Dezeen Magazine

Gaggenau to take over Villa Necchi Campiglio during Milan Design Week

Promotion: German luxury kitchen appliance brand Gaggenau will build an interactive installation within the conservatory of Milan's historic Villa Necchi Campiglio during Milan design week that will also host a series of talks live-streamed by Dezeen.

Participating as part of Milan design week's Fuorisalone – the collective name for the fringe events that take place around the city during the Salone del Mobile furniture fair – Gaggenau's showcase will occupy the glass pavilion at Villa Necchi Campiglio, a private 1930s house-turned museum in the heart of Milan.

A photograph inside the glass structure of Villa Necchi Campiglio
Gaggenau's showcase will occupy the glass pavilion at Villa Necchi Campiglio

The interactive installation titled A Statement of Form will span 360 square feet and will take the form of a structure that houses the brand's highest-grade appliances.

Alongside the installation, the space will also play host to a series of thought-leading talks throughout the week hosted by Dezeen's editor-at-large, Amy Frearson and livestreamed by Dezeen. You can watch the talks live on Dezeen here.

On 7 June at 10am Milan time, Frearson will discuss longevity and sustainability in design with BIG's director of interiors Francesca Portesine, designer Søren Rose and Foster + Partners' head of industrial design, Mike Holland.

A photograph of the pool at Villa Necchi Campiglio
Villa Necchi Campiglio will host a series of talks live-streamed by Dezeen

Taking place 8 June at 10am, Frearson will speak to Andrea Molteni, director of product development at Dada, and Yabu Pushelberg co-founders George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg about designing kitchens that form "the hub of the home".

On 9 June at 10am, Frearson will speak to Design Haus Liberty founder Dara Huang and architect Michel Rojkind from Rojkind Arquitectos about how their practices have changed during the pandemic.

A black and white render of A Statement of Form
A Statement of Form will be on show between the 7 and 11 June during Milan Design Week

"To be chosen as a partner to host the Dezeen panel talks with such great panelists and to animate this special space is an honour," said architect and designer manager at Gaggenau, Victoria McKay.

Visitors will move through the installation on a guided tour to experience Gaggenau's key specialist areas, including "cooking precision from raw ingredients to cuisine, balance and tension, heritage and craftsmanship through to progressive advancement, the importance of materiality, the relationship between cooling and heat, objet d'art within technical perfection, and the home as the entertaining space of the future".

A photograph of the drawings for a Statement of Form

The appliances will be helmed by German three Michelin star Restaurant Überfahrt chef, and longtime Gaggenau collaborator, Christian Jürgens.

The installation is a bold departure from the brand's previous and more conventional showcases at Milan design week, which have historically always taken place at EuroCucina, the biennial kitchens-focused exhibition at the Salone del Mobile furniture fair.

"We are excited to welcome architects, designers, and kitchen professionals to meet with us at the iconic and historic Villa Necchi and experience our unique exposition," said head of global business development at Gaggenau, Kais Zaiane.

"A Statement of Form juxtaposes competing elements that are required to make something exceptional. It brings together: tradition and avant-garde, grandmasters crafting culinary art, and conscientious maintenance of craftsmanship, through progressiveness and heritage. This space in Milan is a true expression of the uniqueness of Gaggenau."

A photograph of a Statement of Form, which is Gaggenau's installation
A Statement of Form will span 360 square feet

Villa Necchi Campiglio was designed and built between 1932 and 1935 by architect Piero Portaluppi and was famously featured in the 2009 film I Am Love directed by Luca Guadagnino.

A Statement of Form will be on show between 7 and 11 June during Milan Design Week, daily from 11 am – 5 pm. To visit, register at www.gaggenau.com.

You can watch the talks live on Dezeen here.

Milan design week 2022

A Statement of Form is part of Milan design week 2022, which takes place from 6 to 12 June 2022. See our Milan design week 2022 guide on Dezeen Events Guide for information about the many other exhibitions, installations and talks taking place throughout the week.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for Gaggenau as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here