With a significant retrospective of his work on show in Madrid, Catalan designer Miguel Milá talks to Dezeen concerning the personally most necessary items of his eight-decade profession.
Aged 93, Milá is among the most influential Spanish designers of his technology, with an enormous catalog of furnishings and lighting works for iconic mid-century manufacturers together with Polinax and Gres and, extra not too long ago, Santa & Cole .
The biggest exhibition of his work to this point is presently on show on the Fernán Gómez Centro Cultural de la Villa in Madrid, with over 200 objects and drawings, from completed works to sketches and prototypes.
The present, which opened as a part of the Madrid Design Pageant, was curated by husband and spouse group Gonzalo Milá, who’s the designer's son, and Claudia Oliva.
It highlights the extent of Milá's impression on design historical past, with lots of his works now synonymous with trendy Spanish residence interiors.
“Milá has recognized the recipe for the naturalness of objects since he picked up a pencil, as instinctively as a very good chef is ready to mix components to profit from their flavors,” Jasper Morrison wrote in a tribute printed in 2021.
Born in Barcelona in 1931, Milá labored as an inside designer earlier than founding his personal furnishings firm, Tramo, in 1957. Right here, he developed an strategy based mostly on simplicity and craftsmanship.
The designer typically refers to himself as “a pre-industrial designer”.
“To design is to pursue order,” Milá wrote in a memoir translated from his native Spanish.
“Something that finds an answer by way of magnificence is nice design. However attaining magnificence with out performance is one thing else. In design, each issues should come collectively on the similar time.”
In a Dezeen unique, Milá tells the tales behind 9 of her favourite fashions:
TMM flooring lamp, 1962
Milan designed a sequence of height-adjustable flooring lamps between 1956 and 1981. Whereas the TMC was essentially the most commercially widespread, the TMM is Milá's private favorite.
“It's the dimmable lamp mannequin that I feel most represents my design ideas,” he mentioned. “It's light-weight and might be simply adjusted and assembled in three items.”
Lamp Street, 1962
“I discovered a phenomenal milk glass globe in entrance of a components retailer that had not too long ago closed and made a easy rattan construction to embrace the shade and make it transportable,” defined Milá. “Lastly, the construction was made from wooden to be extra sturdy.”
“This lamp has all the time been part of my home and many homes,” he added. “It's a bit that individuals join with in a particular method.”
Maria desk, 1962
This minimalist espresso desk combines a chromed and painted metallic body with a glass high.
“My older brother had purchased a brand new rug for his lounge (pictured) and requested me to design a desk that wouldn't conceal it,” mentioned Milá. “It was one of many first design commissions I acquired.”
“The desk sits in his lounge, on high of his rug. It has a method of mixing elegantly with its environment.”
MM/Correas cabinets, 1962
Milá's shut partnership with the retailer Gres led them to collectively enter the Financial Residence prize in 1962, a contest that required entrants to furnish a complete condo (pictured). This shelving system, made out of wooden and leather-based, was certainly one of a number of designs from their profitable scheme.
“We designed a wood shelf aspect that had an extended panel and a shorter one behind it, in order that relying on the way you put in it, it might accommodate taller or shorter books,” mentioned Milá.
Altar desk, 1964
“In 1964 I married Maria Valcarcel, who till as we speak has been my rock,” mentioned Milá.
“I designed this desk with geometric, structured legs and it served as a marriage altar. This piece was not too long ago reissued; each time I see it, it takes me again to the start of my household.”
Salvador Chair, 1965
“As a newly married couple, we had little or no cash to furnish our home,” Milá mentioned.
“We designed this chair for our lounge. At the moment, rattan was not seen as a noble materials. When mates visited us, they thought it was very trendy that we might have rattan chairs in our lounge,” he continued.
“To this present day, we nonetheless have the identical chairs. I’ve comfortably seated our household for 58 years. They’re simple to maneuver, gentle and in addition very sturdy. I discover the patina that point has worn on them very lovely.”
Manila coat rack, 1965
Milá created many extra rattan works after assembly a grasp craftsman who specialised on this materials. Since 2019, the design model Trenat has reissued many of those fashions. The designer prefers the garments rack as a result of it’s a piece he makes use of each day.
“It's gentle and I can simply transfer it round my room,” he mentioned. “It gives all the things I must maintain my trousers, jacket, shirt and footwear to ensure that a second use.”
NeoRomantic Gentle Bench, 2000
Milá got here up with the idea for the Neo sequence of benches through the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. Produced by Urbidermis, the road furnishings arm of Santa & Cole, the sequence was launched in 1995 and continued to evolve till 2021.
“I used to be strolling at some point after I noticed an previous man making an attempt to sit down up from the road bench he was sitting on and I observed how arduous it was,” Milá mentioned. “The seat place was too reclined and too low.”
“All of the banks in Barcelona at the moment have been of the identical sort,” he continued. “It acquired me fascinated about how I might design a bench that will enable older folks to sit down gracefully.”
“This bench is now the commonest in Barcelona and plenty of different locations. I’m proud to have been in a position to serve the neighborhood, including consolation to out of doors life.”
Constanza Chair, 2024
Constanza (pictured left) is a brand new solar lounger that Milá is to launch this yr.
“It’s made from a light-weight rattan construction with a cushty leather-based seat and again,” he mentioned. “I'm very proud of the outcome.”
Miguel Milá is on show on the Fernán Gómez Centro Cultural de la Villa in Madrid from eight February to 31 March 2024. Take a look at the Dezeen Occasions Information for extra structure and design occasions all over the world.