Fenix, together with the Broadview Holding brands: Arpa, Formica and Homapal — have introduced Design Duo Double Feature, a project curated by Federica Sala and hosted within the spaces of Fenix Scenario, Foro Buonaparte 66 during Milan Design Week.
Design Duo Double Feature is an exploratory project that researches the multipotential of materials and surfaces starting from the concept of duality: six pairs of designers were invited to design dual-use furnishing elements, created by combining Fenix materials with other surfaces produced by the group. The products have been presented in the setting of a double set-up—indoor and outdoor—created by Studioboom, a duo of architects.
'I have always been fascinated by how, in architecture and design to a greater extent than in other disciplines, a number of creative duos are active,' says curator Federica Sala. 'A creative couple, whether their relationship is purely professional or also extends to their private life, has to perfect the difficult art of dialogue and mediation in order to successfully combine the input of two different minds in a single design solution. To illustrate the exceptional versatility of Fenix, either alone or in combination with other materials, we decided to multiply the number of minds involved in the project to encourage lateral thinking and, consequently, double projects: in form, function, transformation…'
Selected by curator Federica Sala, Cara\Davide, DWA Design Studio, Martinelli Venezia, Næssi Studio, mist-o and Zanellato/Bortotto give life to objects that explore new and multifaceted functionalities, juggling transformability, mobility, sustainability, and versatility.
A brainchild of Studioboom, the installation links indoor and outdoor spaces through a single, specially designed, white three-dimensional geometric shape made in Fenix. Developed both upwards and outwards, this sizeable volume weaves in and out of the showroom's display windows, guiding the visitor through the exhibition.
The architectural and volumetric attire of the installation serves as a backdrop for the creations of the six pairs of designers, effectively highlighting - thanks in part to the thoughtful use of white - the colour selection, the powerful colour combinations chosen by the designers, and the variety of tactile properties of the materials.
'We wanted to materialise the concept of duality through the interconnection of interior space with the exterior world, using a concept that is typical of modernist architecture,' say the architects of Studioboom. 'The indoor/outdoor blend allows the visitor to double their perspective and multiply the space they can explore. A single white volume occupies the majority of the Fenix showroom defining the exhibition route: a blank canvas that offers a backdrop for the works created by the pairs of designers involved, showcasing the shapes and masterful combinations of colours and textures, finally emerging through the transparent filter of the display windows to stretch out towards the city.'
For Fenix, Design Duo Double Feature represents an opportunity to work together with Italian and international designers to explore the product design sector, presenting unusual uses of the material and original solutions.
More information:
Fenix
www.fenixforinteriors.com