Join IKEA at Milan Design Week for a sensory journey through the past, present, and future of Life at Home
Milan, 17 April 2023 – Between 17 and 23 April IKEA is taking over Padiglione Visconti in the heart of Milan’s design district, opening the building’s historic doors to welcome visitors for a week of design, talks, music, food, and curiosity. “Assembling the Future Together” is a unique experience that explores the past, present, and future of life at home.
“We are truly proud to take part in Fuorisalone, an event that has always been close to our hearts and which, this year, has become an occasion to celebrate the 80-year anniversary of IKEA. Design Week plays a key role for Italy and also Milan, an international, cosmopolitan city with its eye to the future. And this is precisely what IKEA intends to celebrate at Fuorisalone – the future, building on the heritage of the past”, says Asunta Enrile, Country Retail Manager, IKEA Italy.
As part of Milan Design Week, IKEA is also marking its eighty-year anniversary. Belén Frau, Global Communications Manager at Ingka Group, IKEA Retail, said “For the last eighty years we have had the privilege of being part of the many people’s homes and lives. It has been eight decades of curiosity about peoples’ needs and dreams of a better home. For the next eighty years we want to become an even better company, to offer the generations to come better homes and lives so that, together, we can assemble a better planet and, as Ingvar Kamprad used to say, a glorious future.”
One of the highlights of Assembling the Future Together is the unveiling of Nytillverkad, a new collection designed to celebrate the brand’s 80th anniversary, that pays tribute to iconic IKEA designs. “At IKEA, the past, the present, and the future are all connected,” says Fredrika Inger, Managing Director of IKEA of Sweden. “We’ve designed many functional and beautiful home furnishing products over these 80 years, and it’s only natural that we get curious about our achievements in the past. With Nytillverkad, we are returning to the future, again. In multiple launches over the next few years, we will release a series of carefully selected home furnishings from our design archive, updated to match the bold outlook of the next generation. We are happy to bring back these timeless designs truly appreciated by the customers over the years”. A selection of this new collection, specially commissioned for Milan Design Week in a limited edition, will be on sale within Padiglione Visconti, from 17 to 23 April.
Renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz joined the press conference at Assembling the Future Together where she spoke alongside Marcus Engman, Creative Director at Ingka Group, about the work that she is doing as the first IKEA Artist in Residence. Visitors to Assembling the Future Together can enjoy a cinema experience at the IKEA Artist in Residence: Annie Leibovitz part of the exhibition which offers a behind-the scenes glimpse from the first portraits in Italy and shares a sneak peek of future portraits.
"We are thrilled to partner with Annie Leibovitz for this exciting collaboration. There is a lot more to come throughout the year, so keep an eye on the dedicated IKEA Life at Home website for all the latest news from Annie’s travels."– Marcus Engman, Creative Director, Ingka Group
Assembling the Future Together also hosts an exclusive exhibition of the products that have contributed to the success of IKEA since the 1950s: a selection of iconic works of design history is displayed within the location, with products coming from the IKEA Museum in Älmhult, Sweden, that are no longer sold in stores. At the end of Fuorisalone, people will have the opportunity to buy some of the products of the exhibition, that will be sold at the IKEA San Giuliano store in Milan, from 29th of April: a unique opportunity to get a vintage IKEA product and give it a second life, promoting circularity as part of our everyday life at home.
In addition to the exhibition, during the day there will be talks and workshops from speakers including IKEA designers, representatives from IKEA Foundation Better Shelter, The Museum for the United Nations who will explore the topic of designing for a better future, and creatives from Atelier100 will talk about how the future of design is collective. Visitors can also sample a range of delicious Swedish food and drinks at the venue.
The nightly programme sees IKEA team up with Telekom Elektronic Beats. Between 18 and 20 April, from 20:00 to 24:00, an unmissable line-up of DJs and music selectors, will illuminate the dancefloor. Highlights include a night co-curated by legendary Milanese vinyl store Serendeepity, A Better Mistake techno rave, featuring 999999999 and Metaraph, and an Ultimo Tango Boogie with Fiona Zanetti and Simone de Kunovich.
Designed by architect Midori Hasuike and spatial designer Emerzon, Assembling the Future Together promises to be a unique and inspiring event that celebrates the past, present, and future of IKEA. To be part of the Assembling the Future Together story, follow the #IKEAdesignweek hashtag on social media.
About Ingka Group
With IKEA retail operations in 31 markets, Ingka Group is the largest IKEA retailer and represents about 90% of IKEA retail sales. It is a strategic partner to develop and innovate the IKEA business and help define common IKEA strategies. Ingka Group owns and operates IKEA sales channels under franchise agreements with Inter IKEA Systems B.V. It has three business areas: IKEA Retail, Ingka Investments and Ingka Centres. Read more on ingka.com.
Media enquiries
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