug by Eileen Gray, 1926

Eileen Gray not only created some of the most important furniture classics of the 20th century, but also had her own studio where carpets were made according to her designs. Eileen Gray designed the Centimetre carpet in 1926 for the salon of her villa E1027. With a mysterious code, she draws attention to the number ’10‘ – a nod to ‚J‘, the tenth letter of the alphabet. The ‚J‘ stands for her partner Jean Badovici, with whom she designed the Villa Maison au Bord de Mer E1027. The Centimetre carpet is authorized by: The World License Holder Aram Designs Ltd, London.
Arper
Arper: „Parentesit“ wall panels – Design: Lievore Altherr Molina
The „Parentesit“ wall panels (design: Lievore Altherr Molina) are available in round, square or oval versions and can be equipped with loudspeakers and lighting systems

Glas Italia
Glas Italia: Bookshelf „Layers“ – Design: Nendo

The „Layers“ bookcase (design: Nendo) is made of extra-light, eight millimeter thick, lacquered glass and is partially concealed by sliding doors. The overlapping of the doors creates chromatic images that are constantly changing. One version is available in warm colors and one in cold colors.
Cartel

ContamiNation is Kartell’s concept for this year’s Salone del Mobile 2017, showcasing a new collection of items closely linked to the concepts of uniqueness and identity, a result of collaboration with international designers.
Kartell: Generic – Design Philippe Starck

The Generic family, which began last year with two chairs derived from the concept of the essential, as a natural evolution of the traditional chair, is enriched this year with new models and a table with a functional and linear design.In addition to models A and C, intended for offices and cafés (i.e. bars, restaurants,
And leisure areas) with a matt and soft feel, which are now available in their final version, the Generic for Venice and Generic Catwalk chairs, with highly polished surfaces, have now been added to the range
Surfaces have now been added to the program.
Kartell: Matrix Chair – Design Tokujin Yoshioka

Tokujin Yoshioka presents the Matrix Chair, which consists of an innovative three-dimensional frame that gives the chair a scenic effect of great elegance and lightness. A simple and essential form that the designer has created here. Nevertheless, an innovative chair has been created, made possible by the interplay of Tokujin Yoshioka’s creative and experimental ideas and Kartell’s sophisticated production technology. The chair is manufactured using injection molding technology and a metal frame.
Kartell: Piuma, Piumino and Piumone – Design Piero Lissoni

The new Piumino(low) and Piumone(high) stools continue the project that began with the Piuma armchair(Red Dot Best of the Best 2017 award) by Piero Lissoni, one of the most
of the most revolutionary and daring chairs created during the development of the technologies and materials used by Kartell. Behind the simple design lies three years of intensive research, using an unusual mix: a complex thermoplastic polymer with a carbon fiber reinforcement that provides high mechanical strength combined with lightness. Thanks to this unusual mix of materials, Piuma, Piumino and Piumone are not only light as a feather and extremely thin, but also incredibly durable.
Kartell: Bio Chair – Design Antonio Citterio

Kartell has developed a revolutionary material that is now being used in the furnishing industry for the first time. A sustainable piece of furniture in an industrial perspective, of the highest quality and with high creative value. The final version of the Bio Chair, a chair designed by Antonio Citterio and made possible by research into BIODURA™, an innovative material obtained from renewable raw materials that are not used in the production of food. Kartell was the first in the furnishing industry to use injection molding technology for this type of material: The result is an elegant, highly durable chair that is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. Once the chair has reached the end of its life, the material can be returned to the biological cycle or biodegraded under suitable conditions.
Kids design
Children also make a big impression in Milano. MDF Italia and Kartell present cool furniture for children.
Kartell: Invisible Kids – Design Tokujin Yoshioka

Kartell is showing the complete Kids Collection at its stand, including the new creations by Fabio Novembre and Tokujin Yoshioka. A feeling expressed in a new way through technological innovation: this is the essence of Invisibile, the first transparent table produced in a single square mold. A new version suitable for children is now reinterpreted with new designs realized for the kids‘ world, preserving the characteristics of lightness, durability, grace, elegance, practicality and style that have made this table a true Kartell classic.
MDF Italia: Sign Baby chair

The SIGN collection is complemented by a new children’s version: Sign baby. It is characterized by bright colors and smaller dimensions. The new models are available in 7 color variations and are ideal for children between the ages of 3 and 10. Available in white, pink, blue, green, yellow, orange and red.
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