Discover More Must-See Designs From SaloneSatellite 2025

While walking the halls of SaloneSatellite, Salone del Mobile’s international platform for young and emerging talent under the age of 35, Interior Design editors spotted so many promising designs that two show roundups were in order. Take a look at even more fresh perspectives and bold ideas on display in Milan, from creative rethinking of materials to reshaping how we interact with objects. This year, top honors in the SaloneSatellite Awards went to Japan’s Super Rat, who showcased contemporary vessels blending natural bark and dye. We also saw a soft and slim strand of light that can be strung up in endless ways, an expressive pink toilet challenging anti-LGBTQ+ narratives, tableware made of mushrooms, and much more.

Check Out Standout Designs From SaloneSatellite 2025

Utsuwa-Juhi by Super Rat

A series of vessels influenced by traditional Japanese craft took home first place in the ​​SaloneSatellite Awards. With softness belying their strength, Utsuwa-Juhi by Japanese design studio Super Rat (founded by Kazuki Nagasawa) are sustainably handmade from Trachycarpus fortunei bark and iron scraps and dyed using natural pigments (a persimmon tannin solution).

Fil Rouge by Riccardo Toldo

A soft and slim (1.8 millimeters) filament light that can be strung up in various configurations is the third prize winner. Inspired by the East Asian myth of the red thread, which suggests there are no chance meetings between destined lovers, this feat of minimalist engineering is powered by opposing electrical poles.

Moon by YIF Design

In poetic tribute to the night sky, YIF Design captured the moon’s soft glow and serene presence in Moon. The table lamp’s strategically unbalanced composition—suspended, just as the moon seems to be—consists of a frosted glass shade hovering above a slender stem anchored by a circular metal base.

Quibor Project by Juan Cortizo

A Special Mention in the ​​SaloneSatellite Awards, Quibor Project by Juan Cortizo is a collection of speakers that bridge traditional Venezuelan woodworking and cutting-edge acoustics. Handcrafted by master carpenters from Guadalupe, the speakers demonstrate the unexpected role technology can play in cultural preservation.

Queering Bathrooms by Gregor Jahner

In recent current events, the bathroom has been a site of protest. In response, Gregor Jahner introduces Queering Bathrooms which reimagines the toilet hue (why white when it can be pink?) and shape (it appears to cheekily stick its tongue out). Included in a collective project for the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK) and crafted from porcelain, varnished MDF, and 3D printed materials, the toilet is intended to confront anti-LGBTQ+ narratives.

.SHH. by SYLIA

The .SHH. tableware collection, created by sustainable design studio and creative bio-lab SYLIA in collaboration with designers Gabriel Freitas and Tiago Volpato, is fabricated entirely from mushrooms. Grown from agricultural and textile waste via mycofabrication—a circular design method rooted in fungi—the collection tasks nature as a co-creator. Notably, SYLIA is the first exclusively mycelium-focused design studio to exhibit at SaloneSatellite.

3modality by Isenia Design

3Modality is an innovative, compact, multifunctional kitchen tool that merges three actions—chopping, grating, and sieving—into one bendable, ergonomic device. Inspired by the spatial logic of the revolutionary Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky in 1926, it is crafted from stainless steel with hand-carved wood handles with intuitive curves.

Flowy Lamp No.1 by G Home

In the pursuit of organic forms, G Home decided to use them. Flowy Lamp No.1 employs the natural shape and hollow structure of a dried gourd—the hard-shelled, non-edible fruit typically cultivated as ornaments—in apt celebration of nature’s irregularity and its untapped potential for sustainable materials.

Bunho Screen by Studio Silva

Designer Ruben Silva of Studio Silva infuses the serenity of nature into architectural form with the Bunho Screen. Inspired by the Portuguese tradition of bunho weaving, the sculptural room divider consists of a solid wood frame that holds an airy yet intricate mesh of handwoven lake reed (bunho), skillfully crafted by local artisans.

12 Furnishings Pushing Creative Boundaries Spotted at Alcova 2025

Interior Design kicked off Milan Design Week with a train out of town for the 9th edition of Alcova, the cutting-edge contemporary design platform which took place in Varedo, Italy, from April 7-13, 2025. This year, drawing over 70,000 visitors, the nomadic event celebrated its revitalization of derelict spaces sprawled across four atmospheric venues: historic residences the Villa Borsani and 19th-century Villa Bagatti Valsecchi and two newly added locations. Raw and partially reclaimed by nature, an abandoned factory once produced synthetic fiber while the Pasino Glasshouses were once home to white orchid cultivation. From a lounge chair recalling a Romanesco broccoli and a side table made of mycelium to wall-mounted vases and a 46-foot-long chandelier, here are 12 of our favorite finds from Alcova 2025.

Discover Creative Furnishings From Alcova 2025

Cono by Soft Witness

The sculptural shape of a Romanesco broccoli sparked this new take on an upholstered lounge chair. Inviting tactile engagement with its welcoming breadth, Cono by Soft Witness is composed of dozens of handmade conical cushions upholstered in baby alpaca wool in warm camel tones.

