Lake Como Design Festival 2021 Explores Design History and Reissues
The third iteration of the Lake Como Design Festival took place in Como, adopting a festival format featuring numerous exhibitions. Under the curation of Marco Sammicheli and artistic direction of Lorenzo Butti, the theme was 'History Repeating: How Designers Look at History.' The main exhibition at Ridotto del Teatro Sociale included four thematic rooms, with 'Sala Turca' displaying reissued classics such as Zanotta's Sacco armchair. Notable pieces featured Pierre Paulin's Osaka sofa and Alvar Aalto's daybed. At Palazzo Mantero, visitors could see reissues like Bobo Piccoli's lamps and Gio Ponti's ceramics. The '20/21' exhibition at Palazzo Valli Bruni highlighted contemporary designers, with items available for purchase via Catawiki. Draga&Aurel created a site-specific installation that emulated the lake's water, while local architectural heritage was explored through various works.
Key facts
- Third edition of Lake Como Design Festival held in 2021.
- Shift from fair to festival format with exhibitions and urban interventions.
- Curated by Marco Sammicheli and Lorenzo Butti.
- Theme: 'History Repeating: How Designers Look at History'.
- Main exhibition at Ridotto del Teatro Sociale with four thematic rooms.
- Zanotta's Sacco armchair reissued with new air cushion filling.
- Pierre Paulin's Osaka sofa for LaCividina and Alvar Aalto's daybed for MisuraEmme featured.
- Palazzo Mantero opened to public for first time with reissues by Bobo Piccoli, Gio Ponti, and works from Lithos.
- Exhibition '20/21' at Palazzo Valli Bruni featured contemporary designers and online auction via Catawiki.
- Site-specific installation by Draga&Aurel with Holcim using concrete and resin.
- Rediscovery of Asnago Vender architecture and Studio Monte Olimpino films by Munari and Piccardo.
- Film of 1962 'Arte Programmata' exhibition at Olivetti Milan shown.
Entities
Artists
- Gio Ponti
- Bobo Piccoli
- Pierre Paulin
- Alvar Aalto
- George Sowden
- Bruno Munari
- Marcello Piccardo
- Enzo Mari
- Draga&Aurel
- Giuseppe Terragni
- Asnago Vender
- Shirley Bassey
Institutions
- Lake Como Design Festival
- Triennale di Milano
- Teatro Sociale
- Palazzo Mantero
- Palazzo Valli Bruni
- FontanaArte
- Richard Ginori
- Lithos
- Zanotta
- LaCividina
- MisuraEmme
- Bitossi
- Molteni
- Catawiki
- Holcim
- Ordine degli Architetti PPC della Provincia di Como
- Accademia Aldo Galli
- Olivetti
- Gruppo T
- Gruppo N
- Studio Monte Olimpino
- Propellerheads
Locations
- Como
- Italy
- Milan
- Brianza
- Duomo di Como
- Casa del Fascio
- Novocomum