April in Brera: The Milanese sun is growing warmer, wisteria is blooming, and the streets are buzzing with anticipation for the frenzied arrival of Design Week. “It’s the one time of year here that feels like New York,” jokes Gabriella Campagna, a native New Yorker and one half of the creative studio Casa Milana. She and her husband, designer Mario Milana, are speaking over Zoom from their home in the city’s design district, located in a 1920s limestone building on Via Palermo. It’s here, during this year’s Salone del Mobile, that they will open their doors to present a capsule collection of rugs with Beni, glassware with Laguna~B, and new pieces designed by Milana.
A few years ago, the couple and the first of their two children traded New York City’s around-the-clock energy for Italy’s relaxed pace, laying the groundwork for Casa Milana. (Before this, Milana founded his own studio in 2014 while living in Brooklyn, and Campagna was an actor before shifting into full-time somatic therapy.) They initially rented one apartment, a former shoe showroom, but when their neighbors on the same floor moved back to Germany after 15 years, they quickly took over that space as well. They then transformed the two units into what they are today—a home that embodies the Casa Milana identity. “The building is crumbling a bit, but it has all the original details intact and a lot of charm,” Campagna adds.
This move also marked a homecoming for Milana, who grew up in the Città Studi neighborhood. While Italy’s quality of life and child-friendly pace were motivating factors, the relocation also brought the advantage of being close to the artisans Milana collaborates with. This easy access has allowed him to explore new materials and for the studio to evolve more broadly. “To develop something, you have to have that in-person time,” he explains. “It’s really about the connection with the artisan.”
All of Casa Milana’s furniture, objects, and lighting evoke feelings of conviviality and playfulness while remaining supremely functional. Take the clever Giro dining table, for example, with its three rotating discs that offer a sophisticated twist on the lazy Susan. “There’s always this aspect for the pieces to have flexibility of use based on whatever moment you’re having at home,” Milana says.
The duo first connected with Beni co-founder Robert Wright at a breakfast Casa Milana hosted during a previous Design Week. “In the midst of Salone—the constant movement, the exhibitions, the pace—it can all feel a bit overwhelming and, at times, impersonal,” Wright says over email. But walking into their home had the opposite effect. “Gabriella was pouring coffee, there were interesting people sitting around chatting, and it created this rare moment of pause.”
Developed with Beni and handwoven in Morocco, the Unione rug collection draws inspiration from the terrazzo floors in the couple’s apartment. When Milana and Campagna decided they wanted rugs to complement their original terrazzo flooring—both for the floor and as wall tapestries—Beni was the natural choice. “They brought us the challenge of taking something hard, fixed, and architectural and translating it into something soft, warm, and full of movement,” says Beni’s other co-founder, Tiberio Lobo Navia. The capsule collection is titled Unione, a nod to the terrazzo process of creating a precious surface from discarded pieces. The collaboration was especially fitting, as terrazzo is also a prominent motif in Morocco, where the rugs are made.
Additionally, both Milana and Campagna hold aThrough their long-standing meditation practice, Mario and Gabriella found inspiration to create meditation mats with Beni. These circular rugs are woven with a high pile and can be stacked on a wooden base designed by Milana. “The meditation mat reflects the daily rituals that shape how Mario and Gabriella live,” Wright explains. “It’s a minimal gesture, yet one that feels deeply connected to their way of life and the atmosphere of their home.”
Casa Milana also collaborated with Laguna~B, a Venice glassware brand established in the mid-1990s, to introduce removable glass drinking vessels, each set on a wooden base. “An object like glassware has an even stronger relationship with your body, so we approached it as a ritual again,” says Milana. Each piece consists of three elements: the body, base, and cap. A small nipple between the glass and wood ensures a perfect fit. “There’s a subtle, almost maternal interaction, which is why we named the collection Madre de Agua. It returns to ideas of respect, life, and the womb,” Milana notes. “It’s fascinating to experiment with objects in this way.”
To complete the offerings, Milana is introducing new furniture pieces during Salone, including an oxidized iron table, dining versions of the popular Vertebra chair, and a lightweight, recyclable bookcase assembled without nails or screws.
Speaking about the Velum table, Milana says, “We’ve worked with metals from the start. It’s such a pure, beautiful material that offers so much expressive potential.” They pushed the oxidation to the limit, giving it an almost wood-like appearance at first glance. “We also added brass details to the feet to emphasize the table’s grounding presence,” he adds.
For Casa Milana’s first shelving system, Frequenza, Milana drew inspiration from modular library systems of the ’50s and ’60s. “The idea is about presence and interaction. This wave shape accommodates different shelves, allowing you to mix and match. There are no nails—you can simply lift and move them, almost like a drawer.”
As for the Vertebra dining chair, it retains the flexible design with two wooden backrests that adapt to your spine as you move. “At first glance, the chair might look like some kind of torture device,” Milana laughs, “but it’s actually very comfortable.” The concept originated from a cane his father owned, made from a snake’s vertebra with an internal spring that flexed under weight. “I found such a beautiful little moment in that and wanted to translate it into something functional, all under the idea of presence.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about a Milan design studio unveiling its first collaborations during Salone del Mobile designed to sound like questions from a real person
General Beginner Questions
1 What exactly is being announced here
A Milanbased design studio is presenting its very first collaborative projects with other brands or designers and theyre choosing the Salone del Mobile as the platform to launch them
2 What is Salone del Mobile
Its the worlds largest and most important international furniture and design fair held annually in Milan Italy Its a massive event where brands designers and studios showcase their latest innovations
3 Why is this a big deal for a design studio
Unveiling first collaborations at Salone is a major statement It means the studio is gaining recognition expanding its creative network and using the worlds biggest design stage to introduce its new direction to press buyers and industry insiders
4 Who might they be collaborating with
Collaborators could be other design studios furniture brands material manufacturers technology companies or even artists The goal is to merge different expertise to create something new
Details Specifics
5 Where can I see these collaborations
They will be on display at the studios exhibition space or installation during Salone del Mobile The exact location will be announced by the studio
6 What kind of products or projects are typically shown
Expect to see new furniture interior design concepts limitededition pieces or experimental installations that showcase the fusion of the collaborators styles
7 How can I find more information or photos
Follow the design studios official website and social media channels Design publications like Dezeen Designboom and Wallpaper will also cover notable launches during the event
8 Are these collaborative pieces for sale or just conceptual
They can be either Some are immediately available for order while others are prototypes or concept pieces meant to generate buzz and define future production
Advanced IndustryFocused Questions