5 things to know about the Salone del Mobile in Milan How Milan became the Capital of Design

Milan is like a small world in its own right with its unwritten laws, its rites and its anniversaries. Of these anniversaries, the Salone del Mobile is one of the most special and heartfelt – even more so than the mythological fashion week. Every year, usually in spring but this year at the end of summer, the city comes alive with a particular vitality: it seems that everyone is on the street, that all the premises are open until late, that the doors of buildings and shops are wide open all day. Because in addition to being one of the main fairs dedicated to design in Europe, the Design Week, which includes the classic Salone and its "twin", the Fuorisalone as well as the galaxy of fairs and events that surround it, are part of the collective life of the city. And in fact, the history of Design Week and that of Milan are deeply intertwined in a story that goes from the long tradition of the Fiera di Milano and reaches the Supersalone that will open tomorrow.

To better tell this story, we have compiled a list of 5 things to know about Salone del Mobile in Milan.

1. The Milan Trade Fair already existed in 1906

Stefano Boeri, curator of this September's Supersalone, has changed the rules of the game: firstly because this Supersalone will be open to the public for the first time and not only to professionals; secondly, because the classic setting of the individual closed pavilions has been unhinged in favor of an open format. Boeri described the new format in an interview with AGI: «When you arrive you see the walls designed by the curators, which are modular and allow companies to arrange the products vertically and also to tell their story with images and videos [...]. We will have all the great chefs, from Cracco to Oldani, to Bottura, who will cook live dishes that will be exhibited, and also available to be consumed».