Picchu by Kamilla Csegzi

Fusing bio-fabrication and glasswork, Picchu by Kamilla Csegzi contrasts smooth kiln-cast glass with roughly sculpted mycelium (that is, mushrooms). The side table was featured in the exhibition “Omnia,” curated by Turkish architect, painter, and furniture designer, Zeynep Arolat, the founder of the Brooklyn art-design gallery Zarolat.

Swollen by Yochiya

What began as a singular vase bloomed into a series of large-scale, wall-mounted copper vessels. The balloon-like appearance of Swollen by design studio Yochiya is created by welding copper sheets and inflating them with hydraulic pressure.

Anima by Lara Bohinc

The suggestion of movement and life animates Anima, a series of limited-edition furnishings by Lara Bohinc. The three upholstered seating pieces are created in collaboration with French upholstery house Maison Phelippeau. Each piece is crafted entirely from natural materials—vanadium steel coils, horsehair, and wool—and then upholstered in pure alpaca wool by Inata, a sustainable French textile brand. Shaped via 5D laser cutting and hand chiseling, Bohinc’s Dark Woods table adds sculptural drama in the form of solid mahogany.

Ornamental Contrast by Spread

A series of conversation-starting aluminum partitions, Ornamental Contrast by Japanese design studio Spread is the result of research on the tension between light and dark contrasting colors. Finished in heat-cured paint, each screen becomes a graphic example of geometry and light refraction.

Overgrowth by Sfossils

Transforming the grand staircase of Villa Bagatti Valsecchi into a 46-foot column of suspended light, ambient chandelier Overgrowth by Sfossils blurs the line between sculpture and illumination. The piece was permanently acquired by the villa’s owner, Fondazione La Versiera 1718.

Fragments by Estudio Material

In outdoor furniture collection Fragments, jagged stones interrupt sleek aluminum surfaces, revealing beauty in rugged imperfection. Damaso Mayer, principal of San Francisco-based design studio Estudio Material, salvaged the stones—originally sourced from Northern Italy and the Alps—from a stone purveyor’s long-forgotten pile of discards.

Osvaldo by Office of Tangible Space

With Osvaldo, oak framing meets a soft tubular cushion upholstered in leather and fabric for a functional sculpture merging solidity with embrace. Designed by Office of Tangible Space in a nod to Villa Borsani’s 20th-century heritage, the new take on the classic lounge chair was featured in the installation “A Human Touch.”

Silver Console Clay by Completedworks

Pondering the idea of ornateness occurring in the practical and everyday, Completedworks produced a collection of glistening objects intriguing in both texture and form. Silver Console Clay, Silver Stool Clay, and Silver Mirror Clay—shown here—are achieved through expanded polystyrene forms cast in aluminum and treated with silver nitrate.

Time After Time by Leo Lague

Monumental and poised, a stone outdoor furniture collection anchored the entry to Villa Bagatti Valsecchi. Designed by Leo Lague in a collaboration with stone purveyor Maqstone, Time After Time is carved from Maqstone Soap Stone Smoke, a dark gray soapstone from Brazil.

Coexist by Forma Rosa Studio

Merging digital precision with artisanal care, Coexist by Forma Rosa Studio is a collection of biomorphic slip-cast, ceramic-glazed lighting sculptures. To grow the collection’s organic silhouettes—suggesting both coral reefs and cellular growth—the design studio used coding. The forms were then handcrafted by artisans in Peru.

J39.5 by Circular Design Studio

It began with a broken chair found in a vintage furniture warehouse. For the J39.5 collection, damaged J39 chairs by Børge Mogensen are reborn, in tribute to the Danish designer’s Shaker-influenced legacy. To create each new item—among them stools, benches, and chairs with an innovative new typography—salvaged parts are reassembled, while unusable wood is pulped into paper cord.

11 Highlights From Stockholm Design Week 2025

Once again, the breadth of Swedish design captures an enthusiastic audience at Stockholm Design Week 2025, which ran from February 3-9, 2025. Held in conjunction with the Stockholm Furniture Fair, the annual event celebrating the dynamic and evolving landscape of Scandinavian design presents a diverse array of exhibitions, events, and furniture launches around the Swedish capital. One such example is the collectible design platform Älvsjö Gård, which created buzz with its experimental and limited-edition pieces at a curated section within the fair this year (Sadly, it’s no longer held at the nearby picturesque 15th-century manor).

From a table with legs recalling a common water mammal to a Japanese-inspired flat-pack collection and a chair with an optional sheepskin seat (a Swedish sheep, of course), here are our favorite finds from Stockholm Design Week 2025.

Discover Experimental Pieces From Stockholm Design Week 2025

Table 4 by Niklas Runesson for Älvsjö Gård

Legs recalling a beaver’s tail are a surprising twist to the birch Table 4 by Niklas Runesson for Älvsjö Gård. The table comfortably seats seven.

Ita by OEO Studio for &Tradition

Miyadaiku, ancient Japanese carpentry that eliminates the need for screws or glue, gave rise to the oak Ita table and bench collection by OEO Studio. The collection includes a dining table in two sizes, two benches, and two coffee tables, all designed for flat-pack shipping and easy assembly with just one tool.

