Until March 15th, 2026, Spazio UniFor at Viale Pasubio 15 in Milan hosts La città degli oggetti: Aldo Rossi e Francesco Somaini (The City of Objects: Aldo Rossi and Francesco Somaini) as part of the In Vetrina program promoted by MuseoCity. Curated by Studio Klass with Fondazione Francesco Somaini Scultore, the installation brings into dialogue iconic furnishings designed by Aldo Rossi for UniFor and a selection of 1970s sculptures by Francesco Somaini. The exhibition takes place in the central hall of Spazio UniFor, designed by Herzog & de Meuron and reflects the city as object, memory, and constructed idea.

all images by Alessandro Saletta – DSL Studio

four rooms, one urban grid

Studio Klass structures the exhibition as a sequence of four rooms aligned with the structural grid of the building, extending the logic of the architecture into the curatorial layout. The spaces function as compact, museological architectures, pairing one sculptural work with one architectural object and introducing a distinct chromatic register, a recurring theme in Rossi’s work.

Visitors move through calibrated spaces where light, scale, and material contrasts shape the encounter. Cartesio, Consiglio, Parigi, and Museo are presented as architectural objects. Designed by Rossi for UniFor, they condense personal and archetypal memories while evoking imaginary cityscapes. Bookcases assume the presence of facades, cabinets read as civic volumes with modular rhythms. Rossi’s notion of the analogue city, a conceptual city assembled through memory, typology, and repetition, becomes tangible in these pieces. 

Spazio UniFor at Viale Pasubio 15 in Milan hosts La città degli oggetti: Aldo Rossi e Francesco Somaini

sculpture against the metropolis

In counterpoint, Somaini’s archi-sculptures introduce a material and formal tension. Conceived in the 1970s through his engagement with the built environment, these works treat the city as a field of forces rather than a fixed image. For the sculptor, New York becomes a paradigmatic site in which to test the relationship between art and architecture at urban scale. Placed alongside Rossi’s objects-architectures, the sculptures expand the dialogue between memory, matter and the city. 

From this encounter emerges a landscape in which the real city overlaps with the imagined one. The installation constructs what can be understood as an analogue city, shaped by collective memory and set in contrast with a critical reinterpretation of the modern metropolis.

Within the framework of MuseoCity’s In Vetrina initiative, Spazio UniFor becomes a vessel for La città degli oggetti: Aldo Rossi e Francesco Somaini, an exhibition that proposes a precise, close-range reading of two parallel investigations into how the city can be reimagined through art and design.

part of the In Vetrina program promoted by MuseoCity

the installation brings together iconic furnishings by Aldo Rossi for UniFor and 1970s sculptures by Francesco Somaini

the exhibition takes place in the central hall of Spazio UniFor

Studio Klass structures the exhibition as a sequence of four rooms

aligned with the structural grid of the building

the spaces function as compact, museological architectures

introducing a distinct chromatic register, a recurring theme in Rossi’s work

pairing one sculptural work with one architectural object

visitors move through calibrated spaces where light, scale, and material contrasts shape the encounter

project info:

name: La città degli oggetti: Aldo Rossi e Francesco Somaini (The City of Objects: Aldo Rossi and Francesco Somaini)

location: Spazio UniFor, viale Pasubio 15, Milano

dates: February 6th – March 15th 2026

host: UniFor | @unifor_official

collaborator: Fondazione Francesco Somaini Scultore | @fondazionesomaini

exhibition design: Studio Klass | @studioklass

The post aldo rossi’s furnishings for unifor meet francesco somaini’s 1970s sculptures in milan appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

the top of klass and fiam’s table is entirely made of 15 mm glass processed through handcrafted techniques where the know-how of the company is an essential part of the project. the tabletop becomes a living surface to which has been contrasted a cold CNC-cut and curved steel base. the design of the structure is inspired and took its name from the equilateral hyperbole, both dynamic and rigorous geometry which is in contrast with the fused glass of the top.

studio klass inspirational drawing

studio klass construction drawings

detail of the fused and tempered glass table top

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: maria erman | designboom

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ambiente 2017: il coccio design edition, a continuation of the italian brand from the 1960s, presents its new collection of ceramic objects for the home. the ceramic family builds upon the success of the brand’s humidifiers that were released in 2010. this time around they have crafted 19 items for various uses designed for different rooms of the home.

‘levante’ clock by dario gaudio
(main image: ‘zeta’ pitcher by sarah ricchiuso
all images courtesy of il coccio design edition

on display throughout the 2017 ambiente fair in frankfurt, il coccio design edition’s new collection is both small and medium in size, designed for easy use, and foster new habits. their form and feel generates great empathy and instinctive attraction with onlookers, promoting an almost immediate relationship between the user, item, and the home. the designs of each object, which are all from different designers, varies and are unique to each other, echoing the characteristics of the ceramic material that has become a trademark for the brand.

