At Fuorisalone 2019, Milan’s world-famous celebration of design, held during the city’s prestigious Salone Internazionale del Mobile from April 8-14, Whirlpool is showing how inspired products have the power to help forge meaningful human connections in the digital age. In addition to demonstrating how innovative appliances can free up more time to focus on the things that matter most in life, Whirlpool is exploring the theme of connection through a number of exciting partnerships. Working in collaboration with leading design magazine, INTERNI, Whirlpool is presenting a major new interactive art installation – designed by Ico Migliore with M+S lab – at the publication’s prestigious ‘Human Spaces’ event. Whirlpool is also partnering with Cosentino, a leading manufacturer of innovative and technologically advanced surfaces for the world of design and architecture, to host an interactive “talk show”-style event and showcase its premium W Collection appliances.
“Today, design plays an increasingly important role within our homes and kitchens, which have become social and shared spaces that we use to express our personalities and empower our lifestyles,” said Neil Tunstall, Vice President Products of Whirlpool EMEA. “As the technology that surrounds us grows ever more intelligent, Whirlpool – a pioneer in advanced connected appliances – is innovating to ensure that our human experience continues to define this new world. At Fuorisalone, we are excited to bring this vision to life, especially through an inspirational installation that explores and embodies these concepts. As a co-producer of INTERNI’s distinguished ‘Human Spaces’ exhibition, we aim to show how the Whirlpool brand is helping to create homes that are more sensitive to the human experience through our 6TH SENSE technology. The installation and the product showcase reveal how better technology can liberate us to focus on the human connections that truly matter.”
INTERNI
At Fuorisalone 2019, Whirlpool is partnering with the iconic Italian interior and contemporary design magazine, INTERNI, for the very first time. Whirlpool is a co-producer of INTERNI’s ‘Human Spaces’ event, where a special Whirlpool installation is featured as part of this distinguished showcase of design. As the pioneering force behind Fuorisalone and a leader in the world of design, INTERNI’s flagship event, which is taking place at the University of Milan between April 8-19, is anticipated to attract over 200,000 visitors and designers over the course of the two weeks.
“Human Spaces is a major exploration of how architecture and the design of objects, systems and networks can be, once more, oriented around the human experience and wellbeing,” commented Gilda Bojardi, Director of INTERNI. “As an innovative brand that is championing the value of sensitive, human-centric design through its unique 6TH SENSE technology and advanced appliances, Whirlpool’s vision – and its immersive, sensory presentation of this vision – is a seamless fit for Human Spaces.”
For the Human Spaces event, Whirlpool is immersing its visitors in a unique sensory experience, celebrating the power of meaningful human connections. With a striking new installation designed by Ico Migliore with M+S lab called, “The Perfect Time”, the experience explores the concepts of time, space and connection, where space is interpreted as an intelligent, permeable organism that visitors can pass through, discovering how changes in perception are altered by place and time. The installation reveals how the human-centric product design behind the premium appliance manufacturer’s W Collection range can help shape our experiences and bring us closer together, and shows how Whirlpool is helping to create homes that are more sensitive to the human experience through its 6TH SENSE technology. “The Perfect Time” is on display in the courtyard of the University of Milan from April 8-19.
“It was very interesting to work with Whirlpool to create a powerful narrative and installation where the perception of time changes through dynamic, narrative sequences to interpret the relationship between intuitive technology and the human factor,” said Ico Migliore, Architect and Co-Founder of M+S lab. “With ‘The Perfect Time’, we aimed to create a multisensory experience for visitors that presents them with an interesting perspective on time and space, while bringing Whirlpool’s value of human-centric technology to life. The installation itself is alive with technology, yet organic in the sense that it is a permeable space that breathes and interacts with its visitors through light and sensorial features, and the perception of which changes from daytime to nighttime.”
Cosentino
Like Whirlpool, Cosentino shares a desire to create innovative products that reflect the importance of bringing high-quality and remarkable materials into everyday environments, such as homes and kitchens. Cosentino is a leading manufacturer of innovative and technologically advanced surfaces for the world of design and architecture, including Silestone®, Dekton® and Sensa by Cosentino®. At Milan Design Week, Whirlpool is partnering with Cosentino to provide an opportunity for visitors to experience the brand’s premium W Collection appliances at its Milan showroom, ‘Cosentino City Milan’, located in Piazza Fontana.
“Whirlpool’s aspirational vision of advanced performance, high quality products and leading-edge design is a natural fit for Cosentino,” said Roberto Franceschin, Cosentino Country Manager for Italy, Switzerland and Slovenia. “Like Whirlpool, we strive to create exceptional products that reflect the importance of bringing high-quality and remarkable materials into everyday environments, such as homes and kitchens.”