At this year’s Milan Design Week, taking place between April 7 and April 13, 2025, the Slovenian curatorial group will present the project MATERIAL BAR.

The curatorial team—Katarina Dekleva, Rok Oblak, and Bor Pungerčič—who are also active in the fields of design and architecture, have selected 11 exhibitors for the presentation: Anselma, From Gaja, Hiša Mandrova, Nika Ravnik, Pjorkkala, Toasted Furniture, Prostorož, Miha Šajina, Salto Dionys, Gobnjak, and Gin Brin.

We are also organizing a guided tour of the Slovenian space MATERIAL BAR at Milan Design Week 2025 and a get-together with the curators on Tuesday, 8 April 2025 at 2 pm at Alcova, Villa Bagatti Valsecchi.

Programme, 2 pm-4 pm:

• tor of the Slovenian space MATERIAL BAR with curators
• presentation of design practices: Pjorkkala, Toasted Furniture, Salto Dionys, From Gaja and Miha Šajina.
• A social event with the exhibitors, the curatorial team and live act Miha Šajina aka Shekuza

THE CURATORIAL CONCEPT

Titled MATERIAL BAR, the presentation departs from the traditional design exhibition format. It moves beyond the simple display of products as the outcome of the design process and instead focuses on design as a holistic activity that encompasses work processes, thought processes, materials, environment, and relationships. Designers are understood as part of a community. The curatorial role is seen as a (co-)creator in establishing an open, progressive, and responsible design production and society. The curators approach their role in a creative and productive manner, giving the main voice to the selected exhibitors. Visitors are engaged directly, experiencing not only the visual aspects of design but also its auditory, physical, sensory, and tactile dimensions.

The focus of the presentation is on the design practices, inviting visitors to participate and explore collaboratively. Material Bar is envisioned as a public social space—a bar with a central countertop or workbench, where the design process unfolds. The space is framed by a colorful vertical mosaic of materials and products, while at its core stands a two-level countertop, allowing for observation on one side and participation on the other. Located on the first floor of a historic villa, the pavilion extends to an outdoor terrace, creating a new public space for rest and social interaction, symbolically opening up to the local community. By shifting away from product presentations, Material Bar highlights the hands-on work and design processes of the eleven selected local design practices.

The MATERIAL BAR installation will be presented within Alcova. For the third consecutive year, Alcova is expanding beyond the center of Milan, establishing itself in the town of Varedo, emphasizing the Milan Design Week’s importance for the entire region. The Slovenian showcase will be on display at Villa Bagatti Valsecchi, a historic countryside villa designed and built at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. In this richly layered architectural setting, contemporary design ideas will intertwine with historical details and protected cultural heritage.