These floors really tie the room together

My major scope when visiting the yearly Salone del Mobile is to focus on the XYZ coordinates.

Identifying emerging trends means a shift in perspective, in my case to move from the flat surface to the 3D world. To understand the objects that will inhibit the future interior. And to analyse design expressions that will be enclosed, supported, emphasized or even celebrated by vertical and horizontal surfaces.

Being in Milan during the Fiera feels like stepping into a real time expanding design universe.

Welcome to the dimension of infinite design, to be or not to be, it doesn’t matter everything is design, even if it doesn’t look like design it is labelled as design.

Searching for genuine new directions, a starting point for a trend, something to hold on to, feels like a hopeless quest. An overwhelming offer of yet another thousand or so creative solutions are blurring my vision.

While trying to decipher the design language of a fresh load of Design Academy talents I notice something moving on the floor. It is a giant plotter, alive and printing! A charming simple concept, accessible and easy to imagine how this could be a future service. Rent a mobile plotter and print your own flooring design.

Giant plotter. Concept and design by Rudi Boiten 

Once my focus is on the horizontal I recognize the details and discover within this limited XY dimension a galaxy of bright ideas. Wonderful examples of the different roles an ordinary flat surface can play in a 3D or probably even fourth dimension?

Floor merges with mirror glass magic counter. Hay Showroom.

Upholstery interacts with perforated flooring panels. Bouroullec

These artificial rugs really tie the room together. Vitra stand 

This is not a miniature interior, trompe l’oeil.  Artek stand

Transitional tactile carpet. Design by Debby Yu

Flooring as wrapping paper presenting Rosenthal interior collection     

Stairs with sporty stripes as hang out for Prada mannequins

Carpet as landscape. Moroso stand

Zoning. Offecct stand

Marmoleum in a miniature environment. Dolls house initiative by Supermodels

Connecting the floor with the wall using a color dialogue. Moooi presentation 

Connected by pattern. Moooi presentation

Nouveau Retro. Connected by time. Paul Smith show room

Floor becomes table top becomes floor. Milled marble by Scholten Baijings

Milled honeycomb flooring patterns, totally graphic

Wearable Carpet. Kasthall Living. 

Elegant leg of copper table resting on painted raw concrete floor. Rosanna Orlandi shop

Wallpaper transforms into floor covering. Presentation Rath & Doodeheefver

Precious floor for presenting precious products. Kartell stand