Alcova Fuorisalone 2023: Design Week at Milan's Ex-Macello

Alcova, the itinerant design fair format founded by Valentina Ciuffi and Joseph Grima, returns for Fuorisalone 2023 at the former slaughterhouse (ex Macello) in Porta Vittoria, Milan. This site previously hosted legendary Pallucco exhibitions in 1988-1989 and is slated for transformation into Aria, Milan's first carbon-negative area. The fair features Stantec's installation "A valuable collection of things," poetically cataloging found objects from the site's industrial past. Among highlights is the OTO Chair, designed by Alessandro Stabile and Martinellivenezia, made from post-industrial recycled plastic, ordered online in flat packaging from recycled cellulose pulp. Florentine studio LASHUP presents "Moments," a pouf-armchair created via AI text-to-image tools, deliberately incorporating an AI-generated error. Atelier LUMA from Arles showcases bioregional design objects using Camargue resources: algae-based bioplastic seating (from Algae Lab with Klarenbeek & Dros), salt columns and handles, and rice straw screens. The fair's edgy spirit feels somewhat diluted across the vast space, mixing research design with curated but uneven brand installations.