Best Designs in Milan

Milan is the main center of design for the world with its exclusive Via Monte Napoleone and Via della Spiga. This place is visited by fashion lovers and models alike. Via Giovanni da Cermenate, originally a home to factory workers is now the center of attraction for young designers. The city named which hosts Milan Design Fair. Some of the best offbeat cafes, warehouse studios and galleries located in Chiesa Rossa, a flourishing art district of Milan are as follows:

SuperStudio
SuperStudio was created by fashion editor Flavio Lucchini and fashion photographer Fabrizio Ferri. The place comprises of 19 studios. SuperStudio organizes fashion and design events, concerts, and art shows throughout the year. SuperStudio provides some of the best fashion photographic sets and studios of the world. If you really love photography and want to have a glimpse of the same then visit Milan’s SuperStudio.

Forma
Forma is an international center for photography in Milan. It offers an exhibition area, bookshop, school, restaurant, and a print lab. The place had a humble beginning from a tramway warehouse located on a former cemetery. Art Students throng this place for its special atmosphere.

Cafe Divan
Cafe Divan is a beautiful restaurant that has lovely decor, giant white sofas, black lacquered tables, white stucco, black candelabras, and provide free web surfing to its visitors. It offers panini, soup, brioches, and more as its exclusive items for you to relish on. The ambience of this place is highly relaxing and cozy.

Mercato Comunale
Mercato Comunale is a covered market that opens Monday to Saturday. This fresh, aromatic, colorful, and lively market place is an assembly for Milanese of all ages. You will find traditional Italian butchers, Argentinean and Peruvian grocers, and other sellers in this public market function since the 1940s.

Le Trottoir
Le Trottoir is a 400 year old gate house located in the middle of Piazza XXIV Maggio. You can enjoy drinks and listen to music all night during weekends. Spread over three levels this place was conceived to serve as a meeting point for artists. You will get a grotesque feel due to its candle-lit bar and little salons that are connected through small corridors. You can also spend your time on the terrace, sipping coffee. This place also organizes cultural events all round the year.

La Darsena canals
La Darsena canals first designed by Leonardo da Vinci and then redesigned by architects of Mussolini in 1920s, offer the much needed warmth and charm to the city.  Naviglio Pavese and Naviglio Grande are lined by cafes, bars, and art galleries are also famous for their mini cruises and boat restaurants. Since 1930s boat race is conducted every year and 11 teams compete by to win the Leonardo Trophy.

Gelateria di Ripa di Porta Ticinese
Gelateria di Ripa di Porta Ticinese is an archaic shop. The walls of this shop are covered with cabinets made up of wood and glass that displays inverted cones of ice-creams. A wooden bench is placed outside the shop, overlooking the Naviglio Grande, offering a lovely view of the canal. The shops at this location have not undergone any changes since 1920s.

Fondazione Arnaldo Pomodoro
Fondazione Arnaldo Pomodoro is a museum named after the great Italian sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro. First started in September 2005 this museum is located in a previous turbine hall. The museum is primarily devoted to sculpture and conducts exhibitions, concerts, and events throughout the year.

Il Libraccio
Il Libraccio is a book store that provides customers with 50% off round the year. It also has a second hand section of books located opposite to this shop. Art and architecture section are worth mentioning as they have more than 5,000 titles in their collection. Large alleys of this bookshop help in discreet browsing easy. You also have the option to sell your own books in this bookstore.

Villa Necchi
Though located outside of Chiesa Rossa, Villa Necchi is a suburban house worth a visit.. This house was built by Piero Portaluppi between 1932 and 1935. It remains unchanged from that time onwards. Few years ago the house was bequeathed to Italian national trust. The house depicts the story of a rich family who came back to this villa after the war and decided to adorn this villa with using new-renaissance and rococo styles. Presence of these two extremely striking styles provides a memorable experience to its visitors. A must see at this property are the art-deco butler’s tea-room, autographed pictures of the royalties of Europe who stayed here being guests to the family, and the black bathroom.