Decadent by Studio Stockholm for Dusty Deco

Studio Stockholm brings a touch of femininity to the classic club chair with Decadent, featuring a gracefully curved backrest and seat. Crafted from sustainably sourced FSC-certified wood, it is upholstered in a durable yet refined dusty rose wool-blend bouclé Jacquard, also designed by Studio Stockholm.

CabinEtt by Erik Bratsberg for Älvsjö Gård

Erik Bratsberg used walnut to frame unevenly cut Mappa burl wood veneer for his striking CabinEtt, a limited-edition piece showcased at Älvsjö Gård.

Nest Club Chair by Form Us With Love for +Halle

A club chair equipped with its own side table keeps a lean silhouette with the Nest Club Chair by Form Us With Love. Geared towards the hospitality market and unveiled in a cafe installation at the Stockholm Furniture Fair, the chair-table combination joins the Nest collection of seating and tables.

Lamp 53 by Axel Wannberg for Nordiska Galleriet

Axel Wannberg’s keen eye for precision led to the creation of the limited-edition Lamp 53, named after the 53-degree angle that inspired its design. Following the success of a mappa burl wood veneer version, it’s now also offered in three new finishes: blue, mustard, and gray powder-coated stainless steel.

Villhem by Thomas Bernstrand and Stefan Borselius for Blå Station

Blurring the line between buttoned-up business and residential design, lounge chair Villhem (‘I want to go home’ in Swedish) by Thomas Bernstrand and Stefan Borselius consists of a steel frame, compression-molded wooden seat shell (with layers adhered together), and armrest, in its simplest form. However, cushy upgrades are available, with the option of padded armrests, upholstered seat, backrest, and a neck cushion—take one or all.

V.DE.07 by David Ericsson for Verk

David Ericsson conceived V.DE.07 during an Artist in Residence program at Malmstens Linköping University in Stockholm. A distinctive armchair with a flair of character, it’s available with a seat cover of Gotland sheepskin, celebrated for its unique wool which ranges from short to long.

Ten Years Unfolded by Layered

Rug company Layered toasts a decade with the launch of an archival collection, Ten Years Unfolded. The collection takes three existing patterns—the optical teasing Illusion, labyrinthine-like Letters, and three-dimensional Triangle—and presents them in new colorways, all in hand-tufted, 100% wool.

X-Felt by Form Us With Love in collaboration with Baux

Soundproofing checks all the boxes with X-Felt by Form Us With Love in collaboration with Baux. Statement-worthy circular patterns in the large format acoustic panels and tiles are a nod to Japanese Zen gardens, while polyester fibers made of GRS-certified PET plastic meet fire safety standards without harmful chemicals.

Painted Mini Monkey by Kay Bojesen

Color makes headlines in the monkey business. Painted Mini Monkey, a four-inch-high rendition of Kay Bojesen’s iconic wood monkey crafted from FSC-certified beech wood, is now offered in in apple green and power pink.

9 Textile Highlights From Heimtextil 2025

Alcova, the design platform that attracts a huge following to derelict spaces at Milan Design Week, and star Spanish architect and designer Patricia Urquiola both made a mark in Frankfurt this month, with large-scale installations highlighting textile innovations at Heimtextil, which went from January 14 – 17. The 2025 edition of the home and contract textile tradeshow drew more than 50,000 buyers with a roster of international exhibitors totaling over 3,000.

Alcova curated this year’s trend installation, themed “Future Continuous.” Designed by architecture and research studio Space Caviar with a visual identity by creative firm Studio Vedèt, the installation categorized the latest textile trends into three key themes: Regenerative, Radically Restructured, and Naturally Uneven. With a futuristic touch, artificial intelligence brought the textile to life, with fabric swatches propelled by both robots and a ceiling-mounted conveyor belt. A bouncy, highly cushioned floor also provided a tactile reprieve for visitors exploring textiles in the immersive “Among Us” installation by Urquiola, a nod to the popular video game.

From textiles crafted from pineapple fibers and olive pits to a towering upholstered mushroom and a flame-retardant, wool-like material, these are nine of our favorite discoveries from Heimtextil 2025.

Discover These Textile Innovations From Heimtextil 2025

Regenerative by Antonio Salgado

Unexpected materials took center stage in the “Regenerative” section of Alcova’s trend installation. Antonio Salgado extracts material from discarded pineapple leaves to produce the stonewashed Kampen, which is 90 percent cotton and 10 percent pineapple fiber. Leather-like in texture, pineapple fiber is easy to dye, and the resulting textile is sound absorbing, hardy, and biodegradable.

Origin by Monteiro Fabrics

A mixture of olive pits, sugar production residue, and cotton paired with polyurethane form the Origin collection from Monteiro Fabrics, a 72 percent bio-based textile repurposing industrial waste.

312988 by Danzo

Not to be overlooked, wool, the oldest known European textile, is also regenerative. An artfully faded stripe, 312988, from Italian manufacturer Danzo, is fabricated from 100 percent sheep wool.

