From abstract to functional: Nichetto Studio's collaborations at Milan Design Week

At Milan Design Week 2023, multidisciplinary design studio, Nichetto Studio Studio showcases bespoke designs from various realms, ranging from furniture to lighting to product designs , staying true to the studio’s philosophy of designing concepts that can objectify just as well into a pencil, a chair, a building or a brand. "For this year’s Milan Design Week at Nichetto Studio, we wanted to go beyond conventional product launches and instead delve deeper into creating immersive experiences for visitors to engage with, hoping to convey our unique point of view," shares Ilenia Martini, Creative Director, Nichetto Studio

STIR enlists projects by Nichetto Studio awaiting unveiling at the Milan Design Week 2023

Nichetto Studio x Lunardelli Venezia to present L’8 Lunardelli at MDW 2023

With a child-like attitude by going through memories of a time filled with amazement and wonder, Nichetto Studio drew its inspiration for this site-specific project to be unveiled during the Milan Design Week 2023 for Lunardelli Venezia. A series of vintage references from speedy slides, vintage candy dispensers, and classic American mailboxes embody the concept and its playful approach that Nichetto Studio aimed for with L’8. This human-sized, colourful mailbox, L’8 invites people to post a letter, play around with one of the side knobs that releases the envelopes into a middle section made of glass, and just like those candy dispensers, with jolly suspense, turn yet another knob that’ll see the letters slide into a front opening.

Nichetto Studio x Gebrüder Thonet Vienna to unveil 'Ample' at Milan

Wanting to keep Gebrüder Thonet Vienna's core values, whilst injecting them with something new, Nichetto Studio started its concept by studying the brand’s iconic and unforgettable pieces, deep-diving into which innovation had not been yet explored. That’s how Ample was born - a chair design with a sinuous shape, generous seat, and a comfortable backrest ideal for both residential and contract markets. The beloved accommodating profile of Ample whispers the values of craftsmanship, tradition and innovation that are rare to find in one product only, while it's timeless elegance and sculptural beauty ensure an outstanding presence. The appearance of Ample is intended to be versatile, with an effortless ability to change environments and places. “When Gebrüder Thonet Vienna contacted my Studio and me for a possible project together, I felt just honoured. The company is a mainstay in the history of chairs and with Ample we want to contribute to that history by introducing new material, without forgetting their two-centuries-old tradition” shares Nichetto.

Nichetto Studio presents 'The Village' at Milan Furniture Fair

For this year’s Milan Furniture Fair, Nichetto Studio has created a luminous and inviting village-like atmosphere for the booth of Austrian furniture brand Wittmann. Accordingly named ‘The Village’, the booth is a metaphor for the brand’s internationalisation, projecting Wittmann’s humble base in the small village of Hadersdorf as Kamp to the world. Once inside, visitors can explore a selection of traditional Wittmann products alongside the brand’s new offerings for 2023. The booth has been divided into distinct “houses”, each corresponding to a specific function, such as living spaces, outdoor areas, dining areas, and office spaces. The new products are both highlighted on one of three podiums and displayed in everyday settings, inviting visitors to visualise how they might look in their own spaces. Integrated office areas within the booth provide a dedicated workspace for interacting with buyers and sellers. Selecting colours from the CMF palette referenced from Viennese design heritage and curated by Nichetto Studio, every aspect of the booth works in harmony with Wittmann’s hand-wrought furniture and fabrics. Warm spotlights illuminate the pieces, coming full circle on the welcoming, residential motif.

Paradise Bird family - Wittmann's venture into outdoor furniture

Wittmann has ventured into outdoor furniture with our beloved Paradise Bird family, which has been given a new version that combines the brand's high-quality standards with the expertise and craftsmanship of Italian manufacturer Ethimo. The Paradise Bird family of outdoor furniture effortlessly blends into gardens and spacious terraces, replacing the original metal structure with resilient rope while maintaining the brand's high standards of comfort and a relaxing, elegant aesthetic.

