VOGUE Living Australia

IT'S THE OPTIMISM AT THE HEART OF THE 1970S LOOK THAT'S THE HERO IN THIS 2018 REIMAGININ­G

Voluptuous proportion­s and playful shapes provide an almost human embrace of comfort and softness from marshmallo­w-like armchairs to roly poly side tables.

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‹‹ dispose’ economy, it embraces regenerati­ng products to create less waste); Eindhoven-based design group Dutch Invertuals partnered with London-based FranklinTi­ll in Mutant Matter, an exploratio­n of the ‘remade’ materials of the future; and on a more poetic level the lighting of Giopato & Coombes intertwine­d brass bees, forest creatures and delicate tendrils of lichen in its collection, Supernatur­al Daydream.

Technology advanced its march of seamless integratio­n into our lives, too. There was Kartell’s hybrid I-table, designed by Piero Lissoni, which transforms from desk to cooktop, and Google’s Softwear exhibition curated by legendary Dutch trend forecaster Li Edelkoort and shown at the equally legendary Rossana Orlandi Gallery.

The influentia­l Orlandi also made an impact at the Australian group show in Milan’s 5 Vie district. Numbering 26 designers it was the biggest ever collective of Australian creatives showing under the banner of Local Design, lead by the inimitable Emma Elizabeth. If 2017 was the year Australian design finally came of age then 2018 is the year it stepped right into the spotlight. Inside the elegantly decaying palazzo housing Local Design’s exhibition, the atmosphere was pure rock ‘n’ roll. The cream of Australia’s design scene casually lounged outside on the balcony, while inside visitors meandered through rooms of furniture and lighting exploding with colour and confidence. It was this attitude that appealed to Orlandi, who dropped in to pick up a Christophe­r Boots oxidised pendant light and a colourful Sagitine storage stand to add to her eponymous gallery. “It was so surreal,” says Elizabeth. “But I think the fact that there were more than 1300 Fuorisalon­e exhibition­s throughout the city, and Rossana chose to come to ours, was the best way to finish a very sleep-deprived and intense week.”

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 ??  ?? Studiopepe’s installati­on, Club Unseen
Studiopepe’s installati­on, Club Unseen
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Driade

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