Radically Restructured by A Grupé

Unexpected surfaces drew the eye in the “Radically Restructured” section of Alcova’s trend installation. Lithuanian manufacturer A Grupe presented a 100 percent linen fabric which is deliberately crumpled.

Sensus by Gebrüder Munzert

The polyester Sensus collection from German manufacturer Gebrüder Munzert is made of up to 100 percent recycled post-consumer material.

Naturally Uneven by Libeco

Alcova’s “Naturally Uneven” toasted the imperfections which encourage another look at  society’s definition of beauty. Natural striations only add to the allure of the 100 percent hemp L 121 GINGER SNAP-3111 from Belgian manufacturer Libeco.

Among Us by Patricia Urquiola featuring Mushmoster Moroso by Polimex

Towering almost seven feet in Patricia Urquiola’s “Among Us” installation, a padded sculpture dubbed ‘Mushmonster Moroso’ was a nod to a giant fungus. The sculpture was upholstered with Polimex, a fabric printed using 90 percent less water and 80 percent greenhouse gas emissions, according to the manufacturer, when compared to traditional production processes.

Trevira CS by Tessitura Gerosa

A winner in the 2025 Trevira CS fabric competition using flame retardant Trevira CS fabric, C5414/362 from Italian manufacturer Tessitura Gerosa is an irregular bouclé which feels like wool yet easily moves from indoors to out.

T-MARVK 19070 Col. 60630 by PIF

Another winner in the Trevira competition, T-MARVEK 19070 Col. 60630 is a playful jacquard from Moroccan manufacturer PIF. Likewise, UV resistance allows the material to be applied in settings both indoors and out for furnishings such as seating.

Historic Washhouse in Italy Earns Verdant Makeover

The 2024 Landscape Festival in Bergamo mixes lush greenery with colorful outdoor furniture from Pedrali. An iconic site in the Città Alta (Upper Town) of the northern Italian city of Bergamo is the Antico Lavatoio, a historic wash house built in 1881. Sheltered by an open cast-iron and metal slab pitched roof, an elongated white marble tank is carefully partitioned and engineered with a drain system to release dirty water—despite the low hygienic standards of the time. Last month, the wash house and its surroundings hosted “Choose Your Future: Green or Dry—Pedrali at the Antico Lavatoio,” an installation by Greta Bianchi, Marco Togni, and Michele Pezzoni for Bergamo’s annual Landscape Festival.

Aiming to express a balance between nature and humankind as an answer to today’s environmental challenges, the team of artists enticed residents of the city to relax with artfully arranged container gardens, lush greenery sprouting from tree stumps, and outdoor furniture from Pedrali, the Italian manufacturer headquartered nearby. Flowing through the installation was a 130-foot-long ‘river,’ crafted from light blue-painted wood coated with a reflective, semi-transparent film.

“In order to address global crises, it is essential to adopt practical solutions such as those geared toward ecosystem conservation, sustainable resource management, and the development of green and blue infrastructure—the networks, that is, of natural and semi-natural areas in a territory,” says Togni.

The river is intended to symbolize the timeline of past (when ecosystems were not influenced by man), present (when ecosystems are unbalanced), and future (when man and nature find a balance and way to co-exist).

 “The project thus explores two scenarios: a negative one, where nature is overtaken by human actions, and a positive one, with a balance between humans and nature,” explains Pezzoni. “The choice is up to us,” adds Bianchi.

A Design Lover’s Guide To Portugal: 5 Must-See Hotels

With its rich history, miles of scenic sandy beaches, and fast-tracked European visas, Portugal is well established as a global hotspot for travelers and digital nomads alike. In 2023, a record 26.5 million international tourists visited the southern European country, and most of these visitors require a place to stay. Whether it’s a once crumbling historic landmark, now tastefully restored, or an avant-garde structure taking advantage of sweeping coastal views, the hospitality market is stepping up to the demand and stylish, design-forward Portugal hotels and short-term housing options continue to emerge.

From a sumptuous villa influenced by a fashion icon to a 17th-century convent and a cliffside surf retreat, here are five Portugal hotels to visit on a future trip.

Take A Fall Holiday In These Stylish Hotels In Portugal

1. Vermelho Melides, Melides, Portugal

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You can stay in a hotel, or you can stay in a fashionable friend’s stylish villa. Designed by architect Madalena Caiado and illustrious fashion designer Christian Louboutin—the man behind the iconic black pump with its trademark red bottom—boutique hotel Vermelho Melides offers 13 unique rooms chock full of pieces from Louboutin’s own collection as well as eclectic work from local artists.

“Italian sculptor Giuseppe Ducrot created all the ceramic elements on the facade and the sculptures in the garden,” notes Louboutin. “I originally discovered his work in Positano, Italy.” The fashion designer often works on his latest collection nearby, in a restored fisherman’s shack. There are also hand-painted frescoes by Konstantin Kakanias, a chandelier by Nicolas Cesbron inspired by sea urchins, and upholstered furniture by Pierre Yovanovitch. “Vermelho Melides offers all the comforts of the contemporary world as well as the experience of entering an authentic universe by Christian Louboutin,” Caiado adds.

