Returning to Milan Design Week after a year’s absence, English design stalwart Tom Dixon launched a theatrical, experimental space to embed his renowned brand in the cultural capital of Italy, where diners can shop from their table.
In a typically ingenious move, Dixon, tiring from the surfeit of pop-ups created for the five day exhibition, said “With the city being so active and engaging right now, it is the right time to forget being temporary and build something permanent. Just like in London, we don’t think it’s enough to just have a showroom. We need a place where people slow down and experience our products in a live setting.”
The Manzoni, aptly named after the street that welcomes it, had a soft opening that took place in the beginning of April, coinciding with FuoriSalone 2019. In an almost surreal setting in which to experience the very best of Italian cuisine, chef Marta Pulini and executive chef Roy Smith Paredes Ynfantes created a menu that was locally sourced, with fresh produce and rich in colour and flavour. Italian food design studio Arabeschi di Latte curated the experience, weaving in the theme of monochrome set by the interiors.
The venue features products designed by the Tom Dixon brand, including three ranges that were launched during Milan Design Week: a series of upholstered chairs called Fat, Spring – series of pendant lamps, and Opal translucent globe lights. The Manzoni’s main space, The Dining Hall, features monastic dining tables, inviting guests to dine in a monochromatic, communal setting. Another room called The Jungle is a space filled with ferns, Spanish moss, orchids, and all manner of greenery. A monolithic block of granite serves as the foundation for the bar and lounge area.
The 100-seat, 5000 square foot restaurant-cum-showroom, designed by Tom Dixon’s Design Research Studio will also serve as the brand’s first European headquarters outside of London.
Tom Dixon has been a keynote speaker at India Design ID, ID Symposium
