When Alessandro Michele introduced home décor to Gucci’s portfolio, he did so with his characteristic motifs – bees, florals and penetrating eyes. Sabato De Sarno’s Gucci, however, has a different idea of home décor.
The latest Gucci Design Ancora project, which updates five iconic pieces of Italian design, will be exhibited at the Gucci flagship store in Via Monte Napoleone, 7.
Crafted in association with Michela Pelizzari, founder of Milan-based creative agency P:S, and Mr. De Sarno, Gucci Design Ancora is an immersive exhibition masterminded by Spanish architect Guillermo Santomà. Until April 21, amid the Milan Design Week festivities, visitors can immerse themselves in this avant-garde showcase within the surreal confines of green-hued, curved walls, a nod to Mr. De Sarno’s distinctive touch.
The five icons are, Storet by Nanda Vigo for Acerbis (1994, reedition 2020); Clessidra rug, Portaluppi Pattern Project by Nicolò Castellini Baldissera (great grandson of Piero Portaluppi) from an iconic design of Piero Portaluppi, edited by cc-tapis (2024); Parola by Gae Aulenti and Piero Castiglioni for FontanaArte (1980); Le Mura by Mario Bellini for Tacchini (1972, reedition 2022); and Opachi by Tobia Scarpa for Venini (1960, reedition 2021).
Ms. Pelizzari of P:S said, “Through Design Ancora, Gucci doesn’t simply celebrate old icons, it creates new ones. The aura emanating from the brand spotlights five pieces by Italian masters that are perfect from a design standpoint but less known to the general public.”
Each object is re-edited in Rosso Ancora, the crimson hue meticulously selected by Mr. De Sarno to signify the inauguration of Gucci’s innovative new chapter.
A similar aesthetic is achieved for the windows at Via Monte Napoleone, 7. In one display, a pair of Gucci Cub3d, an exclusive sneaker fusion of 3D-printed components and the House’s proprietary Demetra material hovers mid-air, autonomously rotating within a magnetic exhibit. In another window, Santomà’s personal touch is evident in the showcasing of a 3D printer, transformed into a bespoke objet d’art. Enough fodder for the curious!
