We visited Brera Design Apartment to experience Orizzonti (Horizons), the latest project by Zanellato/Bortotto. Under the theme of Fuorisalone 2025, Connected Worlds, Orizzonti explores the connections between different realms through design, color, and craftsmanship.
As Milan Design Week unfolds, we seize the opportunity to visit “Orizzonti” (Horizons), a captivating new layout at the Brera Design Apartment conceptualized by the esteemed design duo Zanellato/Bortotto. Reflecting the overarching theme of Fuorisalone 2025, “Connected Worlds,” this project encapsulates the intersections of diverse realms, merging past and future, tangible and intangible, tradition and innovation.
Nestled in the heart of Brera at Via Palermo 1, the Brera Design Apartment has been a dynamic space subject to creative minds who continuously reshape its aesthetic identity. With “Orizzonti,” the apartment transforms once more. The project will extend beyond Milan Design Week, featuring curated talks, intimate dinners, and exclusive meetings—all accessible strictly by appointment.
HOW TO VISIT?
May 2–25 (excluding weekend and festivities) | 10 AM – 5 PM
Open for everyone by appointment only
RSVP: info@breradesignapartment.com
WATCH the video highlights of our visit to the Brera Design Apartment here.
Orizzonti: A Circle that Delimits, the Line Between Earth and Sky
The concept of “Orizzonti” stems from its etymological root, meaning “circle which delimits”—a reference to the horizon as the ever-present boundary between earth and sky. This line, both literal and metaphorical, has held significance throughout history, serving as a guide for travelers, an inspiration for artists, and a symbol of the human desire to explore beyond the visible. Through this project, Zanellato/Bortotto reinterpret the horizon as a bridge between worlds, where tangible craftsmanship meets abstract imagination, tradition merges with innovation, and artistic expression connects with materiality.
Visitors stepping into the Brera Design Apartment are invited to immerse themselves in a layered experience, where surfaces, textures, and colors mirror the concept of endless exploration. The interplay of gradients, light, and spatial transitions encourages contemplation of the spaces we inhabit and the unseen forces that shape them. Just as the horizon defines a boundary while simultaneously inviting one to move beyond it, “Orizzonti” provokes a dialogue about perception, movement, and the invisible links that connect different dimensions of design and life.
The project has been meticulously executed under the expert guidance of Artecasa, a leading Milanese contractor known for its precision and attention to detail. Collaborations with Main Partners Artecasa, Botteganove, and Bolzan, as well as an impressive roster of additional partners, have contributed to the project’s realization.
Partners of “Orizzonti” include: Agape, Davide Groppi, Delsavio 1910, Ethimo, FENIX®, Fischbacher 1819, Lunardelli Venezia, Moroso, Rezina, Saba, Sikkens, and Wall&Decò.
Further enhancing the exhibition, Galleria Luisa delle Piane has curated a selection of collector’s pieces, adding another layer of depth to the narrative. Special acknowledgments go to Acqua di Parma, Alpes Inox, cc-tapis, Green Wise, Lanerossi, Radici Carpet, and Samsung for their contributions.
Outlining the Five Rooms with Custom Design
For Zanellato/Bortotto, the essence of “Orizzonti” lies in the dynamic balance of working in pairs, where dialogue and exchange lead to the synthesis of unique perspectives. This collaborative process is embodied in the design of the Brera Design Apartment’s five rooms, each shaped by distinct influences and crafted with bespoke selections. Every space reflects a curated vision, utilizing materials and furnishings that enhance the theme of connected worlds.
The rooms varied in concept although they respected this idea of split yet connected worlds. Fields inspired the conception of the entrance where the designers translated a rural summer landscape through handcrafted ceramics and a play on lighting. Here, we admired a large counter in the kitchen by Alpes Inox, covered in refractory ceramic surfaces from the new collection by Chiara Andreatti for Botteganove. Its surface has been glazed from a special crackle-effect glaze. Other delights include a flexible textile wall from Bolzan’s Walls collection and fabrics from Fischbacher 1819’s Nomad collection for window curtains.
In the dining room, a splash of Venice through marina paintings by Virgilio Guidi color the walls made with Sikkens‘ enamels. Davide Groppi‘s Moon Land illuminates the center of the room where Ethimo‘s Patio collection invites guests to have a seat and enjoy a meal—-its large table in travertine and technical rope, surrounded by small teak armchairs with a complex pattern inspired by traditional oriental weaves. Other delights include a tapestry in Sardinian Pibiones by Saba designed by Zanellato/Bortotto and the new Clay armchair designed for Moroso which combines handcrafted ceramic surfaces and tailor-made upholstery.
From land and sea, we reach the parameter marking the undefined horizon, the “Caigo” reinterpreted in the living area where a beautiful hand-knotted wool rug from Everyday collection by CC-Tapis comforts a coffee table in Carnico Grey marble by Delsavio 1910. A custom-made cupboard by FENIX® with an inlay inspired by horizons of antique Japanese prints acts as a Venetian fog, a beautifully poetic way to enhance the “Caigo”.
The bedroom illustrates the desert of Namibia with warm shades and natural materials, and the bathroom provides homage to “Volcan” where the horizon sometimes acquires irregular contours. The lunar landscape of Etna inspired the design of this room, where the designers covered it in textured iridescent material mosaics and pigments obtained from volcanic dust.
With “Orizzonti,” Brera Design Apartment is an invitation to explore, question, and embrace the infinite connections between art, history, and contemporary design.
