15–21 April, Spazio Maiocchi + 10 Corso Como Milan. Radical Sensations. 15–21 April, Spazio Maiocchi + 10 Corso Como Milan. Radical Sensations. 15–21 April, Spazio Maiocchi + 10 Corso Como Milan. Radical Sensations. 15–21 April, Spazio Maiocchi + 10 Corso Como Milan. Radical Sensations.

Spazio Maiocchi

Location

Spazio Maiocchi, via A. Maiocchi 3–5–7

Schedule of Events

PRESS DAY
Monday, 15 April, 10.30am–6pm
To register for a press pass, please visit here.

PUBLIC OPENING
Monday, 15 April, 6–10pm

PUBLIC SHOW DAYS
Tuesday, 16 April
until Sunday, 21 April
10.30am-7.30pm

Nike feat. Alaska Alaska

Capsule celebrates the debut of Nike Alphafly 3, a pinnacle of design innovation. Combining a full length carbon fibre plate, a foam midsole, and Air Zoom units, the shoe, specially designed for marathon running, is presented here in the “Prototype” colorway, a nod to Nike’s development process of testing with athletes. An installation by Alaska Alaska — a London—based research—based design and creative service originally founded by Virgil Abloh and now directed by Tawanda Chiweshe and Francisco Gaspar — provides the scenography with their K67—inspired furniture series, channeling the shared ethos of breaking barriers through prototyping. In a video captured by Capsule at Espace d’Abraxas, Ricardo Bofill’s neoclassicist postmodern masterpiece on the outskirts of Paris, Nike Alphafly 3 is put to the test ahead of this summer’s Olympic Games in the city.

BD Barcelona feat. Muller Van Severen

An experience presented by BD in collaboration with the Belgian design duo Muller Van Severen — founded in 2011 by Belgian artists Fien Muller and Hannes Van Severen — “Interzone” blossoms from a shared legacy steeped in surrealism, sculpture, and architecture. It is a space that brings people together by showcasing the designers’ ability to reimagine shapes that transcend their function and embody sculpture through basic architectural forms: an interzone of comfort and community, one with rich colors and gracious structures. The characteristic bold and vibrant palette of Muller Van Severen is emphasized in this collection of the furniture design company from Barcelona, one involving practitioners unbound by conventional market rules.

LOPRESTO Lancia Sibilo Bertone

At the 1978 Turin Motor Show, Bertone presented a show car based on Lancia Stratos as the main protagonist of its stand. This is the “Sibilo” designed by the late Marcello Gandini (1938—2024), which takes the concept of a monolithic car to the extreme: the prototype consists of a single seamless volume and the shape of the windows, merged with the rest of the body, is not even perceived. After the show, the car remained in the Bertone collection until 2011, when it was auctioned and became part of the Lopresto Collection.

FUTURA AKARI powered by GOAT

The leading retail platform for the past, present and future, GOAT is delighted to present “Futura Akari,” a selection from Isamu Noguchi’s Akari light sculptures hand—painted by legendary artist and painter FUTURA2000, which were originally commissioned for the 2020 exhibition at the Noguchi Museum, New York. Beginning in 1951, for more than three decades, Japanese American artist Isamu Noguchi (1904—1988) designed more than 200 Akari, which have become some of the most transformative, ubiquitous, and influential sculptures of the 20th century. A seminal figure in the history and culture of contemporary art and, like Noguchi, an open—to—the—world boundary—crosser, FUTURA2000 continued his collaboration with the Noguchi Museum in 2021 with a limited edition series of hand-painted Akari lanterns and prints, which are included in the installation and available for purchase on GOAT.

HYDRO 100R

Leading Norwegian aluminum and renewable energy company Hydro presents the ground-breaking installation 100R — a celebration of Hydro CIRCAL 100R, the world’s first recycled aluminum made entirely from post — consumer scrap on an industrial scale. To showcase the vast possibilities of this material, one that can be endlessly recycled without any loss of quality, Hydro has gathered a team of seven renowned designers — each chosen for their specific skill set and personality — to transform this revolutionary aluminum into a series of pristine — looking objects and furniture. Lars Beller Fjetland is in charge of art direction, concept and strategy for 100R, enlisting designers Inga Sempé, Max Lamb, Andreas Engesvik, Shane Schneck, Rachel Griffin, John Tree, and Philippe Malouin.