2. Locke de Santa Joana Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

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If joining a convent seems a little extreme, how about checking into one for a few nights? In Lisbon, a 200,000-square-foot 17th-century convent now attracts digital nomads as the newest location of hospitality chain Locke de Santa Joana. More comfortably minimalistic than monastery-sparse, 370 serviced apartments have interiors by Post Company. Lázaro Rosa-Violán, head of his namesake architecture firm, designed public areas, carving out restaurants and bars, coworking spaces, meeting rooms, and an outdoor swimming pool.

Preserving the listed building was essential to the design, but also challenging. The eclectic nature of the project is visible in flooring. “There are pieces and areas from different periods with very diverse shapes and colors,” notes Rosa-Violán.

3. Casa Nossa, Campinho, Portugal

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Searching for a weekend getaway, award-winning Portuguese chef José Avillez and his wife Sofia Ulrich discovered a tumble-down 160-acre estate in Portugal’s Alentejo region, just 30 minutes from the border of Spain. While existing buildings were mostly in ruins, the picturesque site was surrounded by centuries-old holm oaks and gardens and on the banks of the scenic Alqueva reservoir.

Designed by Studio Astolfi, the restored and reorientated Casa Nossa now faces the lake, with large glass windows and doors soaking up waterfront views. Expansive public areas include cinema and entertainment room, library, bar, and wine cellar large enough to offer wine tasting. A stay requires renting the entire property, which has up to 11 suites. Avillez serves as private chef, dishing up locally sourced, Portuguese-inspired cuisine with an emphasis on the Alentejo region.

A tapestry by Lisbon-based textile and fiber artist Vasco Águas is among furnishings by Portuguese designers and artists. There’s also a unique mix of artisanal craft from the Alentejo region curated by Felipa Almeida—a curator of art and crafts handmade in Portugal—and a painting by Pedro Batista. “This painting, which I’ve had for a long time, has special meaning to me,” reveals Avillez. “It was just right for the living room.”

4. Pa.te.os, Melides, Portugal

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Situated on Alentejo’s coastline, Pa.te.os consists of four unique concrete vacation homes designed by Manuel Aires Mateus, founder of architecture firm Aires Mateus, for Sofia and Miguel Charters. Varying in size from a 1,000-square-foot one-bedroom to a 2,200-square-foot three-bedroom, the houses complement each other with striking geometry.

“The structures were designed for the topography of the place, taking into account the existing trees and the sought-after views of the Atlantic ocean,” explains Aires Mateus, who also designed much of the locally produced custom oak furniture inside (the interior is artfully minimal). As co-owner Miguel Charters, founder of real estate firm Primosfera explains, Pa.te.os is designed as a response to a fast world, to “consciously shift the focus towards what is really essential.”

5. Aethos Ericeira, Encarnação, Portugal

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In an appeal to nomads who love surfing but also appreciate effortless luxury, Pedra Silva Arquitectos and Spanish design studio Astet conceived sophisticated surf retreat Aethos Ericeira. With facilities including a meditation and yoga platform, gym, heated saltwater pool, spa with hammam, restaurant, and coworking space, the 50-room hotel is perched on a 130-foot cliff, just a 15 minute drive from the popular surf town of Ericeira.

The design team selected stucco walls, whitewashed wood flooring, and recycled synthetic flooring to provide a neutral backdrop to sand, green, and blue-toned hues reflecting those of the beach, cliffs, sea, and sky. Portugal’s climate consists of hot summers and often wet, windy, and gray winters. In response, warm-toned wood, velvet, and leather are juxtaposed with marble and stone “to make the property comfortable for every season,” explains Ala Zreigat, co-founder of Astet.              

10 Questions With… Arthur Casas

What Is Arthur Casas Up To?

Interior Design: Could you tell us about your new collection for Etel?

Arthur Casas: When I was a child, there was a very popular candy in Brazil called Soft. There were several flavors, each flavor a color, and my favorite was pineapple, which was yellow, rounded, and translucent like the glass in the collection. From this material came the desire to create the Bala Soft line of coffee and side tables for Etel.

These new pieces represent the specific way in which I work with my studio, with reference to classical architecture and the addition of a contemporary sensitivity, which is reflected both in my work as a designer and as an architect. The materiality holds the excellence in which Etel works, in its execution of handcrafted wooden furniture. When there is another material in the composition of a product, I always try to use wood, either as a protagonist or in a supporting role.

ID: What else have you completed recently?

AC: Two residences. The Orla Apartment is a project which aims to highlight its surroundings, the panoramic view of the sights of Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro and Ipanema beach. Integrated living and kitchen areas allow a great view of the iconic rock formation Morro Dois Irmãos and a part of Arpoador, a beach on the southern end of the city. All the social areas look towards this nature, in flexible environments and neutral aesthetics.

Pacaembu House, on the other hand, is a city house. It’s situated in the middle of a neighborhood, yet integrated with local woods and vegetation. Special attention was paid to all scales of this project, from building to material. We designed not only its architecture, but also finishes, such as the cyclopean concrete cast on-site and custom furniture.

ID: What made you choose architect as a profession?

