MILAN — The concept of the modern Milan home was originally pioneered by midcentury design icons like Gio Ponti and Achille Castiglioni. But today, evolving habits like smart working and the pursuit of zen environments are rapidly changing how people interact with their living spaces.
On Tuesday, husband-and-wife duo, Italian designer Mario Milana and Colombian creative Gabriella Campagna, unveiled the first exhibit by their creative studio Casa Milana. “Two Rooms,” an immersive installation at the London gallery 32 St. George at Lamb, will be on display until April 11.
“Two Rooms” reimagines the gallery as a domestic space, creating areas that invite the viewer in, offering an intimate glimpse into Casa Milana’s design philosophy. The exhibition features new and recent works by Mario Milana, including the debut of La Piccola, a low, laid-back sofa upholstered in Fortuny fabric; sculptural Anima screens created in collaboration with artist Sofia Cacciapaglia, and a new lava stone console developed with Ranieri.
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Born from the creative friendship between Casa Milana and Lamb, these new pieces reflect a shared vision and dialogue, where design and art inform one another. Also on view are two new handwoven rugs made with Beni, a firm that draws inspiration from Italian and Moroccan terrazzo. Historical artworks by Wassily Kandinsky and contemporary sculptures by Filippo Salerni and Ayla Tavares are also on display. Finally, three hand-blown glass works designed by early 19th century artist Vittorio Zecchin complete the installation.
“We have created an experience similar to what we show in our own home. A quiet [reprieve] from the outside, which is complete madness,” Milana told WWD.
Sound baths and meditation sessions and other holistic practices are expected to turn the exhibition into a sensorial experience. While Milana’s work is rooted in Italian craftsmanship and designed in dialogue with the body, Campagna brought her background in somatic therapy, movement and curation. Together, they shaped environments that nourish and invite awareness, proposing not just a way to live with design, but to live through it. A defining aspect of this project is the infusion of milanesità or Milan-ness into the London setting, creating a cultural cross-pollination between the two capitals.
For Campagna, the debut exhibit is about creating a connection: “Yes, slow living, meditation was the first input that got us on this path. I would say the interaction between with the pieces, that’s mostly what creates the original idea. I try to create that sparkle and spark a little curiosity — that creates then a relationship that you’re going to remember,” she added, explaining that when Lamb’s founder Lucinda Bellm contacted the duo to install a Milanese space in London, they were immediately intrigued.
“The space became like a set of two idealized rooms, one for work and creation, and the other for rest and enjoyment. What does the body need? What does the soul require? … Working with 32 St. George at Lamb has been a dream — they have been so committed to bringing this vision to life together,” Milana said.