POLTRONOVA feat. Harry Nuriev

2024 marks sixty years since Italian—born husband—and—wife team, Lella and Massimo Vignelli, designed the Saratoga sofa for their New York home. In its geometric simplicity, inspired by the timeless shape of a piano and the tactile interiors of a Jaguar, it remains a masterpiece of mid—century’s minimalism. To celebrate this anniversary, Poltronova and Capsule invite artist and designer Harry Nuriev to reimagine the Saratoga, using what he calls “transformism” to imbue this timeless design with novel aesthetic and material qualities. The resulting installation, taking inspirations from the mundane and even the distinctly unpoetic, will host Capsule Plaza’s daily program of talks, tapping into a wide range of creators to question the notion of radical design for today.

UGG feat. James Bantone

For the first time at Salone Del Mobile in Milan, UGG commissions artist James Bantone to create a bespoke installation embodying a mutual bold spirit. Titled “If you (see me, see me, see me),” the installation offers a captivating exploration of the blurred boundaries between private and public realms. By deconstructing and distorting concepts of indoor and outdoor, the installation achieves a “mise en abyme,” inserting copies of the original image within itself, endlessly reflected through the panels and the viewers’ interaction.

RIMOWA feat. La Marzocco

Since 1898, RIMOWA has positioned itself as a pioneering force, consistently bridging the art of engineering with innovation and expert craftsmanship. Now, the Maison is proud to announce a collaboration with La Marzocco, a global leader in handmade espresso machinery—a shared design venture that represents a perfect blend of German and Italian design and engineering, distinguished by ingenuity, craftsmanship, and meticulous attention to detail. The RIMOWA La Marzocco Linea Mini espresso machine will take centre stage at the ‘Caffè RIMOWA’ pop-up at Spazio Maiocchi through a scenography designed by NUOVA Group, the research and innovation-based luxury design studio from California. Inspired by the traditional German Café–Konditoreien, the bar serves as a time capsule showcasing the essence of luxury craftsmanship from a different era. The studio has worked with elements such as floral upholstered textiles, lacquered wood finishes, and warm lighting to define the mood and contextualise the environment.

K67 KIOSK feat. La Prairie

In the courtyard of Spazio Maiocchi, Capsule presents a collaboration with K67 Berlin, the company recovering and bringing back to life the retro—futuristic system designed in the late 1960s by Slovenian architect and designer Saša J. Mächtig, which is also included in the MoMA collection. Based on polyfibre reinforced modules, the flexible design of the units enables them to serve numerous functions, and its phenomenal adaptability is showcased here through a variety of activations — from magazine kiosk to matcha bar, from information desk to DJ booth. Standing out in the brand’s iconic blue, the Cobalt Kiosk by La Prairie — leader in luxury skincare — is reimagined as a flower stand, carrying on the company’s mission to take inspiration from art and nature to nurture scientific research.

MARSOTTO feat. David/Nicolas

Conceived by the internationally acclaimed studio David/Nicolas, Marsotto’s new modular kitchen “Ratio,” made entirely of stone, combines modern elegance and timeless design. Rhythm and symmetry denote the profiles and unity of their modules which, when juxtaposed, generate volumes with a sculptural and material impact. The doors, framed by exquisite mouldings, incorporate a touch of artisan history through precious tone—on—tone inlays. The “Ratio” collection reflects a continuity of Marsotto’s corporate tradition. It is not only functional, but pivotal to its surroundings: a visual statement celebrating a union of design, craftsmanship and history. Iconic Marsotto Edizioni pieces by eminent designers such as Konstantin Grcic, James Irvine, Naoto Fukasawa, and Thomas Sandell, complete the display — which also hosts the Capsule Plaza wine bar and fermentation lab, a space to explore the radical and relational aspects of nature and food.

