Milan Fair 2015

ARTEK & HELLA JONGERIUS At Salone Internazionale del Mobile 2015, Artek presented Alvar Aalto’s iconic Tea Trolley 901 reinterpreted by Dutch designer and colour expert Hella Jongerius. Jongerius created two new versions of the Tea Trolley 901, one light and one dark: the “light” Tea Trolley has a frame in natural birch, an eggshell -coloured linoleum top tray and a bottom tray in contrasting bright white laminate. The wheels are lacquered in an eggshell hue matching the top tray, creating a soft contrast to the blond birch. The “dark” Trolley boasts a black lacquered birch frame, which reinforces the graphic qualities of the structure. An aubergine-coloured linoleum top tray and wheels lacquered in the same colour are combined with a bottom tray in black linoleum.

ARTEK & RONAN & ERWAN BOUROULLEC Kaari is the first collaboration between Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec and the Finnish design company. The design task was to create a product that was both suited to Artek and simultaneously new – hence without making explicit reference to historic Artek products. Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec developed a number of ideas. At the initial presentation one proposal already stood out: an innovative table leg, or more precisely, a systematic construction for legs that could support a wide variety of different tabletops: small and large, round and rectangular, low and high.  Soon it became evident that the same system could also be used to construct wall-mounted objects such as single shelves on brackets and entire shelf units.

EMECO & JASPER MORRISON “When I saw the 2006 “Super Normal” Exhibition at Axis Gallery in Tokyo that Jasper curated, I understood his design philosophy and began to see that Jasper’s design sensibility fit the Emeco values of timeless simplicity. At our first meeting in Paris at Jasper’s office, he started with sketches inspired by the classic bistro chairs. As we worked together to create the Alfi Collection, Jasper’s rigorous attention to every detail including materials, engineering, strength, comfort, finish, and color was astounding.” - Gregg Buchbinder, President and CEO, Emeco (pictured).

“Alfi is a highly comfortable, well made chair for cafés, bistros, restaurants, kitchens, schools, libraries, waiting rooms and wherever else an impression of relaxed uniformity combined with visual and physical comfort is needed. It was inspired by the woven cane brasserie chairs you see out everywhere on Parisian sidewalks which have rounded backs and flat seats. The Emeco wood filled reclaimed polypropylene seat combines beautifully with the ash wooden leg structures, providing a rich play of materials and finishes. It's one of the most comfortable chairs I have designed.” - Jasper Morrison.

MAXDESIGN The new Appia Chair is stunning with a cast aluminium frame and timber seat and back. Standard natural timber and polished aluminium can be changed up to stained timbers or upholstered seat pads and powdercoated colour frame. Available in stacking side chair or arm chair. Also on display to great effect with a backdrop of pale timber and pops of colour and neon strip lighting, was the OffSet Shelving System and Betty Highback Lounge Chair.

VERYWOOD The Italian Chair Makers designed their stand with pops of bright coloured paint and fabric against natural raw timber and deconstructed half-upholstered seating. This highlighted their focus on their ability to custome their range to client specifications for a more personal approach. The Unam Rocker is a great addition to the Unam Chair Collection with a handwoven leather or textile corded backing designed by Sebastian Herkner. Patricia Urquiola’s Zant Dining Chair joins the Zantilam Collection with a shorter back and fully upholstered shell.

ALMA DESIGN Ainsley joined the Marchina sisters on their Alma Design stand to view their new Y Chair, X Big Too Sofa and X Big Foot Wood Footstool for the X Collection. The Italians continue their love-affair with all things mid-century, adding vibrant colour and stained timbers that speaks more of 1950’s upwardly-mobile optimism than Scandi-calm monochrome.

THONET The European Bentwood masters looked to their historical archives for inspiration from the classic models. Taking the original No.14, No.18 and Café Daum chairs and giving them new life with colour has brought them a fresh take on some of the world’s oldest (& perhaps favourite), bentwood timber café chairs.