314
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Jan/Feb 2026

#314
Jan/Feb 2026

The AZURE Houses issue returns in 2026 with stunning, innovative residential projects from Canada and around the world. Plus, we take a look at that seeming relic of the past: the mall.

Best of Milan Design Week 2021

Showcasing some of our favourite furniture picks from this year's Supersalone and Fuorisalone in Milan.
Supersalone & Fuorisalone 2021: Colour-Blocked Tables
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Supersalone & Fuorisalone 2021: Space-Age Specials
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Supersalone & Fuorisalone 2021: The New Classics
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Best of Milan Design Week 2021
Best of Milan Design Week 2021

The table has become the latest canvas for experimentation with high-contrast colour combinations. Here are a few of our favourites.

1
Secret Garden by Poltrona Frau

Framed by its solid teak structure like a work of art, the glazed stoneware top of the Secret Garden table exemplifies the convivial spirit of Poltrona Frau’s inaugural foray into outdoor furniture. The 2.6-metre-long piece was designed by Roberto Lazzeroni, and is suitable for both indoors and out. Its hand-finished surface is offered in two colour combinations: light and dark brown or light and dark green.

2
Golia by Draga & Aurel

Como-based design studio Draga & Aurel has interpreted the architectural style of new brutalism into a series of coffee tables called Golia. Their sea salt–corroded concrete slabs fuse with smooth sheets of translucent resin — in a range of bright mineral colours — that are as reflective and light as the concrete is impenetrable and heavy. The evocative furnishings premiered at Rossana Orlandi’s RoCollectible Design event and can be purchased through her eponymous gallery.

3
Allure O’ by B&B Italia

Jackie O’s iconic sunglasses inspired the curves of Allure O’, Monica Armani’s shapely dining table for B&B Italia. It rests a bevelled square or rectangular top — in sizes accommodating up to eight people — above a truncated-pyramid base. These two elements can be specified in complementary colours, which accentuates the design’s vibrant personality. There are 18 glossy and matte hues to choose from (as well as light and black oak); the tops are also available in marble varieties.

4
Thierry by Kartell

Colour is the key concept behind Thierry, a sweet side table collection by Piero Lissoni for Kartell. Featuring glass tops and metal legs, the jewel-like designs combine multiple gemstone tones (from Bordeaux to sea blue) within the same colour family. Each table can be assembled with three or four different hues arranged in any number of ways.

These dreamy pieces capture our never-ending fascination with far-away worlds.

1
Banah by Arflex

The dune-like forms that coalesce into the Banah sofa are a tribute to manufacturer Arflex’s archives. Designer Luca Nichetto wished to recall the brand’s past icons, paying homage to its expertise in elegant curves and delicate structures. Banah’s irregularly shaped body seems to float on discrete metal legs. It comes in an array of fabrics and colours.

2
Moonsetter by Louis Poulsen

A competition-winning design now produced by Louis Poulsen, one of Denmark’s most hallowed brands, Anne Boysen’s Moonsetter was inspired by the light and shadows cast by the heavenly body over its many phases. The frame’s rounded inner edge is outlined with an LED strip, its glow reflected and diffused by the circle cut-out hinged at the centre. For now, the sculptural piece is available as a limited edition, cut from mirror-polished aluminum.

3
Crowded Elevator by Andrés Reisinger

Merging art and design, the oddly named and voluptuously upholstered Crowded Elevator was inspired by “a celestial body displaying signs of past life,” according to designer Andrés Reisinger, who presented it at Milan’s Nilufar Gallery. “The mountains look like large blocks of frozen water covered with snow, while the plains observed on the surface seem to be made of frozen nitrogen gas and show no craters.” We dig it. The piece combines a stainless-steel chassis with a foam body wrapped in fluted pink leather.

4
Milano Horizontal by Tubes Radiatori

While the classic design that Milano Horizontal revives is a recent one — Tubes originally debuted the appliance in 2006 — it gives off a retrofuturistic 1960s vibe. Designed by Antonia Astori and Nicola De Ponti, the (electric) 2021 version comes with an on/off touch control that also allows temperature adjustment and Wi-Fi–thermostat connectivity. All this functionality, along with the piece’s new horizontal form, means it can be installed virtually anywhere, even a few inches off the ground, as it won’t overheat walls or floors.

We predict this quartet of enduringly elegant seating will stand the test of time.

1
Filo by Mattiazzi

Characterized by a simple beech frame, Mattiazzi’s Filo is the result of subtracting all but the essential while building up structural integrity. “Step by step,” explains co-designer Ronan Bouroullec, “we increased certain sections and modified the way they were linked. The assemblage of these elements arrives at an almost typographic work.” Indeed, the sturdy piece is a paragon of simplicity, but with a major dose of warmth added by the rope backrest.

2
Middleweight by Karakter

The Italian super-lounge sofa and the boxy Danish couch are both reference points for Middleweight, Michael Anastassiades’ first-ever piece of upholstered furniture. Launched by Karakter, it comes in armchair and two- and three-seater versions, as well as a pouffe. The seating is composed of by a thin powder-coated steel frame topped with square cushions (upholstered in leather or fabric) that have carefully mitred corners resembling the sharp edges of folded paper.

3
Lido by Minotti

If Lido exudes a mid-century vibe, that’s because the design duo GamFratesi cast its gaze back to the 1950s for inspiration. The enveloping basket chair for Minotti is defined by the continuous curved line of its padded and upholstered body, available with a choice of two bases: a time-honoured four-legged option in solid wood and a bolder X-shape (shown) in ash-covered aluminum. A matching footstool completes the cozy scene.

4
Kata by Arper

Kata by Arper

Kata was created for the long haul. Longevity and environmental sustainability are at the heart of the slouchy seat, designed by Altherr Désile Park for Arper with FSC-certified wood (oak or black locust) and a 3D-knit cover. The upholstery is crafted with fibres derived from the recycled polyester of post-consumer plastic — a kilo of waste (or 48 PET bottles) equals a kilo of yarn — and is formed to fit the frame perfectly, avoiding excess. It comes in tones of Linen, Wheat and Charcoal, with a striped pattern option.