The design event of the year

If you can take some time from the 16th to the 21st of April, come to the Salone del Mobile: the International Furniture Fair of Milano. Last year it had 270.000 visitors (of whom 165.000 coming from foreign countries), and 2.000 exhibitors. It is not really only a furniture fair, it includes everything that is designed. The week of the fair, Milan transform itself into a inspiring party town: during the evening, many design stores host amazing events open to the public and there is a silent competition on who will host the most innovative, surprising, elegant event of all. Interni magazine in March publishes a little book with all the “fuorisalone” (meaning “outside-salone”) events organized by date... you have to take your pick, it's impossible to go to all. Worthy of note this year, director and painter Peter Greenaway will animate the Leonardo Da Vinci Last Supper with lights and sounds.

I love walking on the streets of Milan the week before the fair, every design store has the window covered and you can peek people working, architects supervising, nervous owners, day and late nights till the very last minute before the fair starts.