Last month, as part of AIDT’s tour to Salone del Mobile.Milano, we spent a very enjoyable morning with a guided tour through the Brera Design District with our good friends Michele and Leonardo from The Mentors of Design.
We met at the Valcucine showroom and spent an enjoyable half-hour with some hands-on time to discover the kitchen displays. A representative from Valcucine gave us a welcome talk and introduced us to a number of the displays. For Milan Design Week, the Valcucine showroom was transformed into a stage where the kitchen collections were presented in a new light. The event, entitled “Architectural Scenarios” celebrated the integration of kitchens with architecture thanks to the participation of renowned architecture and interior design studios such as i29, ARRCC, and Neri&Hu.
“Architectural Scenarios” was selected as one of the top 10 projects shortlisted for a Special Communication Mention at the Fuorisalone Award 2024.
Next, we visited the Agape showroom for its “The shapes of Matter” installation. We delved into the function of beauty and the beauty of functionality with contributions from Patricia Urquiola, Benedini Associati and Alessandro Andreucci, as well as introducing a new collaboration with Vismaravetro.
From Agape, we took a short walk to the Memphis apartment, the original home of Ettore Sottsass in the 1980s where he would regularly hold talks with colleagues, designers and architects about new forms of expression. The Galleria today is a treasure trove of unique pieces that balance a flamboyant mix of pop culture and ironic classicism to create a disruptive aesthetic that sits somewhere between kitsch and elegance.
Just across the road, we encountered the Marsotto gallery and showroom – an exquisite space dedicated to marble, showcasing skilled craftsmanship and design culture to create pieces that are truly extraordinary. Marsotto works with top international designers to create collections of iconic products which also have an everyday-use application, with a modern aesthetic that underscores the luxury and beauty of this natural product.
Our last stop was the showroom of Rossignoli, a bicycle design and manufacturer in the heart of Milan whose premises became an installation for Swiss company USM Haller. USM’s modular furniture was installed within the showroom to highlight the countless possibilities of the spheres, tubes, connectors and colourful panels. An interactive exhibition invites visitors to explore the many facets of the design classic’s rich history.
The Mentors of Design is a consultancy service which provides a range of services to homeowners, businesses and other designers worldwide. One of the most important is Shopping Assistance as it is a service that can be provided remotely.
Michele and Leonardo have lived and worked in Milan for many years and know the city intimately. They thrive on making new relationships with designers in other countries and enjoy learning about new cultures and visions. Their Shopping Assistance consultancy was developed, above all, to allow them to search for pieces for unique design opportunities that enhance domestic spaces and beyond.
Our AIDT tour group was incredibly lucky to have Michele and Leo to walk with us through Brera and show us some of their favourite spaces. We look forward to doing it again next year!
For more information visit thementorsofdesign.com/ or you can contact Michele and Leo by email: info@thementorsofdesign.com
