Occupying the light-filled atrium of Loro Piana’s Milanese offices, the installation follows one of the principles that guided Cini's work as an architect, namely the idea that a house should be centred on a communal space with satellite rooms in the periphery for privacy—a configuration most prominently showcased in Casa Bunker in Sardinia, the house that Boeri designed for her family. The maze-like layout encouraged visitors to explore the installation with each area offering a chance to engage with a different product family.

Fittingly, at the exhibition’s core lies the iconic Strips System, Boeri's innovative approach to modular design that can be configured for all kinds of communal living spaces. It’s no exaggeration to say Strips revolutionized the furniture market at the end of the 1960s, something that didn’t escape the industry’s attention, awarding it the prestigious Compasso d'Oro in 1979. Characterised by a removable quilted cover, the highly modular system is presented in two variances of Loro Piana’s Cashmere Raw, a fabric crafted from cashmere in its natural shades. Standing out against the red-painted central podium, the light grey variation enticingly beckons visitors as they enter the space, its luxuriously soft texture begging to be caressed.

This is the case for all of the fabric selections, each chosen to enhance Boeri's design ethos of functionality and modularity, as well as reflect Loro Piana Interiors' commitment to quality and craftsmanship, ensuring both beauty and durability in everyday use. Take the Botolo chairs for example, a voluptuous chair with three large tubular legs reinterpreted in Cashfur, a luxurious blend of cashmere and silk whose natural softness is accentuated by a delicate finishing process. The choice of fabric not only enhances the chairs’ sense of comfort but also deepens their sensuous appeal. Produced in Biancore (low version) and Caramel (high version) colour, these pieces are only available in a limited series of 100 pieces, which admittedly makes them even more desirable.

As thrillingly soft to the touch is the Bobo Sofa which is upholstered in Loro Piana’s iconic Cashmere Sherpas in a fiery Kummel colour, and the Boborelax Chaise Longue and the Strips Bed, which feature Tiepolo woolen felt, the former in a vibrant Piment Doux colour, and the latter in an earthy Ghurka Mélange colour. Finally, the Pecorelle Sofas shine in Pecora Nera®, a lustrous fabric sourced exclusively from New Zealand merino sheep. Known for the colour of the fleece, which ranges from beige, to hazelnut, to dark brown, this resilient wool fabric is left undyed taking advantage of the natural shades and patterns.

With visitors free to experience firsthand the combination of Boeri’s iconic design pieces and Loro Piana Interiors’ luxuriant fabrics, the installation’s experiential dimension playfully conveys how the designer continues to inspire generations of architects and designers with her timeless principles of beauty, functionality, and innovation.

A Tribute to Cini Boeri marks the beginning of a three-year journey of research and storytelling embarked by Archivio Cini Boeri in partnership with Loro Piana and Triennale Milano that will culminate in 2026 with the first major retrospective of Cini Boeri’s career at Triennale.

___________

A TRIBUTE TO CINI BOERI
16 - 21 APRIL 2024
10am - 8pm
Loro Piana, Via della Moscova, 33
MILANO