Sensory Design + “Inside Looking Out” Space in Milan

Hello dear friends, it’s so nice to be here today to say hello and share this unique space in Milan with you. As you may know, Milan Design Week (for interiors) is in full swing currently and though I was invited, I had to remain in Hannover to finish up a class. I’ve been following some colleagues and friends who are in Milan, and was excited when I saw this project popping up on the ‘gram. It’s called the “Inside Looking Out” pop-up space and gallery which is located in a gorgeous 18th century Milanese apartment and is a collaboration between DUX and H+O founders and curators Elisa Ossino and Josephine Akvama Hoffmeyer. The space is so intriguing that I had to get a hold of the photos and give you a special tour of it here on decor8 today. Those who have seen it in person describe the overall space as a, “Sensory, emotional experience.”. The project was created to, “Facilitate a meeting between space, nature and living beings, to help strengthen the connection to what all organisms are essentially part of.”

Coming (almost) out of Corona, we’re all exploring new ways of living and also interiors, which is why the curators have selected artwork that interacts with design and architecture but also that tugs on the senses, conjuring up emotions as you walk through each room, which are naturally unique to each visitor.

“While a magic mirror transforms your face, a multichannel, synchronized soundscape moves sound around the entire space, thus materializing imaginary environments of nature. Paintings, sculptures, fashion, interactive design, and sculptural lighting finds natural harmony with iconic furniture and interior – redefining the art of living. In the kitchen, modern technology merges with traditional knowledge, as a team of professional chefs from V-Zug Gourmet Academy are present all week, offering guests a sensory experience through seasonal, plant-based hors d’oevres.”

SENSORY DESIGN will soon by a big buzz phrase, a trend, a theme - and I saw coming awhile ago since I spoke about it to my students in my Photography + Styling Masterclass online but also I presented the sensory design in lectures I gave both at Formland in Herning and Domotex in Hannover in 2020.

I also studied Sensory Photography + Styling under Dietlind Wolf in 2017 in Gotland, Sweden where I gained a glorious education on how to incorporate all of the senses into photos which made me consider sensory design in my own interiors and styling, too.

Sensory design will be soon on everyone’s radar, in magazines, in trend forecasts, themes for books… It seems the interiors world as as whole are moving more into the senses - it’s no longer about form and function, it’s about connecting your emotions to rooms that will impact you in a positive, healthful way.

This apartment, photographed by the extraordinary Giorgio Possenti, featuring a premium DUX bed, has the most serene palette and textures. I love the wall colors, and the brown ceiling, it’s divine! The mix of materials and shapes, soothing colors, and playful touches are so cleverly orchestrated. It’s important to note that it’s a gallery, so it’s not a real apartment that is 100% livable - but the overall takeaway from my perspective is how personal touches, art, harmonious color, handmade objects, natural materials, playfulness, plenty of light sources, and interesting objects can only serve to amplify any home design - all things I’ve been writing about in my books and here on my blog for 16 years - it’s what I stood by, stand by, and will always believe the most and what caused me to become an interior designer in the first place - the power interiors has over our health and well-being, how productive we are in life (or not) and how welcome we can make people feel in our homes.

SENSORY DESIGN - Start studying it, think about it, look out for it… It’s only going to get hotter.

I must add that I am a huge lover of the color green in all of its tints and tones, so I really enjoy seeing so much of it in this space.

About the designers:

ELISA OSSINO
Elisa Ossino is both an architect and designer. Born in Sicily and trained at Politecnico in Milan, in 2006 she established Elisa Ossino Studio focusing on interior and design, windows, set design, styling and art direction. Her work combines geometrical abstraction, monochromes, metaphysical and surrealist references. She seeks to create a coherent and allusive relationship between space, light, and objects. Essential lines and geometries are the distinctive features of her design work, giving to a space a deep scenographic feeling.

JOSEPHINE AKVAMA HOFFMEYER
Josephine Akvama Hoffmeyer is the designer and creative director of File Under Pop, specializing in surface design. She was born in Copenhagen where File Under Pop Studio was established in 2015. Unique handcrafted ceramic cotta tiles, lava stone, wallpaper and paint are designed for walls, floors and ceilings.  Her vision is to transform rooms fundamentally by dressing the many surfaces. With a musical background having founded her own band, she also studied music in New York City and worked as a choir singer for renowned Danish and international artists. Today in the world of design, her musical experience is where she draws a lot of her inspiration particularly for her color palettes, and she continuously seeks to explore the boundaries between art, architecture and interior design.

If you are in Milan, this apartment is located at: Inside Looking Out – Milan Design Week 2022 - H+O APARTMENT GALLERY, Via Solferino 11,3. Floor, Brera District, 20121 Milan.

(Photos: With permission, Giorgio Possenti and H+O / via Trendgruppen.)