New design destination D Studio opens in Milan

Design Holding unveils its latest retail space, D Studio Milan, showcasing furniture and lighting by B&B Italia, Maxalto, Azucena, Arclinea, Flos, and Louis Poulsen within a former car showroom on Via Durini

D Studio Milano showroom space with two floors visible displaying furniture. Camaleonda sofa by Mario Bellini in white is visible at the centre
(Image credit: MATTEO IMBRIANI)

At the beginning of Salone del Mobile 2021, Design Holding unveils D Studio Milan, a new furniture design and lighting showroom to showcase B&B Italia, Maxalto, Azucena, Arclinea, Flos and Louis Poulsen. While the first D Studio has already been inaugurated in Copenhagen, the Milanese D Studio, a brainchild of Massimiliano Locatelli and Piero Lissoni, is conveniently set in Via Durini’s 2,150 sq m space that used to house B&B Italia’s historic store. 

The aim is to propose an innovative approach to retail, where iconic Italian and Scandinavian brands can interact under one roof, and where professionals, customers and design enthusiasts can not only experience the collections, but also select and plan various interiors projects, relying on in-house experts. 

The showroom's ground floor seen from above with a large white sectional sofa taking the middle space

(Image credit: MATTEO IMBRIANI)

‘In Milan, there was nothing like this, embracing contemporary furniture, historical pieces, in one sense the present, the future and the past of design,’ says Locatelli. While repurposing the space (a former car showroom designed in 1954 by Sommariva Studio), Locatelli Partners revealed previously hidden features, such as a quiet garden overlooking Via Cerva.

‘The concept for the space is simple: it’s the opposite of what showrooms have traditionally done, representing the house in a static way,’ continues Locatelli. ‘Once used by a car dealer, the space was already open and all we had to do was to take out the supporting structure, leaving brands the freedom to rearrange the showroom in a different ways. Rearranging means keeping a space alive.’ 

D Studio Milan ‘leaves room for emotions’

Lighting displays by Louis Poulsen next to a staircase

(Image credit: MATTEO IMBRIANI)

Also, Locatelli explains, the showroom connects with its surroundings, with all three levels offering continuity through transparency: ‘The light is certainly the most surprising aspect, the large windows overlooking Via Durini are just stunning and the skylights of the internal courtyard offer an extraordinary natural light.’ There’s also a mezzanine area, and a basement, that ‘doesn’t seem underground at all’, he adds.

The installation and setting, curated by Lissoni & Partners, blends design icons and latest creations, so that the classic ‘Camaleonda’ sofa system designed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia in 1970 sits alongside Piero Lissoni’s ‘Borea’ sunbed – a 2022 preview; and the spectacular ‘Coordinates’ lighting by Michael Anastassiades for Flos is just windows away from unseen finishes and versions of Verner Panton’s 1971 ‘Panthella’ lamp for Louis Poulsen.

‘The “Camaleonda” is always beautiful, but if you are able to contextualise it, you’ll enrich it with new emotions,’ concludes Locatelli. ‘A showroom nowadays must look for emotions, and this space deliberately leaves room for emotions.’

D Studio Milano with staircase leading to the first floor and Gaetano Pesce's armchairs for B&B Italia on one side

(Image credit: MATTEO IMBRIANI)

Showroom interior showing green plants and Parentesi by Flos in the back

(Image credit: MATTEO IMBRIANI)

Interiors of D Studio Milano with high ceilings and two dining tables by Monica Armani for B&B in grey and red


(Image credit: MATTEO IMBRIANI)

Lighting displays by Michael Anastassiades for Flos

(Image credit: MATTEO IMBRIANI)

INFORMATION
d-studio.com

ADDRESS

Via Durini, 14
20122 Milano

VIEW GOOGLE MAPS

Cristina Kiran Piotti is an Italian-Indian freelance journalist. After completing her studies in journalism in Milan, she pursued a master's degree in the economic relations between Italy and India at the Ca' Foscari Challenge School in Venice. She splits her time between Milan and Mumbai and, since 2008, she has concentrated her work mostly on design, current affairs, and culture stories, often drawing on her enduring passion for geopolitics. She writes for several publications in both English and Italian, and she is a consultant for communication firms and publishing houses. 

With contributions from
Read more
Palazzo Molteni by Vincent Van Duysen, Milan
Vincent Van Duysen reimagines a historic palazzo for Molteni&C in Milan
Brera_Design_Apartment
Milan Design Week 2025: step inside this Brera Design Apartment before the crowds
Serre Pasino
What to see at Milan Design Week 2025
Salone del Mobile: Poliform at Supersalone
Salone del Mobile: tickets, timings and locations for Milan Design Week
Sou Fujimoto sketch for Salone Del Mobile 2025
Salone Del Mobile 2025: Paolo Sorrentino, Robert Wilson, Sou Fujimoto and Pierre-Yves Rochon amongst this year's contributors
Bottega Veneta Galleria Best Milan Fashion Stores
A guide to the best fashion stores Milan has to offer
Latest in Design Events
Design Space LA art fair
Basic.Space launches its first IRL shopping event – in an empty West Hollywood mall
Serre Pasino
What to see at Milan Design Week 2025
TEFAF White glove moment
TEFAF Maastricht 2025 is a brush with wonderfully niche art, design and antiquities
design biennale rotterdam
Inside the Design Biennale Rotterdam 2025: how the Dutch underdog became a design capital
Lisson Gallery India Art Fair
Highlights from the India Art Fair
Clock at Stockholm Design Week
A postcard from Stockholm Design Week 2025
Latest in Feature
the toteme store in China by herzog & de meuron
Bold, geometric minimalism rules at Toteme’s new store by Herzog & de Meuron in China
zaha hadid architects future projects
The upcoming Zaha Hadid Architects projects set to transform the horizon
black and white image of kitchen
‘La Cocina’: the kitchen is a chaotic melting pot of contemporary culture in Alonso Ruizpalacios’ new film
lean lui guide to hong kong
A local’s guide to Hong Kong, by photographer Lean Lui
people at watch show
What can we expect from Watches and Wonders 2025?
Perfume Genius Glory album artwork
Inside the visual universe of Perfume Genius