Gran Nichetto: A Piano With Multiple Souls Steinway&Sons

"This year we were offered opportunities to imagine and explore new dimensions of creativity pushing every boundary of our artistic expression. We brought the Gran Nichetto limited edition piano designed for Steinway & Sons to Milan with a theatrical installation - ‘Mohd Sinfonia’; art and irony met porcelain with the first interiors collection developed for Ginori1735. These are just examples of our Milan Design Week filled with fun and exciting projects" shares Luca Nichetto. Nichetto Studio is thrilled to announce the launch of the Gran Nichetto Limited Edition piano designed for Steinway&Sons. The Gran Nichetto Limited Edition was conceived as a homage to Venice , where Luca was raised and where he was influenced by the artistry of some of the world’s finest craftspeople. “A visit to the Steinway factory in New York trigged childhood memories for me. The curves of the classic pianos in all stages of creation immediately reminded me of associations with the shapely glossy hulls of the famous gondolas traversing Venice’s canals. In designing Gran Nichetto, I sought to translate the smoothness and dynamism of the gondola into the detailing of the piano, accenting the lines and celebrating the contours across the instrument’s every detail” shares Nichetto.

Luca approached the piano like he would a piece of furniture, dissecting and redefining all external elements in close collaboration with Steinway’s craftspeople. He described the assembly of these elements as similar to a micro-architecture project, evolving the aesthetic of the Model B in a way that honours the history and tradition of Steinway & Sons. “I knew I wanted my design approach to be as respectful to the object as it could be since I could not even play the piano. I’d rather give the external structure a makeover, leaving the internal part as it is, as one would do when working on a car design” shares Nichetto.

The Gran Nichetto limited-edition piano sits atop elegantly sculpted legs defined with brass or stainless-steel accents. The music desk is distinguished from the case’s high-polish finish by the fine lustre of Italian leather. The gracefully tapered top stick supports the piano lid, which is reinforced with brass or stainless-steel hardware integrated into the piano rim. The pedal lyre is a single piece of hand-crafted bent lamination and the structure is accompanied by a matching bench. “New York feels like home. I have a family of friends and colleagues there that I tend to visit at least once a year. In May 2018 I was travelling to the city to attend the local Design Week and like a typical tourist, I post a picture on social media portraying Manhattan’s skyline, without imagining what that post would lead me to one of my most unexpected collaborations. I received a message from Robert Polan, Head of the limited-edition piano department at Steinway&Sons, who asked for a meeting” shares Nichetto.

The Gran Nichetto limited-edition piano comes in three different finishes - Midnight Red, Black Polished and Walnut Veneer - and is equipped as a revolutionary SPIRIO | r, the world’s finest high-resolution player piano capable of live performance capture and premium definition recording and playback.

Argyle Rakumba by Nichetto Studio

Designed by Nichetto Studio for Rakumba Lighting, Argyle is a modular family of lamps inspired by the tridimensional artworks of renowned sculptor Ruth Asawa. Crafted from the finest borosilicate glass with a central metal structure, the lamps are a nod to the cocoon-like designs emblematic of Asawa's work. Argyle exemplifies the skill and craftsmanship of Australia's oldest international lighting brand and pays a subtle tribute to Murano. With their diamond-like shape, the lamps owe their name to the Argyle diamond, which is mined in the north of Western Australia. Available as a suspension, floor or table lamp, the silhouette of the lamps alters according to the composition and number of individual modules assembled. The basic module consists of at least two or three concentric glass bodies in formations of varying lengths. The lamps illuminate the upper and lower sections, creating kaleidoscopic colour effects when the stratified layers overlap. Argyle is available in several colour palettes: cool tones, warm tones, and neutral shades.

Mohd Sinfonia Curated by Nichetto Studio ft. Steinway & Sons

Visitors to this year’s Milan Design Week are invited to experience the ethereal simplicity of the ‘Mohd Sinfonia’ installation. This uniquely immersive event is the convergence of two world-renowned brands, commissioned by home furnishing destination for design and interiors Mohd featuring iconic piano manufacturer Steinway & Sons. Curating a symphony of theatrically-inspired design elements, Nichetto Studio has created a space that elevates both aesthetics and acoustics.

Using the vaulted ceiling of Mohd Officina to enhance the theatrical nature of the installation, each of the thirteen purpose-built sets is formed of draped fabric redolent of stage curtains and lit by natural light. For the first time in Europe, during the Milan Design Week, the venue will display the Gran Nichetto limited edition piano by Steinway & Sons designed by Luca Nichetto and Nichetto Studio in 2022.

Using the Steinway & Sons Spirio technology, the world’s finest high-resolution player piano, music will play throughout the installation. Visitors will also experience live performances by artists selected by the legendary piano company, further heightening the theatrical atmosphere.

STIR’s coverage of Milan Design Week 2023 showcases the best exhibitions, studios, designers, installations, brands, and special projects to look out for. Explore Euroluce 2023 and all the design districts—5Vie Art and Design, Brera Design District, Fuorisalone, Isola Design District, Tortona District, and Milano Design District—with us.

Text by Ria Jha.