‘torre’ candle holder by augustina bottoni

made in ceramic from the nove district in vicenza, italy, the collection consists of 19 products that are available in four colors: pure white, green, pink, and grey. included in the list of objects are; the ‘torre’ candle holder by augustina bottoni, the ‘levante’ clock by dario gaudio, and the ‘collo’ vase by odoardo fioravanti. these items for the home were designed under the artistic direction of industrial designer giulio lacchetti, who is the creative director of il coccio design edition.

‘cargo’ containers by carmelo zocco 

‘lac’ toothbrush holder, ‘paso’ soap dish, and ‘step’ container and jewellery holder by studio klass

‘sandro’ candlestick by sovrappensiero design studio

‘mancia’ catchall by yet matilde studio

‘collectto’ container by odoardo fioravanti

‘collo’ vase by odoardo fioravanti

‘terno’ centrepiece by valerio sommella

‘T-shirt’ vase by lorenzo palmeri 

‘tino’ basket by mario scairato

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italian construction company DA A italia specializes in producing heavy duty machinery parts, but with unstable markets they decided to expand its portfolio with endeavor into furniture. in a gang of large machinery, they are able to bend, shape and form large sheets of metal without any disruption to the factory floor. in this alternative to mass production, DA A with the help of designers such as – lorenzo damiani, laudani – romanelli, studio klass, angeletti ruzza, castiglia associati, bartoli design, emilio nanni, denis santachiara, leonardo talarico, milesi – yamada, luca casini, and ce studio, takes on the challenge of making home furnishings using their tools and mastery, normally employed to manufacture buckets, arms and frames for farming and construction machinery. designboom visited their factory in lecce in the province of puglia, to see how DA A, owned by ALCAR metal industries, produces the detailed customizable furniture pieces alongside massive heavy duty hardware in one of the largest factories in italy. 

pre cut sheet ready for bending 
image © designboom

the word ‘da a’ in italian means; –  a change of status, and thats what they’re trying to do. a different vision of design influenced by a dialogue with architects and designers. the strength and the challenge of this experience is a blank page, which represents complete creative freedom. but with that liberty, there is no comparison with pervious experiences and no references to predefined styles.

two works machine bending
image © designboom

before designing, the creators witnessed the capabilities of the factory. observing techniques for aging metals such as natural acid burning and ruthenium salts, they were able interpret elaborate organic patterns that made the pieces look indestructible. adding resistant coatings found on ships and tractors, the furniture pieces are able to be used for indoor and outdoor applications. 

bench starting to form 
image © designboom

their industry runs parallel to the furniture industry, with methods of fabrication, techniques and processes. DA A wants to blur those lines, and voice them in the objects with a clear, and strong base on the flexibility between design and metal, but also with process such as welding, bending and finishing. this linkage adds a place and value of industry dexterity in italy. opposite of industry segregation produces new technological solutions, and a return to traditional craftsmanship and quality. the visit at the DA A factory showcased that the machinery are not only tools, but a gateway into research and design for the furniture they fabricate. 

same metals used in machinery parts 
image © designboom 

each piece is customizable through the process 
image © designboom

the final product: the black ‘benna’ indoor bench by lorenzo damiani  

the seating collection at the factory
image © designboom

the small parts station 
image © designboom

large machine pieces being fabricated side by side 
image © designboom

the ‘tatou’ by angeletti ruzza next to ‘sen-su’ by bartoli design all use local metals from the factory
image © designboom

the ‘doors’ cabinet by bartoli design 

on the far left includes the ‘saddle’ by emilio nanni 
image © designboom

each pieces can be fabricated in a select amount of colors 
image © designboom

CNC laser machined cutouts
image © designboom 

‘tendura’ indoor outdoor divider by gianluca milesi and michiko yamada

heavy load buckets by DA A 
image © designboom

‘otran’ chair by emilio nanni

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during salone del mobile 2014, milan-based designers marco maturo and alessio roscini of studio klass presented ‘IGLOO’, their second collaboration for italian lighting company fontana arte. developed as modular, self-supporting LED pendant system, ‘IGLOO’ allows for consecutive linking of up to two hundred units without the need for an additional power cable. thanks to a series of electromechanical connections with curvilinear components and spacers, the series of self-extinguishing plastic techno-polymer units provides the possibility to create open and flexible compositions for both home and contract use.

