60TH SALONE DEL MOBILE — TREND ’22: NATURE, ART&CRAFT, SUSTAINABILITY.
We have witnessed a great attention to the rediscovery of traditional workmanship, search for more natural materials, colors and workmanship, linked to local traditions or techniques of the past. Young companies, which in this type of research find a way to express their niche creativity and reconcile it with still limited production capacities.
However, it is now also an increasingly important choice for industrial-type companies, which find their distinctive element in the combination of craftsmanship and industrial production. Therefore, new Musts with the flavor of tradition are imposing themselves, such as the paradigm of — Refinement and Naturalness — in which the search for natural materials and processes handed down by the historical tradition of the brand create new absolutely contemporary contents that cross a demand increasingly attentive to the environment, well-being and the aesthetics of the so-called “contemporary classic,” reassuring and guaranteeing taste and style at the same time. The colors of the woods, the upholstery covers, are markedly naturally inspired: untreated wood but also untreated metals, warm and soft colors, materials with low environmental impact and so on. Other Must-haves are represented by blends-multimaterials- that go into enriching the finished product. Choosing 100% natural may not always work, because natural materials are not always then easy to handle, process, store and in maintenance. It seems, therefore, that companies are oriented to seek a virtuous balance in this area, which, moreover, is not easy if one wants to comply with the “ethical” canons now markedly outlined in respect also for our planet earth. Working materials in a natural way, without treatments or coloring, is difficult, but this is precisely where the companies on display demonstrated their ability to put to good use their knowhow, which combines craftsmanship capable of forging the material, with the use of high-tech machinery and an industrial-type organizational capacity.
And this is where the other paradigm comes in, namely the combination of -Manual skill and High Technology-. But above all -Wellbeing and Functionality- are the real keys to interpreting this Salone del Mobile 2022, because wellbeing in post-pandemic living has now become the real luxury and passes through the creation of home spaces that are absolutely functional and customized to the needs of those who live there. Spaces where care for every detail and attention to detail make the difference. The -nature- enters the home and the house is filled with plants and green corners, while Outdoor Spaces, even the smallest ones, have an increasing importance and are proposed and experienced as a harmonious continuation of the indoor ones, of which they maintain styles and colors. So many outdoor brands are present at this Salone del Mobile 2022, a clear sign of a sector on the rise and the widespread desire to want to furnish these spaces with the same care and attention as the rest of the house. Even in the out-door, relax and convivial corners are furnished and completed by enriching themselves with every dedicated complement:
many soft cushions, very functional as well as decorative side tables, but above all carpets, which are also inevitable outdoors to decorate and define functional areas and made with technical fabrics designed specifically for outdoors.
For the bathroom environment, presented at this year’s biennial, in addition to the traditional focus on wellness, great emphasis was placed on the concepts of efficiency and functionality, but also on savings, both water and energy. In summary, five major macro chapters basically emerged at this year’s show: Color, that resumes soft but decisive and reassuring tones, with pigments and evocations — nature . Technological innovations that can in the future be increasingly “Design with nature oriented.” The Kitchen, proclaimed “Queen of the Home”, vital nucleus in which to gather with friends and family and, on occasion, transform into a studio in which to carry on work remotely or conduct an online class. The kitchen must therefore be multifunctional and absolutely practical.
The bathroom with decorating ideas ranging from retro solutions revisited from a modern perspective, to minimal architecture or soft lines for a more relaxed feeling. The colors also reflect a sense of calm and peace, such as midnight blue, but there is also a focus on elegance, with colors such as black and gold. The watchword is “personalization”: the home (like the Bathroom environment) should be a mirror of one’s personality and above all ethical sense to saving the consumption of the “Blue Gold”. The out-door too, has become more important after the lockdown, with the increasing use of sustainable materials.
Edited by reFRAME Editorial Staff
