all4design-design4all: IN & OUT SALONE DEL MOBILE 2018: LIVING NATURE & ITALIANA EXHIBITIONS.

Photo above, from left to right: Woman's jersey jumpsuit with zebra animal print, Roberto Cavalli, Summer 2000. Kita embroidered sequin dress by Ken Scott, 1973. Blue coat with overlock stitching, Sportmax (designer Nanni Strada), Fall/Winter 1971-1972. Patchwork, fur coat by Fendi, Fall/Winter 1999-2000. A corner in the room under the theme Bazaar at the exhibition ITALIANA, L'Italia vista dalla moda 1971-2001/ Italy Through the Lens of Fashion 1971-2001), conceived and curated by Maria Luisa Frisa & Stefano Tonchi, at the Palazzo Reale, Milan, Italy.

The exhibition Living Nature. La natura dell'abitare is the principal exhibition that took place outside the main Salone area: the Rho fairground, in the city center right next to the Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano), gathering thousands of visitors. The ambitious experimental project conceived by the Carlo Ratti Associati design studio can be a scalable model of a simulated future, where living in the city has to integrate into the natural environment and not the opposite. In times of global warming, climate change, desertification, seasons disparition but also social disparity and a challenged energy distribution globally, this capsule "residence" consists of a realistic vision for a habitat made to last, but not to threat the natural surroundings.

"Living Nature invites us to explore two key themes: the relationship between domestic living and nature and climate control. In the 20th century, it was the city that appropriated nature, leading to excessive land consumption; we are now facing quite the opposite challenge, that of bringing nature back into cities and homes".

The environmental impact assessment of the endeavour is extremely well investigated, as the project presents practically 100% bio-sustainability, focusing on "green" energy production and supply. Photovoltaic panels, accumulators and heat pumps secure a precise energy flow, so the cold air generated inside the pavillion cools down the "winter" area, while it produces excess heat that serves to warm up the 'summer" area- very likely to the system of a large A+++ refrigerator.

The Living Nature model of a home or preserved living area, was created under the Salone del Mobile umbrella, with the support of three other major Italian public institutions. Could it be the solution in the search for the ideal human shelter, the forerunner of a eutopia after the last century's catastrophic practices?

The exhibition ITALIANA, L'Italia vista dalla moda 1971-2001/ Italy Through the Lens of Fashion 1971-2001), conceived and curated by Maria Luisa Frisa & Stefano Tonchi was also a collaborative product of 11 Italian establishments, (7 of them acting in the public sector). Three decades of passion about fashion and essential understanding of all the initial factors and prerequisites that turned Italy the capital of fashion evolution. The specific event is not only a meaningful, historical survey but a sociological, industrial, artistic and humanistic exploration of a period that propelled the exports of European creative production internationally, a production in which Italian fashion industry represented extreme figures. This conceptual journey is divided in nine units, (Identity, Democracy, Logomania, Diorama, Project Room, Bazaar, Postproduction, Glocal, The Italy of Objects), represented by teams of clothing, accessories, jewellery, publications and videos that altered entirely the landscape of fashion and calibrated the consumers' cognition and taste, to an unprecendented extend in comparison with other periods.

A wonderful exhibition, carefully mastered to evoque not memories of the past but an intense anticipation to walk further into the different rooms, in a non-stop learning experience.

Feast your eyes on the pictures bellow, from top to bottom: 1.DEMOCRACY: (first three in the foreground, from left to right) Kinki Shop Diffusion, Madras dress, first half of 1970s. Valentino Boutique, dress in silk voile with dots, second half of 1970s. Missoni dark jersey ensemble made of dress, pants and scarf, F/W 1979-80. 2.DIORAMA: (clockwise, based on the Enchanted Rooms feature, Domus, May 1983) Cinzia Ruggeri, dress with leds, 1982. Gaetano Pesce, Dalilatre chair, Cassina. Krizia pleated jumpsuit, F/W 1981-82, Archizoom Associati Mies-Poltrona chaise-longue, Pietro Chiesa Luminator floor light. 3.LOGOMANIA: (from left to right) Etro printed silk dress,1995. Salvatore Ferragamo Patchwork silk poncho. Gianni Versace, Man's silk shirt S/S 1993. Shirt, top and leggings by Pucci, S/S 1992. Versace (creative director Donatella Versace), silk chiffon dress, S/S 2000. Valentino, dress in silk with floral print, 1972. 4. BAZAAR: (from left to right) Gianfranco Ferré, embroidered tull bodysuit and shantung skirt, S/S 1991. Gianfranco Ferré, napa and crocodile leather blouson, S/S 1993-94. C.P. Company (designer Massimo Osti), Goggle jacket, 1988. Gianfranco Ferré, embroidered tulle jumpsuit, S/S 1991. Etro, man's ensemble, F/W 1996-97. 5.POSTPRODUCTION: (front to back) Gianni Versace, denim shirt with silk & golden lace skirt, S/S 1992. Bo-Bo Kaminsky (stylists David Mantej & Evelina Barilli) jacket, culotte and bra in golden lamé, F/W 1984-85. 6. GLOCAL: garments' detail.