CAPSULE GIFT SHOP
In partnership with Lehni

The legendary Aluminium Shelf by Andreas Christen, first produced by Lehni for the 1964 Expo (Swiss National Exhibition), celebrates its 60th birthday. Today, it’s viewed as one of the most important classics of Swiss furniture design. The shelf, which is extremely light in relation to its high load-bearing capacity, owes its stability to the precisely bent aluminium sheets and the cross—brace at the back. At Capsule Plaza, this iconic system showcases some of its countless shelf combinations, and a custom finish, providing the display for the exhibition’s gift shop and a special collaboration with Swiss graphic and type design studio, ABC Dinamo.

Download Press Release

Meet the curators

The 2024 edition of Capsule Plaza in Milan is co-curated by Capsule’s founder and creative director ALESSIO ASCARI with architect PAUL COURNET.

Alessio Ascari is a publisher and curator born and raised in Milan. He is the founder and creative director of Capsule and Kaleidoscope. Since 2017, he curates the cultural programming of events and exhibitions at Spazio Maiocchi, Milan’s “counter-museum.”

Paul Cournet is a French architect and editor based in Rotterdam. After working for over a decade at OMA*AMO, he founded CLOUD in 2022, a multidisciplinary architectural practice. He currently leads Capsule’s spatial design studio.

Capsule Issue #3

In tandem with the opening, Capsule will release the third issue of the magazine — an annual publication reimagining the notion of radical design for today. Capsule Issue 3 will premiere exclusively at the Capsule Plaza gift shops at Spazio Maiocchi and 10 Corso Como. Online release following soon.

Capsule Issue 3 – Apple Vision Pro: Into the Hyperreal

€48.00

Capsule Issue 3 – Marc Newson: A to Z

€48.00

Capsule Issue 3 – Herzog & de Meuron Objects

€48.00

Capsule Issue 3 – Nike Alphafly 3: Endless Prototype

€48.00

Capsule Issue 3 – Tiffany & Co.: Wearable Icons

€48.00

From 15–21 April 2024, Capsule Plaza returns for its second edition, continuing to infuse Milan Design Week with new energy while expanding its global reach.

A hybrid between a fair and a collective exhibition, Capsule Plaza will once again bring together designers and companies from various creative fields, bridging industry and culture with a bold and multisensory curation that spans interiors and architecture, beauty and technology, innovation and craft.

Capsule Plaza’s lineup across the two venues includes: RIMOWA feat. La Marzocco; HERZOG & DE MEURON; POLTRONOVA feat. Harry Nuriev; VERNER PANTON DESIGN AG (in collaboration with Vitra, Amini, &Tradition, Verpan, Offecct, Montana); NIKE ALPHAFLY 3 feat. Alaska Alaska; HYDRO feat. Inga Sempé, Max Lamb, Andreas Engesvik, Shane Schneck, Earnest Studio, John Tree, and Philippe Malouin; BD BARCELONA feat. Muller Van Severen; ECCO LEATHER; TIFFANY & CO.; FUTURA AKARI powered by GOAT; UGG feat. James Bantone; LA PRAIRIE, IITTALA feat. Damsel Elysium; FORMAT feat. Niceworkshop; MARSOTTO EDIZIONI feat. David/Nicolas; LOPRESTO; and more to be announced.

The installations will be accompanied by a program of talks, workshops, and pop-ups that tap into a wide range of creators — including MARC NEWSON, MAX LAMB, SAMUEL ROSS, DAVID ZILBER, ABC DINAMO, NUOVA, and ROCKY’S MATCHA — and realized with the support of design partners such as KVADRAT, LEHNI, K67, ACERBIS, HEM, BOCCI, and SYNG.

Talks & Workshops at Spazio Maiocchi

10 Corso Como

Location

10 Corso Como, Corso Como 10

Schedule of Events

PRESS DAY
Monday, 15 April, 10.30am–6pm
To register for a press pass, please visit here.

PUBLIC OPENING
Monday, 15 April, 6–10pm

PUBLIC SHOW DAYS
Tuesday, 16 April
until Sunday, 21 April
10.30am-7.30pm

VERNER PANTON DESIGN AG
Panton Lounge in collaboration with Vitra, Amini, &Tradition, Verpan, Offecct, Kvadrat, Montana, and Syng

Capsule presents a special collaboration with the estate of Danish architect and designer Verner Panton (1926—1998), who ranks among the most prominent and innovative designers of the 20th century. The installation “Panton Lounge” recreates a fully immersive sensory experience, produced in collaboration with the companies that proudly carry on Panton’s legacy as official licensees — Vitra, Verpan, &Tradition, and Montana — and premiering the re—edition of three iconic products: the Domino and Romantica rug by Amini, and the Spiegel acoustic panel by Offecct. Taking cues from some of Panton’s most visionary interiors, the “Panton Lounge” doubles as a sound experience and social space — an approach rooting back to the designer’s preference for immersive environments, seeking out an emotional participation of the visitor.