AC: I’ve always been very observant, an indispensable trait for an architect, and I started drawing house facades at age eight, for some reason. I also never had doubts about the profession that would accompany me in adult life. In college, I came into contact with the work of several architects, Brazilian and not, that I had never seen before. It’s been a long time since I’ve had the influence of other architects on my work. But in the beginning it was different. Youth is the period in which we are still defining ourselves or looking for ways to.

ID: In what kind of home do you live?

AC: I’ve lived in a house that I did not design for 32 years. I was 28 when I bought it, I still didn’t feel ready to design a house for myself—and the opportunity arose to buy this house, designed in 1942 by Brazilian architect Vilanova Artigas, the greatest exponent of modern architecture in São Paulo, alongside his pupil Paulo Mendes da Rocha.

It was an extremely modern house for its time, located on a steeply sloping plot of land, on five stilts. Interestingly, Artigas was 28 years old when he designed it. But I’m moving in about six months into a building I’m designing, into an apartment with a wonderful view of the city of São Paulo. I felt the need for change after many years and stories in the same space, but I don’t intend to sell the house or reuse the furniture, all from the Modernist period and including some works of art of that time.

ID: If you could choose a favorite material today for both the bathroom and the kitchen, what would you choose? How has this answer changed over your career?

AC: I avoid using natural stones, I prefer handcrafted or industrialized ceramic. I don’t see any need to use marble and granite in bathrooms and kitchens as I did in the past, given the vast amount of beautiful, high-quality ceramics, as well as synthetic materials composed of resin.

ID: How do you approach color?

AC: I always use the same color on the walls, a special bright formula of ‘wedding white.’ I also like to always have a hint of ocher in the palette to make the environment friendlier and warmer.

ID: Who in the industry that you particularly admire?

AC: Frank Lloyd Wright, for his inherent command of scale and his unwavering commitment to applying it at each stage of a project’s completion.

ID: What are you reading?

AC: The Difficulty of Being by Jean Cocteau, who was everything: writer, filmmaker, artist, designer. It’s an autobiographical account, a sincere statement on issues such as insecurities and inspiration, and how and under what conditions these surface in a plural artist like him.

ID: Do you have a secret you can share?

AC: I really like the work of Seu Fernando da Ilha do Ferro, a craftsman, artist and dare I say, designer, illiterate, from an isolated village in the poor northeast of Brazil. He produced furniture of a very rich aesthetic quality using fallen wood, found in his local forest, close to the São Francisco River.

A Closer Look at Studio Arthur Casa’s Residential Repertoire

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See more of the BD House in this Interior Design feature.

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Furniture Design by Studio Arthur Casas

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11 Highlights from Jerusalem Design Week 2023

Design can be manipulative, an edgy Jerusalem Design Week 2023 proves. For this year’s event, held June 22-29 at cultural center Hansen House in Israel’s capital, 150 international designers, artists, illustrators, and creators presented objects and site-specific installations after an open call for ‘lies and falsehoods.’

A loose definition of design prevailed—and that was intentional. “Design is not only the shape and the aesthetic, but also the planning,” explains artistic director Sonja Olitsky, who curated the show alongside Dana Ben Shalom and Jeremy Fogel. From a living room that requires a mow to an AI that studies your coffee grounds, as well as armed and dangerous nesting dolls, here are 11 of our favorite finds from this year’s show.

Top Picks From Jerusalem Design Week 2023

1. Non-Garden by Studio MA of Moria Architects

What defines a garden? To examine this question, Studio MA of Moria Architects overtook an interior courtyard at Hansen House. They then arranged it with upholstered furniture sprayed with hydro-seeding, or a specialized mix of seeds and mulch usually used to grow grass to prevent soil erosion, surrounding the vignette with real and artificial grass. After three weeks, the result was an untraditional outdoor living room, lush, growing, and surrounded by greenery.

2.  “The Uncanny Valley of Future Food”

Lab-grown steak can imitate the real thing or appear as something entirely new. For the exhibit “The Uncanny Valley Of Future Food,” 11 designers presented possibilities in both directions for four lab-grown foods: eggs, dairy, meat, and fish. When it comes down to it, consumer acceptance determines what you are likely to consume—and perhaps, that’s the steak here, which takes on a gradient cubic pattern.

3. “Prediction Addiction” by Elad Medan and Roy Amit

When in the past we turned to fortune tellers, now we have AI. With algorithms responding to your coffee grounds, “Prediction Addiction” generates a tarot card-like reading offering advice on short-term decisions and existential dilemmas.

4. “A Shadow is Present” by Studio Yarnatak

Floor or carpet or shadow? Site-specific installation “A Shadow is Present” by Studio Yarnatak is all three, with a hand-tufted rug matching the hues and pattern of a historic tiled floor reclaimed from Tel Aviv’s oldest district, Yaffa, following gentrification. Resting on the tiled floor, the carpet and its distinctive shape gives the illusion of a shadow cast by a near-by podium.

5. “Woodenwood: A Circular Design and Manufacturing Process for Wood Waste”

Sawdust is a common waste product from the wood industry. WoodenWood is a prototype seating collection of curved, 3D-printed wood products. Each piece finds new life for raw wood scraps and sawdust, mixing them with cellulose-based natural binders for beautiful forms approaching a zero-waste circular design process.

