Istituto Marangoni’s new Design School in Milan opens its doors
![new School of Design in milan with Italian furniture brand Cappellini](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5YpAxxyf9MvZpFsuHsnrVc-415-80.jpg)
Milan’s most prestigious fashion school, Istituto Marangoni, has just unbuttoned its first fully dedicated design school in the centre of the city. Tucked just behind Piazza San Babila on a cobblestone street, the new School of Design sits not on a sprawling campus but rather inside a narrow, stately 19th century palazzo filled top-to-bottom with modern, eye-popping Cappellini furniture.
'The idea was to create a sort of homeschool,' explains architect Giulio Cappellini, whose post as artistic director of the venerable Italian design company now extends to the new school. 'It has a boutique feeling,' he adds. 'Students might spend 10 hours here in one day, so it had to be cozy and warm.'
At just 2,500 sqm total, the campus’ limited dimensions created a design opportunity for Cappellini, who swept the refurbished interiors in a clean shell of glass walls, and then punctured the neutral spaces with bright spots of coloured furniture. Icons of Cappellini’s long-standing design repertoire are well represented on each of the five floors, including Marcel Wanders’ 'Dalia' chairs and Shiro Kuramata’s glowing red 'Revolving' bookshelf on the ground floor entryway, Jasper Morrison’s 'Low Pad' chairs in the lounge area and colourful 'Stitch' chairs in the materials room.
Each classroom is fitted with newly designed laminate top steel leg tables with special cord covers, and paired with Jasper Morrison’s 'Tate' chairs in blue or yellow, originally designed for the Tate Modern in London. His 'Morrison' stools are also represented in the lab rooms, paired with custom-made drafting tables. A café, terrace, and library are also all fitted with Cappellini designs.
'Marangoni is already very well known for and tied to fashion, so we wanted to make a statement on the design and the interiors for this new institution,' says Cappellini.
Founded in 1935 in Milan, Marangoni now operates fashion schools in three other cities around the world: London, Paris, Shanghai. The new Design School in Milan features intimate classes limited to 10-15 students each and offers three-year undergraduate degrees as well as a two-year masters program.
At just 2,500 sqm total, the campus’ limited space created a design opportunity for Cappellini, who injected the refurbished interiors with glass walls and punctuated the space's neutral tones with brightly coloured furniture
'Low Pad' chairs, by Jasper Morrison, for Cappellini, 1999
Icons of Cappellini’s long-standing design repertoire are well represented on each of the five floors, including Marcel Wanders’ 'Dalia' chairs and Shiro Kuramata’s bold red 'Revolving' bookshelf on the ground floor entryway...
...and colourful 'Stitch' chairs in the materials room
'Stitch' chair, by Adam Goodrum, for Cappellini, 2008
Each classroom is fitted with especially designed laminate top tables with steel legs and cord covers, as well as Jasper Morrison’s 'Tate' chairs...
...while his 'Morrison' stools are also represented in the laboratory, paired with custom-made drafting tables
A café (pictured), terrace, and library are also all fitted with Cappellini designs. 'Marangoni is already very well known for and tied to fashion, so we wanted to make a statement on the design and the interiors for this new institution,' says Cappellini
'Cap' chair, by Jasper Morrison, for Cappellini, 2013
The school's material room is kitted out with Adam Goodrum's 'Stitch' chairs and Cappellini's modular 'Sistema' bookshelves
'Sistema' modular bookshelves, by Studio Cappellini, 2013
Wallpaper* Newsletter + Free Download
For a free digital copy of August Wallpaper*, celebrating Creative America, sign up today to receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories
JJ Martin
-
‘Hedonistic and avant-garde’: Rabanne’s Julian Dossena on the legacy of the chainmail 1969 bag
Paco Rabanne’s 1969 chainmail handbag encapsulates the late designer’s futuristic, space-age style. Current creative director Julien Dossena tells Wallpaper* about the bag’s particular pleasures
By Jack Moss Published
-
Postcard from Paris: Olympic fever takes over the streets
On the eve of the opening ceremony of Paris 2024, our correspondent shares her views from the streets of the capital about how the event is impacting the urban landscape.
By Minako Norimatsu Published
-
The Mercury Prize nominees for 2024 have been revealed
Charli XCX, The Last Dinner Party and Beth Gibbons are amongst this year's nominees
By Charlotte Gunn Published
-
Romanengo is Milan’s new sweet spot
Romanengo, the oldest Italian confectionery, opens its doors in Milan with interiors by Madrid-based architects Cousi Interiorismo
By Ifeoluwa Adedeji Published
-
Vipp Palazzo pop-up hotel opens inside Brescia’s historical Palazzo Monti
Scandi minimalism meets Baroque maximalism in Vipp Palazzo, a pop-up hotel by the Danish brand in the heart of Brescia
By Rosa Bertoli Published
-
B&B Italia celebrates 15 years of outdoor furniture
From a woven design by Patricia Urquiola to an aeroplane-inspired collection by Piero Lissoni: we look back on exceptional B&B Italia outdoor furniture
By Rosa Bertoli Last updated
-
Michele De Lucchi unveils latest furniture design for Stellar Works
Italian designer Michele De Lucchi and Stellar Works present a new furniture collaboration consisting of a modular sofa with a floating silhouette that merges Italian and Japanese design sensibilities
By Cristina Kiran Piotti Last updated
-
Marble table pushes the boundaries of furniture manufacturing
The sinuous forms of Roberto Lazzeroni's Infinito table for Poltrona Frau are defined by a rare marble and an innovative design approach
By Alice Morby Last updated
-
Luigi Caccia Dominioni’s iconic chairs for Azucena get a chromatic update
Azucena and Serapian collaborate to instill new life into Luigi Caccia Dominioni's Catilina chair, a legendary design now updated with a distinctive leather mosaic motif
By Rosa Bertoli Last updated
-
All aboard! Immersive design museum on a cruise ship celebrates Italian icons
The mobile museum is housed inside one of Italian company Costa Smeralda's cruiseship, featuring a selection of design icons and a futuristic set by Tihany Design
By Rosa Bertoli Last updated
-
Natuzzi and ByBorre's Mediterranean-inspired upholstery fabrics
Italian furniture company Natuzzi joined forces with Dutch textile innovator Borre Akkersdijk to create a collection of textile upholstery to complement Natuzzi furniture collections
By Rosa Bertoli Last updated