FORMAT Aluminum Formwork Series feat. Niceworkshop

Seoul—based design studio Niceworkshop is pleased to present “Aluminum Formwork Series,” a project in partnership with the upcycling brand Format. Inspired by the cyclical process of “Production — Rental – Repair – Dissolution – Reproduction,” Niceworkshop employs Format’s aluminum formwork (AL – FORM), a component that is often reused at construction sites after removing surface concrete debris, as part of its new furniture series. Through this collaborative effort, stemming from the their shared interest in sustainability and material exploration, the two partners introduce the ‘Aged Form Line’, which captures the enduring texture of concrete on the surface even after the repair process, and the ‘New Form Line’, which employs new materials reproduced through a recycling process.

ECCO
Material Matters

To celebrate the monumental role of material choices in the future of design and innovation, ECCO presents an installation that takes the audience on a sensory journey through the elegance and versatility of leather and PU materials. First established in 1991 under shoe manufacturer ECCO Shoes, today, ECCO Leather is a global company that develops over 1000 types of leathers, a tannery that puts artistry, sustainability and quality before sales. The brand’s clever design merges art, technology, and craftsmanship to create a memorable experience that brings material and community together. The signature installation — showcasing contributions by Anne Holtrop, Bianca Saunders, Kostas Murkudis, Natacha Ramsay—Levi, and NM3 — boasts a dynamic and interactive nature, with participants invited to leave an imprint on the visual output.

HERZOG & DE MEURON
H&dM Objects

While developing their celebrated portfolio of projects, the Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron have designed over six hundred Objects. A vast array of furniture, light fixtures, textiles, and architectural details like coat hooks or door handles. H&dM Objects manages the pool of existing objects and creates new ones led by the Atelier and in collaboration with manufacturers and skilled craftspeople. The development of Objects is driven by an in—depth exploration between the analogue and the digital, along with a fascination with materials and craftsmanship. A limited edition of Objects was reinterpreted for Capsule Plaza 2024, a family of six chairs and stools made of precisely cut, milled, and assembled wood, without screws, and hand finished with a high—gloss black lacquer.

IITTALA
Orchestra of Glass

Iittala presents an exclusive and multi sensory environment starring a selection of bespoke glassware. Created by the award—winning, ideas—driven design studio Spacon & X, the installation stages a unique instrument ensemble created by the experimental composer and visual artist Damsel Elysium along with Iittala’s Creative Director Janni Vepsäläinen. The glass instruments are arranged using musical apparatus, with lighting used to disperse the different colors of glass around the room to encourage shadow play. The installation is completed by a looped soundscape by Damsel Elysium featuring sounds from Iittala’s factory and glassware—playing. Established in 1881, Iittala is a Finnish glassware brand that champions its artisanal heritage and dedication to craftsmanship.

ACERBIS
Remasters

Hosted in the reception of Capsule Plaza, “Remasters” is the first collection curated by Francesco Meda and David Lopez Quincoces in their role as the new creative directors of Acerbis, one among the most enduring furniture companies in Italy and a connoisseur’s benchmark of Italian design. “Remasters” features an eclectic selection of the most daring and original archival masterpieces by Acerbis, designed in different eras by several hands — including Lella & Massimo Vignelli, Claudio Salocchi, Nanda Vigo, Giotto Stoppino, Lodovico Acerbis, and Vico Magistretti — and reinterpreted today with new finishes, new materials, proportions and updated technical solutions.

CAPSULE GIFT SHOP

The Capsule Plaza gift shop offers a curated selection of design objects, home goods, books, and Capsule merchandise. Expanding on the physical experience, an online exhibit curated by Capsule will bring this selection to a global audience on GOAT, the leading retail platform for the past, present and future.