6. Blanks by Rina German Berezovski

Blanks, bullet-shaped incense by Rina German Berezovski, point to the smoking gun that continuously disrupts society with mass shootings. The clever design transforms something traditionally used for cleansing, purifying, or relaxation into a tool of protest and criticism.

7. Un-Curtain by Studio Cheha

With its illuminated mesh form, the Un-Curtain by Studio Cheha is more light sculpture than curtain. Instead of concealing, it invites a second look.

8. Matryoshka 2.0 by Yonatan Levi

Russian nesting dolls or Matryoshka are usually kind and matronly in appearance. In a stark contrast, Matryoshka 2.0, a series of nesting dolls by Yonatan Levi, are armed and dangerous—or so it seems with the threatening weapons they point when open.

9. Fountain of Youth by Idan Sidi and Gal Sharir

Concerned by drying lakes and melting icebergs, Idan Sidi and Gal Sharir conceived Fountain of Youth, a fountain made of transparent colored acrylic. Drawing attention to the search for life-giving water, the sculpture addresses a global water crisis.

10. Noy by Reddish Studio

“Noy” by Reddish Studio highlights the popular trend of ornamental fish, revealing them as colorful abstract shapes moving in elegant glass vessels. The installation was included in the exhibition “Overstuffed,” which explores the idea that mankind positions itself on top of—instead of a part of—nature.

11. “Black and White. Now” by Typomania Project”

On a second level bridge, behind the rusty bars of a window, visitors discovered a poster by Rodion Raskolnikov of Russia’s current president, Vladimir Putin, Should we view the world—and some of its horrors—in black and white, or in shades of grey? “Black and White. Now” by Typomania Project enlisted 24 designers, calligraphers and illustrators to react to this brief with a series of black and white posters presented on the Hansen House facade.

12 Brazilian Design Highlights from the Milan Furniture Fair 2023

Home to an immense diversity of tree species and a rich variety of natural stone, Brazil has a wealth of material for savvy product designers to bring to life. The sensitivity lies in achieving good design while preserving natural resources and preventing deforestation.

At this year’s Milan Furniture Fair, Brazilian design with a sustainable focus shined at Salone del Mobile, as well as its young designer platform SaloneSatellite. However the biggest presentation of design hailing from South America’s largest country was at “ApexBrasil: Temporal (Storm).” The exhibition, held in the graceful arcades of the Portico Richini at the University of Milan, was curated by entrepreneur Bruno Simões for ApexBrasil, The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency. With a particular focus on sustainability, the exhibit featured 50 contemporary products made by Brazilian designers. From a chair made entirely of laser-cut stainless steel to one inspired by a native anaconda to nesting tables developed after examining the behavior of gorillas, here are 12 of our favorite Brazilian designs from the Milan Furniture Fair 2023.

The Best of Brazilian Design at Milan Furniture Fair 2023

1. Ancestral by Pedro Franco for A Lot of Brasil

Mirror-polished and made entirely of laser-cut stainless steel, the Ancestral armchair by Pedro Franco is limited edition and made to order. It’s part of the collection Ancestralidade, in which Franco questions beauty and the ‘instagrammable’ phenomenon.

2. Sucuri by Érico Gondim

A flexible, snake-like braiding of hardy carnaúba straw wraps the Louro Canela wood and brass Securi armchair by Érico Gondim. The braiding serves as a flexible backrest and references the Securi, a green anaconda native to Brazil.

3. Mono by F. Studio Design

Pondering the rigid posture and social and sharing behavior of gorillas, F. Studio Design conceived Mono. The powder-coated aluminum nesting tables can also be stacked into interconnected shelves.

4. Pampa by Estúdio Fabiano Salbego

Exotic emerald and jade crystal with natural striations—Brazilian quartzite with the J’Adore brand name—tops a base of carbonized wood for Pampa by Estúdio Fabiano Salbego, part of the Biomas collection. Since each slab of crystal is unique, each coffee table is one-of-a-kind.

5. Arreio by Tavinho Camerino

Open-air markets selling traditional cattle-herding tools in northeastern Brazil are the source of the materials used in Arreio by Tavinho Camerinois, featured in SaloneSatellite. The armchair’s seat is made of leather cowbell harnesses, which also strap in a back cushion.

6. Aro Table by Leandro Garcia

Joining a wall-mounted version, Aro Table by Leandro Garcia are a collection of Tauart wood mirrors with varying attachments. Three different types of table mirrors are possible—fixed support, rotating support, and handheld.

7. Cuckoo by Platform4 for Enele

Continuous curves define plush armchair Cuckoo by Platform4, a pairing of FSC-certified pine, plywood, and upholstery. A revolving base ensures an air of flexibility to sumptuous lounging.

8. Fan by Roberta Rampazzo for Pemagran

Fan by Roberta Rampazzo highlights the beauty of Brazilian stone—renowned for its abundance of diverse geological formations. Formed from slabs of São Miguel black granite and Mont Blanc marble, the side table, part of the Graphic collection, doubles as a table base.

