'Everyone I wanted to see in Milan is in this room right now,' beamed Rossana Orlandi behind her oversized white sunglasses as she mingled among the architects and designers who gathered at a special dinner to toast this year's Wallpaper* Design Award winners; and we couldn’t have agreed with the design doyenne more.
High-profile creatives such as Britt Moran and Emiliano Salci of Dimore Studio (whose 'Lamp 061' won for Best Space Race), Rodolfo Dordoni (winner of Best Executive Office), mingled happily with high-powered CEOs including B&B Italia’s Giorgio Busnelli and Poltrona Frau Group’s Dario Rinero, together with local hotshots such as chef Carlo Cracco and art director Tanja Solci.
The setting was the dramatically-lit Carlo e Camilla in Segheria, which is not only Milan’s current top dining destination - and run by Solci and Cracco - but also the winner of the Best New Restaurant award, crowned from a shortlist chosen by Wallpaper’s pernickety staff. Other winners including Designer of the Year Patricia Urquiola (who joint-scooped it with Konstantin Grcic) and architect Vincenzo de Cotiis (Best Grid for his ʻDC 1406Aʼ brass chandelier) were caught at home with a nasty bug that had half of the city bedridden last week - although Urquiola's partner in business and life, Alberto Zontone, was there to accept the award on her behalf.
But the crowd nonetheless swelled with some of our favourite Milan-based talent including art director Giulio Cappellini, architect Fabio Novembre, Gufram owner Charley Vezza, Molteni’s Francesca Molteni, curator Caroline Corbetta and Salone Satellite founder Marva Griffin Wilshire. They were joined by Vogue Italia editor-at-large Cesare Cunaccia, art director Roberto da Pozzo, Philipp Plein head of marketing and PR Ludivine Pont, Seletti owner Stefano Seletti, Henraux president Paolo Carli and Leclettico owner Claudio Loria.
The awards were handed out in a rowdy, rambunctious way by our own fearless Editor-in-Chief Tony Chambers who kept spirits high, while guests feasted on a sumptuous meal of lime-zested risotto and lamb shanks, staying in the glorious setting into the wee hours of the morning - which is exactly our kind of awards evening.
Left: The setting was the dramatically-lit Carlo e Camilla in Segheria, which is not only the city's current top dining destination but also the winner of our Best New Restaurant award. Right: Our gleaming Design Awards trophy, designed by Nendo
Wallpaper* Editor-in-Chief Tony Chambers was joined by our favourite Milan-based talent, including Salone Satellite founder and curator Marva Griffin Wilshire
High-profile creatives such as Emiliano Salci and Britt Moran of Dimore Studio (whose 'Lamp 061' won for Best Space Race)...
... mingled happily with high-powered CEOs including Poltrona Frau Group’s Dario Rinero
Architect and designer Rodolfo Dordoni
Capellini art director Giulio Cappellini (centre) with his wife Silvia Arnaldi, and Rosa Fanti, wife and partner of Carlo e Camilla chef Carlo Cracco
Carlo e Camilla owner and designer Tanja Solci, chef Carlo Cracco and Nicola Fanti (who runs the restaurant's front of house) hoist their Design Awards trophy
Guests feasted on a sumptuous meal of lime-zested risotto and lamb shanks
Other revellers included Vogue Italia editor-at-large Cesare Cunaccia...
...and Ludivine Pont, Philipp Plein's head of marketing and PR
B&B Italia CEO Giorgio Busnelli
Delighted with her Design Award, Tanja Solci celebrates with Wallpaper* Italy editor-at-large JJ Martin, Tony Chambers and Gufram owner Charley Vezza
Giorgio Busnelli and Wallpaper* fashion director Isabelle Kountoure amongst the throng of well-heeled guests
Muse Project Factory founder Francesca Molteni
Alberto Zontone, Tony Chambers and Giorgio Busnelli, with our chief sporting a ring pinched from Tanja Solci during the rambunctious dinner
With spirits high, guests lingered on in the glorious setting into the wee hours of the morning
Rossana Orlandi, Stefano Seletti, and Marva Griffin Wilshire
Henraux president Paolo Carli
Stefano Seletti and Expo Gate head curator Caroline Corbetta
British consul-general Tim Flear and Wallpaper* publisher Malcolm Young
Leclettico owner Claudio Loria
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