PUTTING ON THE PALAZZO
Swarovski placed creativity and craftsmanship front and center at the 2018 edition of Salone del Mobile with ‘Swarovski Palazzo,’ a specially-created immersive installation. On opening night, the brightest lights in design were invited to an exclusive cocktail at the palazzo to celebrate the world of Swarovski interiors, and discover a fresh season of Atelier Swarovski home décor and Swarovski Crystal Palace lighting designs.
‘Swarovski Palazzo’ transformed the hidden courtyard of Milan’s neo-classical Palazzo Serbelloni into a grand greenhouse. Filling the expansive outdoor space, the custom-built conservatory showcased displays of sparkling home décor designed in collaboration with leading luminaries who pushed the boundaries of crystal artistry with their own unique expression of form. Nendo, Patricia Urquiola, Peter Pilotto and John Pawson’s individual collections feature candle holders, vases, bowls and mirrors, which celebrate the delicate and precise crystal-cutting art mastered by Swarovski over the past 120 years.
In addition to these collections, Atelier Swarovski debuted its first in-house designed homeware line, with a strong focus on craftsmanship and innovation. Described as ‘jewels for the home’ by Creative Director Nadja Swarovski, the contemporary collection includes everything from scented candles, trays and jewelry boxes to desktop accessories, vases and candle holders.
The impressive space was illuminated by new lighting pieces from Swarovski Crystal Palace, including ‘Luminous Reflections’ by Tord Boontje and ‘Cyanometer’ by Marjan van Aubel. Intricate and minimalist, respectively, the exclusive crystal chandeliers catch and refract luminous beams within rippled surfaces and crystal prisms for a softer, more subtle light.
Rounding out the experience, guests were invited to indulge in Viennese pastries at Daniel’s Café, a re-imagining of the namesake restaurant at Kristallwelten next to Swarovski’s headquarters in Wattens. After refreshments, visitors could visit the pop-up shop to choose their own piece of Atelier Swarovski home décor or jewelry to take home.
Atelier Swarovski’s first home décor collection made its debut at Salone del Mobile in 2016. The annual tradeshow, now in its 56th year, provides both emerging and established design talents with an internationally recognized platform to promote and advance their work. Driven by a passion for collaboration and a mission to reimagine home décor, Atelier Swarovski returns to Salone each year with a new season of collections that take crystal creativity to new, previously unimagined heights.