Milan Design Week Diaries #02

milan design week

17 Apr

Written By Caroline Steffen

Under the Volcano by Ranieri at SNIA Factory

From Hidden Gems to Milan’s Urban Pulse

We started our second day early – perhaps too early – catching a morning train to Varedo to visit Alcova. With time to spare before the venue opened, we decided to make a stop at Good Selection. On the way, we grabbed coffee at a wonderfully authentic café that felt like the entire neighborhood’s morning meeting point.

Good Selection had taken over an old industrial hall and presented a series of thoughtfully curated works. Some of the designers were also on view at Comune, where Schnitt was on display. We really appreciated the way the curation gave space to each work without overly "labelling" or staging it. The dialogue between the different designers felt intuitive and balanced. A highlight - Coil floor lamp by Paul Coenen and the Zipper Chair by Lærke Ryom.

Coil floor lamp by Paul Coenen at Good Selection

From there, we walked to Villa Borsani, the former home of designer Osvaldo Borsani, founder of Tecno, who built the villa in the early 1940s. Set against the backdrop of the architecture, a range of emerging designers were showcased in the various rooms and garden.

We were especially moved by the work of Kiki Goti, whose series “Graces” we had previously discussed with her in an interview. The pieces were shown in the staircase, beautifully framed by installations from Tangible Space, designed specifically to present the vases. A moment of harmony between form, function, and space.

Graces by Kiki Goti

In the garden, one installation in particular caught our attention:  Béton Brut showing Salvino Marsura.  We encountered more works by Salvino Marsura the following day at Tutto Bene – a nice thread that carried over into day three.

Also memorable: the Voids Rollers by Objects of Common Interest curated by Nicolas Vamvouklis.

After that, we visited the SNIA Factory, where the setting itself was already spectacular. What stayed with us most was the multisensory installation Under the Volcano by Ranieri, presented within the layered architecture of the former factory. The work explored the volcano as both a physical material source and a metaphor – an atmospheric, tactile experience that lingered long after we left.

At this point, the day in Varedo wasn’t over yet. The installation by StenStudio at Alcova, set in the historic Villa Bagatti in Milan, left a lasting impression with its seamless fusion of natural stone and contemporary design. The way the pieces interacted with the aged architecture of the villa created a striking contrast—both bold and harmonious. We were especially captivated by the tactile quality of the materials and the sculptural presence of each object. After a relaxed lunch on the Villa Bagatti grounds, we headed back to the city in the early afternoon.

Once back in Milan, we made our way to Dropcity, a stop we didn’t want to miss. There, we visited the exhibition ‘Prison Times: Spatial Dynamics of Penal Environments’, which explored the contemporary state of incarceration through objects designed for prison life. The show reflected on how penal architecture shapes both individual and collective experiences, and reveals the tension in design between security, comfort and function. A moment that re-centered design as a tool of reflection, not just expression.

Later in the afternoon, we attended a film screening hosted by the Athens Design Forum, featuring Tomka and His Friends – a powerful film that explored the meaning of space for children during times of war and occupation.

In the evening, we headed over to Brera to join the Vallone launch party. Brera was bustling, but Vallone had secured a beautiful spot in the heart of the district. Their new collection, The Core of Now, invites visitors to immerse themselves in a world where material and emotion, shape and essence merge into timeless narratives. It was a pleasure to see the pieces live and to feel how strongly concept and form were intertwined.

We ended the day just the way it should be: with risotto, red wine, and good conversation at the ever-charming Rigolo.