9. Fish Dies by the Mouth by Bia Rezende

Talking too much can cause you problems—or so implies the Portuguese saying “A fish dies by its mouth” referring to the aquatic creature’s demise by baited hook. The Fish Dies by the Mouth sugar bowl and teapot is designer Bia Rezende’s cheeky porcelain interpretation of the warning, and two storage containers for foods which must be consumed with caution.

10. Forma Vases by Suka Braga

Suka Braga joined slabs of Quartzite crystal with resin for Forma, a collection of stone vases that is part of her A Silent Object Series. Natural white and orange striations point to earth’s rich history.

11. Tessa by Índio da Costa Design for Munclair Lighting Brasil

On one side of pendant light Tessa by Índio da Costa Design, ripples of painted aluminum recall the surface of a body of water. The other side is curved screen-printed opaque glass, which eliminates the glare that can come with exposed LEDs.

12. Glow Up by Rodrigo Laureano for Studio Ronega

A base that widens at its feet distinguishes the wood lounge chair Glow Up by Rodrigo Laureano. The durable foam seat is upholstered in cotton fabric.

9 Bold Color Highlights from Milan Design Week 2023

There is a springtime following winter, and we are in it. Color can match our emotional state. Bold and bright, it seizes a room, lifts us up, and comforts us. For the first time since the global pandemic, international furnishings event Salone del Mobile and the coinciding Milan Design Week returned to their former April time slot, for the most part back to the usually scheduled program. 

As Interior Design jaunted around town and the fairgrounds, we saw color, color, and more color. And this makes sense. Would a gray or neutral beige really express what we have gone through? Now, in this moment, color should shout. Or perhaps, wrapped up in our own spaces for so long, we know ourselves better. Color is about individualism, after all. From a pastel outdoor sofa system to a balloon that won’t float away and pendants that climb to the heavens, here are nine of our favorite, colorful finds from Milan Design Week 2023.

Pops of Color at Milan Design Week 2023

1. BomBom Outdoor by Joana Vasconcelos for Roche Bobois

The pastel-hued facades of Lisbon’s Old Town sparked the idea for the exuberant color pallet of the curvaceous BomBom Outdoor sofa system by Joana Vasconcelos, upholstered in hardy outdoor fabric. Vasconcelos, who lives in Portugal’s capital, also designed the suspended ceiling installation in the same hues, as seen in the Milan showroom here. 

2. Bulla by Studio Thier & van Daalen

Evoking childhood memories of the excitement that comes with a balloon, Bulla wall lamps are crafted from glass in pastel hues mouth-blown without a mold—making each piece unique. The loop-shaped light element follows the form. 

3. Parallel Tube by Atelier Areti

There are times when limitations lead to the best results. A basic light could be considered three parts: base, stem and illuminating element. “The Elements collection is based on reinterpreting one or two elements of this archetypical three-component light,” says Gwendolyn Kerschbaumer, cofounder of Atelier Areti. Parallel Tubes, a new addition to the collection, is a wall lamp where this simplicity shines. 

4. Starglow Spiral by Eloa

A colorful floating stairway gracefully ascending to the sky, the Starglow pendant light by Eloa is a string of colored spheres of mouth-blown glass, each unique. Both color and height are adjustable—allowing the possibility of floor-to-ceiling rainbows for living rooms, stairwells, and more. 

5. Ray and Rainbow by Draga & Aurel for Rossana Orlandi Gallery

With a nod to Light Boxes by artist and composer Brian Eno, pendant light rods Ray and table Rainbow demonstrate with electrifying results the possibilities of acrylic resin. Irregularly-shaped swaths of color form Rainbow, while Ray drops enthusiastic hues from the ceiling. “I imagined a kind of waterfall or a curtain made of light,” says Draga & Aurel cofounder Draga Obradovic. “In this collection, we wanted color because it gives the sensation of lightness.”

6. Moiré by Objects of Common Interest for CC-Tapis

Rugs can also explore the natural beauty of wood grain, according to Objects of Common Interest. The design studio’s Moiré rugs, woven in a jacquard technique rare for the rug world, draw from the moiré-like patterns of grain and rings occurring in wood.

7. Bentar by Hendro Hadinata for Robries

Split gateways (candi bentar in Indonesian) are often found at the entrances of palaces and temples in Indonesia. Similar in form, the Bentar lamp by Hendro Hadinata is made from a material that recycles plastic waste. The light dims when its two pieces are pushed together. 

8. Otto by Yellowdot

The shimmering, hand-woven silk ‘kutnu’ fabric upholstering the blocky Otto bench by Yellowdot takes its wavy pattern from the Ottoman Empire, where it was used for royal kaftans and furnishings. Today, the technique is kept alive by a small group of craftworkers in the city of Gazientep, Turkey.

9. Binda by Raw Edges for Louis Vuitton

With piping accenting its backwards-sweeping, futuristic curves, the upholstered Blinda armchair and sofa elevate the average living room to the one you keep talking about. In addition to ‘cream and coral’—shown here—bold color options include ‘deep blue and violet’ and ‘orange and milk.’