From 20 to 22 November the spotlights of the world of furnishings are pointed at the Shanghai Exhibition Center, home of the 5th edition of Salone del Mobile.Milano Shanghai (organized in collaboration with FederlegnoArredo Eventi and ICE Agenzia). The fair continues its mission as a cultural and business bridge between Italy and China, bringing as many as 128 major brands of Made in Italy to the Shanghai Exhibition Center, in the two categories Design and xLux.
The brands of the first group wager on a selection of upholstered furnishings of great depth and range. Calligaris takes its cue from northern Europe with the harmonious Le Marais designed by Stefano Spessotto, while MisuraEmme and Mauro Lipparini draw inspiration from the 1950s. These are also distinctive characteristics that combine in the Lilo Wing chair Patricia Urquiola has designed for Moroso. The Greene sofa by David Lopez Quincoces for Living Divani and Myplace by Emanuela Garbin for Flou feature special feet: steel rods with a gunmetal finish for Greene, squared or cylindrical feet in black nickel or matte burnished finish for MyPlace. Architectural lines and full, soft forms are also seen in the Amalia seating collection from Natuzzi, designed by Bernhardt & Vella.
The tables are particularly fascinating: Amadeus by Roberto Lazzeroni for Giorgetti stands out for its intriguing top in honeycomb aluminium, along with the light, refined Wedge by the Japanese studio Nendo for Minotti. Linear elegance is also found in the Aria bookcase by Porada, designed by David Dolcini.
Flexform chooses a different approach, once again demonstrating its dynamism and courage: its lifestyle goes beyond the boundaries of indoor space with the 2019 Outdoor Collection, conquering open-air zones while conserving its identity.
The category can be subdivided into smaller sets, like the kitchen sector where a company like Aran Cucine, on hand in China with the Oasi project based on collaboration with Stefano Boeri and featuring a single element composed of a tree, a table and a range, can coexist with Dada, showing the impressive VVD made with ceppo stone and walnut (designed by Vincent Van Duysen). Also on view, Mia by Carlo Cracco, Scavolini, characterized by a new modularity of furnishings, to amplify the capacity of base units and wall units.
Among the lighting brands, Artemide stands out with a booth featuring Come Together, a portable table lamp in methacrylate and aluminium designed by Carlotta de Bevilacqua; Foscarini shows Madre created by Andrea Anastasio, who defines it as an arrival point of reflections on the role and essence of light. Nemo brings the Ellisse collection of LED suspension lamps in extruded aluminium, designed by Federico Palazzari. We should also mention Penta that has assigned Umberto Asnago the task of reinterpreting the oval module in blown glass of the Mamì lamp in four new versions: modern for the suspension lamps, more linear for the table, floor and wall versions.
