Design is a pas de deux

For Milan Design Week 2024, FENIX® presented Design Duo Double Feature, a project curated by Federica Sala and hosted until May 24 within the spaces of FENIX Scenario with a set created by Studioboom, with the aim to investigate 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 Broadview Holding: Arpa®, Formica® e Homapal®.


Courtesy: Fenix

CARA \ DAVIDE, DWA Design Studio, Martinelli Venezia, Næssi Studio, mist-o and Zanellato/Bortotto gave life to objects that explore new and multifaceted functionalities, juggling transformability, mobility, sustainability, and versatility.

“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…”


1-2 many by studio mist-o. Ph Claudia Zalla

1-2 many, design by studio mist-o
A series of sculptural volumes with geometric shapes, crafted through the regular repetition of a module created by subdividing FENIX® panels into small, 6mm-thick tile-like squares. 1-2 many comprises three different volumes made of FENIX® Giallo Evora, Azzurro Naxos and Verde Kitami, interspaced with shiny metal joints, resulting in a series of single-colour volumes with different shapes and a multitude of uses. Indeed, whilst rooted in the concept of duality, the project naturally evolved into an exploration of multiplication. The individual element is multiplied, sparking new interactions and dimensions with the goal of highlighting the material’s innate versatility: the meanings and uses that FENIX® takes on in this project are many and varied, depending on the object that is created, resulting in a formal and decorative experimentation.


Ambo by CARA/DAVIDE. Ph Claudia Zalla

Ambo, design by CARA \ DAVIDE
CARA \ DAVIDE designed Ambo, a project exploring the concepts of union and of individual, embodying both togetherness and solitude. Ambo is a seat made by joining two chairs which fit together perfectly, resulting in a unified yet modular furniture piece. The product of this connection is a system which functions both as a single object, with the seatings joined, and as a pair of separate seats.


Duo by Zanellato e Bortotto. Ph Claudia Zalla

Duo, design by Zanellato/Bortotto
A tension that results in perfect equilibrium: Duo, designed by Zanellato/Bortotto, is a double seat that can only be used in pairs. The project is inspired by and explores the many nuances of the relationship between two entities, particularly the professional bond between the two designers, which is consistently geared towards researching design solutions as a meeting point between the parties. Comparisons, imbalances and, ultimately, agreements are some of the stages in the creative process whose echoes can also be perceived in this FENIX® seating. Duo consists of two rocking chairs that support one another, only maintaining their balance when used by two people at once.


Inbetween by Naessi Studio. Ph Claudia Zalla

Inbetween, design by Næssi Studio
Inbetween, designed by Næssi Studio, is a structure that has two sides, a threshold that serves two functions: to display and to contain. Created to exist within the walls of a home, Inbetween marks the transition between the entryway and the heart of a house, separating the outside from the privacy of the home.


Match by Martinelli Venezia. Ph Claudia Zalla

Match, design by Martinelli Venezia
The Match table, designed by Martinelli Venezia, interprets the concept of duality through colour, functionality, and irony. Its round shape and cylindrical base are reminiscent of the classic dining table, whilst the central fold of the tabletop transforms the object into a ping pong table, suggesting the idea that after a meal, diners can challenge each other to a game. Match thus recalls both the idea of play and challenge, as well as the combination of different colours and materials.


Theia by DWA Design Studio. Ph Claudia Zalla

Theia, design by DWA Design Studio
Inspired by the Greek myth of the goddess of light, Theia is designed to hold and display precious objects thanks to its distinctive welcoming shape. The object, designed by DWA Design Studio, is a floor lamp and, at the same time, a storage unit which plays its dual role with theatrical elegance. With its distinctive U-shape, slender yet imposing, Theia demonstrates the brand’s mastery in crafting original shapes by juxtaposing different surfaces. 


Ph Chiara Venegoni

For Milano Design Week, Studioboom created an installation that linked 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 weaved in and out of the showroom’s display windows, guiding the visitor through the exhibition.
The architectural and volumetric attire of the installation served 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.

The exhibition can be visited until May 24.