ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Salone del Mobile 2016: New Design Brands and Material Innovations in Milan

festival-fair · 2026-05-05

The 2016 Salone del Mobile in Milan showcased a wave of new design brands and material innovations. Arpa Industriale presented Fenix Ntm, a high-performance nanotech material for interiors, displayed at the Pinacoteca di Brera. Source, a Florence-based association, transformed a 140 sqm loft into a meeting space for 31 designers and buyers, launching a dedicated app. Studio Sovrappensiero (Lorenzo De Rosa and Ernesto Iadevaia) exhibited FurNature at gallery La Dodo, combining industrial parts with natural elements. Maison 203 added Ivy, a clutch by Odo Fioravanti, to its 3D-printed jewelry collection. Matteo Thun launched Matteo Thun Milano, a brand for decorative objects made with Italian artisans, with a digital platform. Fondazione Rivolidue promoted the third edition of IM – Inside the Matter, featuring artists and designers working with stoneware and fabric. MSÉ – Marta Sala Éditions presented its second collection by Lazzarini e Pickering. Astep, founded by Alessandro Sarfatti, debuted Candela by Francisco Gomez Paz, a lamp that converts flame heat into electricity to charge phones. The article was published in Artribune Magazine #30.

Key facts

  • Arpa Industriale developed Fenix Ntm, a nanotech material for interiors.
  • Fenix Ntm was displayed at the loggiato of Pinacoteca di Brera.
  • Source association set up a 140 sqm loft for 31 designers and buyers.
  • Source launched a dedicated app during Salone del Mobile.
  • Studio Sovrappensiero, founded in 2007 by Lorenzo De Rosa and Ernesto Iadevaia, presented FurNature at La Dodo gallery.
  • Maison 203 added Ivy, a clutch by Odo Fioravanti, to its collection.
  • Matteo Thun launched Matteo Thun Milano, a brand for handmade decorative objects.
  • Matteo Thun Milano launched a digital platform for customizations.
  • Fondazione Rivolidue promoted the third edition of IM – Inside the Matter.
  • IM – Inside the Matter featured Giuseppe Spagnulo, Nanni Valentini, Carlo Zauli, Anna Galtarossa, Sognando Casa Group, and Luca Sommariva.
  • MSÉ – Marta Sala Éditions presented its second collection by Lazzarini e Pickering.
  • Astep, founded by Alessandro Sarfatti, debuted Candela by Francisco Gomez Paz.
  • Candela converts flame heat into electricity to charge phones.
  • Article published in Artribune Magazine #30.

Entities

Artists

  • Lorenzo De Rosa
  • Ernesto Iadevaia
  • Odo Fioravanti
  • Matteo Thun
  • Giuseppe Spagnulo
  • Nanni Valentini
  • Carlo Zauli
  • Anna Galtarossa
  • Luca Sommariva
  • Lazzarini
  • Pickering
  • Francisco Gomez Paz
  • Alessandro Sarfatti
  • Gino Sarfatti
  • Vittoriano Viganò

Institutions

  • Arpa Industriale
  • Pinacoteca di Brera
  • Source
  • Studio Sovrappensiero
  • La Dodo
  • Maison 203
  • Matteo Thun Milano
  • Fondazione Rivolidue
  • MSÉ – Marta Sala Éditions
  • Astep
  • Moscapartners
  • Artribune Magazine
  • Salone del Mobile

Locations

  • Milan
  • Italy
  • Florence
  • Via Brera, 28
  • Via Burlamacchi 6
  • Via Muratori 11
  • Corso Magenta 24

Sources