Brussels Furniture Fair
veronica 30/03/2023

Gianfranco Frattini on display at Design Week

An exhibition traces Gianfranco Frattini's timeless design, including archival pieces, contemporary reissues and inspirations for the future

Gianfranco Frattini yesterday, today, tomorrow” titles the exhibition dedicated to the architect that will open on April 14 in the setting of Palazzo Arese Borromeo, in Cesano Maderno. An event that is part of the Fuorisalone proposals, but is set to extend until May 14. The exhibition, promoted by the Municipality of Cesano Maderno, in collaboration with the Gianfranco Frattini Studio/Archive, is developed according to the layout curated directly by his daughter, architect Emanuela Frattini Magnusson: an immersive journey into the Maestro’s design and his timeless design.

Palazzo Arese Borromeo, Cesano Maderno

Palazzo Arese Borromeo, Cesano Maderno

The decision to locate the exhibition among the frescoed rooms of the seventeenth-century Palazzo Arese Borromeo is motivated by the strong ties Frattini had with the territory of Brianza, with the artisans and even more so the companies with which he weaved relationships and designs. Cassina, first among them all. 

It is precisely the result of such collaborations that constitutes the exhibition, which includes numerous original works taken from the archives of collectors and reissues produced by contemporary design realities, thus pieces by Acerbis, Cassina, CB2, Ceccotti, Poltrona Frau and Tacchini, along with lamps by Arteluce, Artemide, FontanaArte, Gubi and Luci. Also on display, a selection of original sketches and drawings of some architectural projects, thanks to the collaboration with CSAC – Centro Studi e Archivio della Comunicazione di Parma and Politecnico di Milano.

Bernini, Serie500, © Courtesy Studio Archivio Gianfranco Frattini

Bernini, Serie500, © Courtesy Studio Archivio Gianfranco Frattini

A look at the past and present, but also at the future: indeed, the Maestro continues to inspire new forms of design. Reinterpreting aesthetic canons dear to him, Dooor and Torri Lana with the contribution of Emanuela Frattini, have created a new textile door, which will be presented at the kermesse. “This exhibition on Gianfranco Frattini’s work is like a ‘moving photograph’ of his work,” explains Emanuela Frattini. – A window of memory that looks into the present and casts its gaze into the future of his legacy.”

Kyoto small table © Courtesy Poltrona Frau

Kyoto small table © Courtesy Poltrona Frau

Our latest stories

Christina O meets James Bond
Minutes icon
2 minutes

Christina O meets James Bond

More a private yacht than a cruise ship, this vessel was conceived as a floating luxury hotel. It’s how Four Seasons I is redefining the seafaring experience: with more space, vast panoramic suites, and a pool that seemingly disappears

Projects&Hospitality
The Gulf’s autumn calendar
Minutes icon
2 minutes

The Gulf’s autumn calendar

From Riyadh’s fast-growing design scene to major fairs and exhibitions across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Amman and Doha, the region’s cultural calendar is filling up. Here are the key design, architecture and art dates to add to your diary from September through November

Events
Treading lightly as guests of nature
Minutes icon
2 minutes

Treading lightly as guests of nature

In the Philippines, nestled in a cove dominated by sheer cliffs, Lagen Island Resort / El Nido by WATG & Wimberly Interiors embodies a regenerative approach to hospitality

Hospitality
Gaya Beach House
Minutes icon
1 minute

Gaya Beach House

Juhu Beach, Mumbai | Lissoni Casal Ribeiro

Projects&Hospitality
Between aesthetics and technology
Minutes icon
2 minutes

Between aesthetics and technology

Fluid spaces, discreet elegance, and a sea-inspired color palette. This is the new T52 Awandra, a successor to Baglietto's 33 and 44-meter series, but with an elevated level of customization – including in its exterior design

Projects&Hospitality
Archifeed expands from Beirut to Miami
Minutes icon
1 minute

Archifeed expands from Beirut to Miami

Founded by architects and educators Teymour Khoury and Yasmina Mahmoud, Archifeed has expanded its Architecture Summer Workshops from Beirut to Miami, introducing high school students to architectural thinking before they enter university

Design