Set in a private apartment overlooking the high-rise skyline of Milan, two creative minds have put together an installation highlighting the defining aesthetics of our lives – fashion and design. The unique collaboration was born in the imaginations of Italian architect Luca Cipelletti and Austrian born fashion designer Arthur Arbesser. Their goal – to display Arbesser’s Autumn-Winter 2014-2015 fashion collection within the apartment and amongst the belongings of architect Cipelletti.
Located within a 1920s building, Cipelletti choose to preserve the apartment’s original footprint yet add flow and visual connection via a series of cutouts. The effect reads like a series of mirrored reflections, while simultaneously providing a gallery-like environment for Arbesser’s clean lined fashions. Above – a tunic and sheer pant ensemble stands next to a Luisa armchair designed circa 1950 by Franco Albini.
In the living room a graphic wall painting by British artist David Tremlett provides a dramatic frame for a simple suit. The Tong Y-Block table is by Luca Cipelletti and Bernard Dubois and the side chairs are by Charles and Ray Eames.
In the dining area a softly metallic tunic joins a Norman Foster Nomos table set with limited edition vintage vinyl records from the 1970s/80s.
The infinity-like effect of Cipelletti’s wall cutouts are in full effect in the living room where a striped dress plays off a pair of graphic Ico Parisi chairs (1955). The console is by Guglielmo Ulrich, and the rattan Margherita chair (1951) by Franco Albini.
Back in the bedroom a textured orange coat and baggy metallic shirt and knickers flank a photo series by Ugo Mulas (circa 1960s). The 1959 AM-AS table lamp is by Franco Albini, and the 1962 Toio floor lamp by is Achille Castiglioni. The contemporary ‘360º Compass’ sculpture (2009) is by Danish artist Olafur Eliasson.
In the entry, two early 20th century American oak chairs sit next to a Norman Foster table for Tecno, while down the hall a boldly patterned outfit by Arthur Arbesser peeks out just in time for fashion week – an innovative yet intuitive conversation between fashion and design. View the full exhibit over on Luca Cipelletti’s site at ar.ch.it.
Photography: Henrik Blomqvist
