Crystal palace: Swarovski shines on Milan

Milan – Swarovski is creating a series of installations that take the form of palaces at Milan Design Week. From Versailles with its hall of mirrors, to Japan with its Zen aesthetic, to the Winter Palace in St Petersburg, visitors will be transported to a variety of aesthetics from around the world at the Crystal Palace exhibition.

The exhibition will include designs from Tokyo-based Tokujin Yoshioka who has created an installation consisting of a vast 1m diameter globe encrusted with Swarovski crystals and lit from within by LEDs. Also on show will be Dutch architectural lighting designer Rogier van der Heide, whose installation is an interpretation of the crystals’ purest, most intrisic features.

In addition, colour will be introduced to the backdrop of each piece to bring out the refractive nature of the crystal. ‘Every space will focus the eyes on the specific object and the environments will contextualise each piece in a theatrical way,’ says Jules Wright, founder of the The Wapping Project and curator of the exhibition.

LS:N Global will be reporting from Salone Internazionale del Mobile and publishing the top exhibitions, products and trends throughout the week.