creativematch: News From Milan 2008

MDF
Building on the success of Random MDF launched Melody, which has a slightly more open configuration, but still intriguing, and good in long runs. I am pleased to say they have also launched a comfortable sofa called Mate - not that they don't make other comfortable sofas, but this one looks comfortable with very loose looking large slabs for seat back and arms.

Artifort
Their new Lotus chair was intriguing, an elegant low chair with an attached platform for note taking, a laptop or drinks? Not quite functional, but at the same time invitingly elegant, one more elongated than the other, both breaking new ground.

Gallotti & Radice

Launched the Air executive desk range, where you want to create an impression for a client, but would you ever want to leave any papers on it, or burden its form with a computer? It is available with a number of different cabinets in the same style, so at least you can hide away all your files and the decanters.

Fiam
Several new product launches utilised coloured glass in the designs for the first time, but most impressive were the range of dining and coffee tables Accordo by Ilaria Marelli with the bases forming opposing splayed rectangles of glass - imagine a child building the simplest table from three pieces, but then add all the precision of a master designer and craftsman to give a perfect proportion.

SCP
For the first time ever, I was in the vicinity of the SCP stand while their opening day tea party took place: It could only be the English who take a Burco to Milan, and a load of mismatching porcelain and custard creams. I will make a point of it next year - so refreshing tea at 3, and made with boiled water too! The much previewed Soft Rocker was excellent, as was the Foxtrot coffee table by Kay + Stemmer.

Arper
Milan would not be Milan if there were no new variations of the Catifa chair - this time, a new width 60 - with three heights suitable for Boardrooms, meeting rooms and conferences. The Palm chair has an entirely new shell - made from polypropylene, it is lighter both visually and literally only sacrificing a small amount of comfort from the previous polyurethane version. They also launched a new range of well priced small tables called Fred in a new material for furniture - a white plastic more commonly found in toilet seats!

Their unique news was that the Catifa 46 and 53 have achieved an Environmental Product Declaration, a new universal standard to assess the full impact of a product over its lifecycle. No doubt we will be hearing about these a lot more in the coming years on top of ISO 9001 and 14001 certification. The EPD tells us the carbon footprint of a particular chair, giving figures of overall energy consumption, and percentages of recycled and recyclable materials in the product. For the Catifa 46, with 4 legs, the footprint is only 19 kg of CO2 equivalent and is 99% recyclable.

Plank
Always reliable in coming up with something useful and unique - the Myto chair by Grcic did not disappoint - made entirely of BASF ultradur plastic, in eight colours, it is the first plastic cantilever chair, with a mesh effect on the seat and back, making it highly suitable for indoor and out. Not pretty, but striking.

Tonelli
Two new coffee tables by Karim Rashid, made of three pieces of asymmetrical glass in different colours set at right angles, giving the impression of the base coming through the top - hence the name Kut. Also a series of sideboards Psiche, with mirrored doors and tops set at angles, which although not useful for display of objects, guarantees that the piece of furniture is the object in the room.

Johanson
Well known for their classic designs, Johanson really pushed the boat out in 2008 with four new ranges: two stools one by Simon Pengelly breaking new ground in its visual reference called Level. A very boxy modular seating system called U-sit, contrasting with some soft, low seats called Flow by Anders Hjelm.

Innermost
A re-engineered version of the Sticklight by Michael Young was impressive, and I am pleased to say they have taken on the production of the Origami tables by Anthony Dickens, given that we selected Anthony for an award at his New Designers exhibition many years ago! These tables will be Innermost's first foray into furniture, and promise to be well priced. The Ribbon candleholder by Shin Azumi is devastatingly simple and seductive.

Bonaldo
Interesting range of lightweight painted steel tables called Tectonic - useful in reception areas, but not (yet) for outdoors. A collection of these could be used to create a moving palette of pebbles in a sea of space. Also new chairs and a shapeless sofa called Peanut B - the Italians do Shabby Chic.

Softline Allkit
Many new introductions, especially the stool version of Tess, Paco Sol and Ella chairs, but the star of the show was Musa - an extremely light and sensuous stacking chair in many different colours and well priced into the bargain.

Modus
Lots of new products - particularly the orbital chair by Christophe Pillet. While some of the making is done overseas, and international designers are used, the motive force and intellectual property remains in the UK.

Rexite
Very straightforward stacking chair in several colours called Eveline, using flat surfaces to emphasise the line of the legs flowing into the seat and back in an original way. Designed by Raul Barbieri.

La Palma
A new chair Jo, by Haberli, having the unique and extremely rare distinction of a third dimensional bend in stainless steel on this simple cantilevered chair was launched, together with a rather utilitarian low seating range called Metis by Hannes Wettstein. The star of their display however, was M'ovo by Andreas Storiko, which is an egg shaped meeting table which can be lifted upright. The act of lifting the top, releases the wheels hidden in the base thus allowing the user to move the table easily in any direction. Thus tables can be set out very quickly in a conference area, and if kept in the room form an attractive backdrop of sculptural objects around the perimeter.

Heller
Following the Bellini - affordable, light stylish stacking chair was the Ultra Bellini (gloss finish) now comes the Bellini Touch - a matt black, soft finish - very smooth!

B&B Italia

Once again in their showroom, there was none of the flamboyance of last year, unless you consider the Terminal 1 chaise by Massaud to be so - it was very elegant. Their new sofa range - Frank - was simple and inviting with big squashy cushions as only the Italians can do big squashy cushions fixed to a metal frame. Seven is an asymmetric table which seats seven (!) for those dinner parties when you invite an odd number, while Papilio is a quirky upholstered dining chair which is very comfortable. There were another couple of new tables and additions to the Maxalto collection but most versatile is the compact Tulip chair called sixty, which could by used as a bedroom chair or for a small reception area, or anywhere you want a comfortable, but rather formal swivel chair.

Moooi

Some strange accessories - but the small porcelain (?) table and dressing mirror were nice, as well as a glass table (Alice in Wonderland reference), and the Ludo Table and Vica chairs which had bent tube legs covered in a woven patterned cloth like old electricity cables used to be.

The Lolita light was charming with its angled hat!

Proform Italia
Re-launched, or introduced - they were not quite sure - a chair by Hans Coray in aluminium. Stackable, in indoor and outdoor versions - the chair is pleasingly symmetrical, with evenly spaced holes in seat and back in the aluminium version. Lightweight and recyclable.

Magis
Enter the world of "Yo Furniture", where their new products were presented on a moving carousel so that you could stand in one place and have each new product explained as it slowly came towards you! Of note were the Soho Chairs by Fukasawa, ideal for a home office desk. There were four new colours for the Chair First, which look so much better than the predictable white, black, and red all over.

Jesse
Together with the plethora of new finishes and gizmos on their wardrobes, there were a number of interesting and well priced loose furniture products, such as the Stix coffee table, and Tully chair.

Tom Dixon
He has been very busy this year, with among other introductions, cast glass light fittings, a traditionally upholstered wing back chair of outlandish proportions, small conical shaped tables, and a dining table made with slate and a copper base. His large stand at Superstudio gave the impression of having arrived as a quintessentially British manufacturer taking on the world. I wonder how long it will be before he exhibits in the main Fair?

Danerka
While not showing any new product themselves, Danerka will gradually introduce Bernhardt Design to the European market having secured manufacturing and distribution rights from the US.