Underscoring the Canadian design and research studio’s presence in Europe, our Milan apartment showroom marks an important milestone in the developing relationship between our brand and the city.

For years we have considered Milan a second home, and we are pleased to move into the role of host in a city that has long provided a warm welcome and boundless inspiration. Enabling us to explore the full potential of a permanent base in Milan, the new apartment offers long-term programming and provide visitors with an in-depth experience of our brand and its ecosystem.

The apartment is situated in an early twentieth-century building in Zona Vincenzo Monti, and joins our exhibition space and studio in Berlin (set to open in Spring 2024), as a European hub for our transnational community of people, ideas, and objects.

ON DISPLAY AT THE MILAN APARTMENT

The Bocci Milan apartment presents designs in an intimate residential setting, fully immersing visitors in the lifestyle vision of the brand.

Objects within the apartment will be cycled periodically, the first iteration of which showcases a range of designs, objects, and artefacts, that demonstrate the breadth of relationships we have built with its associated staff, clients, designers, brands, and supporters over the years.

Alongside a collection of interior pieces from long-standing design collaborators, we present for the first time new items which have been developed at our studio in Vancouver, Canada, ranging from a new pendant light titled 118, to the 1.1 shelving unit - a founding design from the brand, now finalized for public release. Additional pieces, including table lamps, task lights, wall hooks, and outdoor designs are also presented for the first time, together with a selection of bespoke site-specific lighting installations.

Partnerships include a bespoke kitchen provided by Henrybuilt, alongside items shared by Calico Wallpaper, Christian Woo, ClassiCon, Coco-Mat, De La Espada, e15, Janaki Larsen, Knoll International, New Tendency, Orior Furniture, and Tino Seubert, amongst others.

The apartment also showcases a curated art collection including works by staff, highlighting the range of creative talent that we have nurtured and are privileged to work alongside. Further artworks are courtesy of Vancouver-based Monte Clark Gallery.

BOCCI’S RELATIONSHIP WITH MILAN

Much of our success can be credited to Milan and its culture of deep respect and commitment to the evolution of aesthetic investigation. As a leading design and research lab headquartered in Vancouver, we continue to be inspired by Milan’s rich cultural offerings and its importance as the capital of the design world.

“With our apartment, we want to make “us” a larger community. The experience of having run a museum-scale space in Berlin with exhibitions, dinners, and collaborations showed us that our ethos of a like-minded community could go far and extend well beyond what we assumed was possible. We want to welcome Milan in and open up to it simultaneously.” Omer Arbel, Co-Founder at Bocci

Milan Design Week has long stood as a pivotal moment in the year for us and we have enjoyed many years of successful activations during the period. In 2007, we made our Milan debut with a presentation of the now iconic 14 series, suspended over Via Tortona. Subsequent presentations have taken place at various locations throughout the city, including Spazio Rossana Orlandi, DimoreGallery, and Salone del Mobile.

“Bocci’s first exhibition in Milan was on the side of Via Tortona, we hung one of our installations from a forklift over the sidewalk. So much has changed with us and with Milan… how we’ve grown together! It is nice to cement the relationship in our apartment.” Omer Arbel, Co-Founder at Bocci

Following Milan Design Week 2023, the apartment is permanently open to the public by appointment, with additional programming soon to be confirmed. Located at Via Lorenzo Mascheroni 2, guests are invited to access the apartment via. Via Giuseppe Rovani, 20.