Fuorisalone in Milan – Living Art and Giant Paper Flowers
Every April, Milan transforms. It’s not just the city of fashion and business: for one week, it becomes the capital of design, art, and innovation. Fuorisalone, which began in the 1980s as a parallel event to the Salone del Mobile, has grown into a global cultural and urban phenomenon. It has no single centre – it spreads across districts, taking over showrooms, courtyards, studios, and galleries.
Each edition brings stories, visions, and surprises. Some installations last only a few hours; others leave a lasting impression. Some see it as a fair, others as a ritual – a stroll through creativity and provocation.
In this context, we met two women who don’t settle for simply being there – they interpret design with authenticity.
Catia Nardi, an artist and maker of giant paper flowers, and Laura Campolongo, an architect and founder of the 8-LAB studio. Two different paths, united by a strong belief: art and architecture speak the same language. Both create emotion. Both transform space. And above all, both generate beauty with vision and courage.
Their collaboration was born from a simple yet powerful idea: to revitalise the historic centre of their town by reactivating empty shop windows as exhibition spaces for artisans and creatives. And as often happens, it all began with a mutual friend and a conversation.
That initial spark led them right to the heart of the Fuorisalone, in one of the liveliest areas of Brera, with a project that combines material, emotion, and storytelling.
We met them to hear their story.
Hi Catia and Laura, tell us a bit about yourselves.
Catia: “I worked for years as a window dresser, but five years ago I fell in love with paper – especially giant flowers. I make them by hand, one by one. It’s a creative and almost therapeutic process that completely absorbs me. Sometimes, even at night, after a full day’s work, I keep imagining new shapes, new colours.”
Laura: “I’m an architect and I founded 8-LAB to create a dialogue between architecture and art. For me, design isn’t just about technical solutions – it’s a creative and cultural act. I believe spaces should evoke emotion. Every project must tell a story.”
How did you meet?
Laura: “We both wanted to do something for the historic centre of our city, which was losing vitality – so many empty shops, so much untapped potential. We thought: what if we used them as display windows for artisans? Like little pop-up galleries?”
Catia: “A mutual friend introduced us. We had very similar visions, and a beautiful collaboration was born. We decided to start right away, by example: Laura hosted my flowers in her newly opened studio, 8-LAB. It was a successful experiment that drew a lot of attention.”
And then came the Fuorisalone.
Laura: “Yes, thanks also to Bottega Ventisei, who involved us. We found ourselves in the heart of Brera, during one of the world’s most important events for design and contemporary art. It was an incredible experience.”
Catia: “I was literally part of the installation. I walked around the city with my creations – like a living artwork. People called me ‘the flower woman.’ It was moving: passers-by stopped me, asked questions, wanted to touch and understand. Fragile as it is, paper became a way to connect.”
What does Fuorisalone mean to you?
Laura: “A time when Milan becomes a city-wide artwork. Every courtyard, showroom, and street tells a story. It’s a more sensitive, attentive way of experiencing the city.”
Catia: “And an explosion of ideas. We visited the Bissoni Garden, which felt like a secret garden hidden within the buildings. Or the Zacus shop, full of brightly coloured, uniquely shaped vases. There were installations at the Pinacoteca di Brera – like a delicate, rotating iron oval bookcase. Fuorisalone becomes a world of its own, waiting to be explored.”
Three things that struck you most?
Narrative spaces – “More and more installations go beyond display: they tell stories, create worlds, and open doors to new artistic possibilities.”
A return to materials – “We noticed a rediscovery of natural, authentic materials, crafted with care. A nod to craftsmanship and sustainability.”
Collective energy – “Milan becomes a stage-city. Being part of that creative energy is something that stays with you.”
What are you taking home from this experience?
Catia: “That art can be everywhere – even on a sidewalk. You just have to be brave enough to place it there. My flowers speak without words. They made people stop, smile, think. And to me, that’s everything.”
Laura: “That collaboration is a way of life. It means believing in something beyond a single project. Architecture, like art, only makes sense when it speaks to people. And with Catia, we definitely spoke.”
The Story of Catia and Laura
Their journey is a tangible example of how creativity and vision can bring new life to places. They show us that revitalising a town isn’t just an urban issue – it’s a poetic gesture, a civic act. And sometimes, all it takes is a flower – even a paper one – to change the way we see an entire city.