IGLOO provides versatile and infinitely replicable modularity

the double shell construction allows easy installation of the modular units – whether vertical or horizontal – and can be projected sideways against a wall, or towards the floor or roof for an ambient lighting effect.

the system uses LEDs as its primary light source

IGLOO is suitable for contract installation in the retail, hospitality, office and business sectors

 the system consists of linear and curvilinear components, spacers, and a mechanical / electrical hanging apparatus

specific LED dimmers can be used for the IGLOO element and relative systems

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The post studio klass’ IGLOO pendant system for fontan aarte supports 200 connections appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

milan-based studio klass has designed ‘magique’ a welded glass furniture collection for liv’it by fiam that includes two side tables and a vertical totem. unveiled during salone del mobile 2013, the series is conceived using different minimal and linear forms – playing with the intersection of transparent glazed volumes and surfaces accessible from all four sides. the project comes to life when the open voids are filled with everyday objects, offering a pleasant play of light, reflections and color gradation.

 
magique in two colours version

usage of magique

views of magique

magique totem

magique

magique side table

magique side table

magique collection concept drawing

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication.
see more project submissions from our readers here.

The post studio klass: magique collection for livit by fiam appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

designed by milan-based studio klass for fiam italia, ‘foulard’, the glass shelving collection is conceived as a modular system allowing
for several configurations to be placed the wall. the archetype of shelves – traditionally seen in horizontal planes – are reinterpreted in
three-dimension, featuring curved surfaces formed using fiam’s advanced production technolgy that wraps to enclose objects inside.
a sequence of material deformations creates the illusion of different transparencies, which are amplified when installed as a series.

a foulard module
image © studio klass – pietro cocco

longer module
image © studio klass – pietro cocco

medium-sized module
image © studio klass – pietro cocco

shorter module
image © studio klass – pietro cocco

finalizing the prototype
image © studio klass

paper mock up
image © studio klass

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication.
see more project submissions from our readers here.

The post studio klass: foulard curved shelving system for fiam italia appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

the ‘odeon lamp’ by studio klass for fontana arte, aims to sooth the effects of information overload, particularly eye strain which comes as a result of looking at computer screens, smartphones, or tablets. entirely covered in cuoietto leather, the floor lamp provides ambient light that reduces the contrast between digital displays and completely dark rooms, accommodating relaxing illumination for any given scenario. ‘we wanted a lamp with a strong relationship with the surrounding environment, an abiding correlation between light and space’ says studio klass. ‘odeon’ casts its light to the wall, creating a warm glow, whereby an opaque enclosure screens the bulb. additionally, the leather handle allows user  to place the design anywhere, changing the ambiance of a space within seconds.

the floor lamp provides ambient light that reduces the contrast between digital displays and a completely dark room

odeon rear detail

light play

‘odeon’ aims to sooth the effects of information distribution

views of the dark brown cuoietto leather lamp with brown stitching

front view of the dark brown cuoietto leather lamp with brown stitching

views of the cognac lamp with rope stitching

front view of the cognac lamp with rope stitching

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication.
see more project submissions from our readers here.

The post studio klass: odeon lamp for fontana arte appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

designed by studio klass and manufactured by azzurra ceramica, the ‘gift collection’ is a ceramic accessories series conceived for the individual. devised as three different types of objects – a tootbrush holder, table mirror and container. by redesigning the toothbrush holder from a functional perspective; the usual function of the container, normally carried out by a glass adapted as toothbrush holder – with many hygiene issues is rethought, inviting to store the toothbrush horizontally, thus helping the water flow in excess and simplifying daily cleaning.

the table mirror is dedicated to people and their private time; the form simplifies the use when the object is resting on the table, with the grooves on the back, allowing for convenient storage of the instruments used for body care. the ceramic bathroom container developed for personal objects invites users to store precious objects onto a form specially designed to contain them: it is composed of an upper part for the rings and a lower part for watches and bracelets.

pinolo toothbrush holder
image © azzurra ceramica

momento table mirror
image © azzurra ceramica

baia ceramic bathroom container
image © azzurra ceramica

baia
image © azzurra ceramica

pinolo
image © azzurra ceramica

The post studio klass: ceramic accessories for the individual appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

milan-based studio klass has developed ‘balloon’ for italian company azzurra ceramica, as a reinterpretation of the classic valet stand. formally influenced by balloon animals, the minimally designed bent tubular steel object is intended to easily fit into the interior spaces of a home as storage for clothing or towels.

bathroom context
image © paolo veclani

living room use
image © paolo veclani


the shape of balloon – front view – orange
image © studio klass

the shape of balloon – front view – grey
image © studio klass

drawing by studio klass

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication.
see more project submissions from our readers here

The post studio klass: balloon valet stand appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.