Beyond the ordinary: highlights of Design Miami Basel 2024

Last week, the 18. edition of Design Miami took place at Messe Basel for the third time. There was a plethora of historical and contemporary collectible design to discover.

Colour blocking versus monochrome

Parisian gallery Scene Ouverte showcased a mix of both colourful and monochrome designs. The Pompéi vase series and a mirror called Sausalito Mirroir particularly stood out. Their Lalalamp Large floor lamp attracted attention with its oversized, beautiful structure.

Hide and seek

What if things always had a secret door to hide something? Italian architect and designer Andrea Branzi often added doors to his semitransparent pieces so that people using it could help shape the look. At Galerie Gastou’s stand, the Blister LX1103 lamp concealing a flower vase behind a small door was on display.

Canvases used as furniture

At the stand of 193 Gallery, the debut of French artist Ben Arpéa was displayed. He uses jute or linen fabric to paint on furniture and home accessories. His designs are based on classic landscape and still life paintings.

Hard shell, soft look

The gallery Objects With Narratives dedicated a solo show called Liquid Solids to Ben Storms. The works on display played with juxtaposition – the soft shape of a cushion and hard materials such as glass.

Lacquer art

Craft x Tech bridged the gap between traditional Japanese craft and contemporary technology. For Design Miami Basel, the studio brought together well-known Dutch designer Sabine Marcelis with manufacturers who specialise in Kawatsura Shikk – a traditional Japanese lacquer art that’s around 800 years old. The result included a wall object and two coffee tables with smooth, reflective surfaces in rich colours reminiscent of chocolate and coffee.

Woven art

Handmade baskets were on display at the stand of the New York-based Thomson Gallery. They included exceptional examples of Japanese basket weaving that also serve as vases.

Modular rarities

This year, the Meubles et Lumières stand was dedicated to the French avant-garde of the 1960s and 1970s. It presented two amazing pieces: the modular Anemone sofa, which can be transformed into seven armchairs and a pouf, and the flexible Salon Panoramique lounge set in the DB Lambert edition from 1969.