As part of Milan's Salon Del Mobile 2024, Gucci has unveiled a treasured project that highlights some of Italy's most-loved design greats
Salon Del Mobile 2024, also known as Milan Design Week, has just kicked off, with its roster jam-packed with a bevvy of must-visit exhibitions and events. There’s a host of exciting fashion happenings taking place, too, including a very special project by Gucci.
Entitled ‘Design Ancora’, the exhibition sees Gucci showcasing five Italian design icons at its Milanese flagship store on Via Monte Napoleone. Re-edited and customised for the ever-enthralling Gucci universe, the project has been co-curated by Michela Pelizzari, founder of Milan-based creative agency P:S, and brought to life by Spanish architect Guillermo Santomà.
“Through 'Design Ancora', Gucci doesn’t simply celebrate old icons, it creates new ones,” says Pelizzari. “The aura emanating from the brand spotlights five pieces by Italian masters that are perfect from a design standpoint but less known to the general public.”
The ‘Le Mura’ sofa. Photo: Gucci
The ‘Parola’ table lamp. Photo: Gucci
The 'Clessida’ rug. Photo: Gucci
Swathed in the delicious cherry red ‘Rosso Ancora’, a hue that newly minted creative director Sabato De Sarno chose to signal Gucci’s new chapter, the exhibition boasts pieces representing the “golden age of Italian design”. Exuding the vibrant spirit of the country and specifically the city of Milan, the chosen objects feature Mario Bellini’s ‘Le Mura’ sofa for the interiors brand Tacchini, the hand-woven Portaluppi Pattern Project’s ‘Clessida’ rug for the rug company cc-tapis, Nanda Vigo’s ‘Storet’ drawers for Acerbis, Tobia Scarpa’s ‘Opachi’ vase for Venini, alongside Gae Aulenti and Piero Castiglioni’s ‘Parola’ table lamp for FontanaArte.
Upon entering the exhibition, visitors are greeted by a spellbinding mood that hints at what’s to come now that Gucci has entered De Sarno’s creative era. Nestled within curved acid green walls and flooring – a shade also chosen by De Sarno – the pieces appear as separate design gems, allowing each to shine with the impeccable craftsmanship involved in their creation. “If we had put the objects all together, we would have created a living room. Instead, we decided to remove the boundaries given by how we use these objects and create a sort of limbo,” explains Santomà. “Floating objects don’t have meaning or a function. They are just shape, materiality, colour.”
The 'Storet’ drawers. Photo: Gucci
And the wonders don’t stop there. In one of the store’s windows, a pair of Gucci Cub3d – a limited-edition sneaker crafted combining 3D-printed elements and the brand’s own Demetra material – floats and rotates, creating a fascinating installation. Elsewhere, a 3D printer customised into a unique object by Santomà adorns another window.
You can visit the Gucci’ Design Ancora’ exhibition from April 16th to 21sr at Via Monte Napoleone 7, Milan. Starting from April 21st, a special edition of the objects will be available online at gucci.com.