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Milan Design Week: The Best Contemporary Offerings (PHOTOS)

Upside-down potted plants, alabaster lamps, and more of the wildest creations on display in Italy this week.

Selin Alemdar/Getty

By The Daily BeastApr 10, 2013

galleries/2013/04/10/milan-design-week-the-best-contemporary-offerings-photos/130409-design-fair6_ir121r — It’s not enough for Italians to dominate the world of fashion, is it? They also top the worlds of art, design, and, of course, food. The former two are out in force this week during the six-day Milan Design Week, which kicked off on April 9 with the usual treasure trove of creativity. Here, sleek meets colorful at the Demosmobilia and Studio 900 at Porta Venezia. Click through for more impressive contemporary design on display in Italy.
Selin Alemdar/Getty

galleries/2013/04/10/milan-design-week-the-best-contemporary-offerings-photos/130409-design-fair5_r0bsom — Functionality, schmuctionality. The Emu stand in the 52nd International Furniture Fair, or the Salone Internazionale del Mobile, is the biggest event in the design calendar.
Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty

galleries/2013/04/10/milan-design-week-the-best-contemporary-offerings-photos/130409-design-fair7_y8vwx8 — Pieces from all decades and styles grace the showfloor of the Demosmobilia and Studio 900.
Selin Alemdar/Getty

galleries/2013/04/10/milan-design-week-the-best-contemporary-offerings-photos/130409-design-fair4_keouss — Let’s hope these don’t require watering. Upside-down potted plants are displayed at Temporary Museum for New Design for the decorator partial to a jungle aesthetic.
Stefania D'Alessandro/Getty

galleries/2013/04/10/milan-design-week-the-best-contemporary-offerings-photos/130409-design-fair9_ekxmrt — Touching allowed. A woman feels a spherical, alabaster-made table lamp, by Atelier Alain Ellouz factory.
Luca Bruno/AP

galleries/2013/04/10/milan-design-week-the-best-contemporary-offerings-photos/130409-design-fair8_lcdjom — Two sinks are certainly better than one when they're these modernistic pieces, at the Kartell showroom.
Luca Bruno/AP

galleries/2013/04/10/milan-design-week-the-best-contemporary-offerings-photos/130409-design-fair10_st8phd — Is it a string of sausages? A close-up of microscopic beings? These abstract lighted shapes are actually a wall lamp by Slamp factory.
Luca Bruno/AP

galleries/2013/04/10/milan-design-week-the-best-contemporary-offerings-photos/130409-design-fair2_ej5bmu — Colorful creations resembling playground rocking toys are displayed at Temporary Museum for New Design.
Stefania D'Alessandro/Getty

galleries/2013/04/10/milan-design-week-the-best-contemporary-offerings-photos/130409-design-fair11_fqupkz — Designed by Rem Koolhaas, this stack of beams opens into shelves or benches. The creation is displayed at the Knoll industrial design house’s space, among 11 pieces of furniture on display there.
Luca Bruno/AP

galleries/2013/04/10/milan-design-week-the-best-contemporary-offerings-photos/130409-design-fair1_k901mh — A woman touches a panel lamp by Lithos Design, displayed at the Milan’s Design Fair.
Luca Bruno/AP

galleries/2013/04/10/milan-design-week-the-best-contemporary-offerings-photos/130409-design-fair3_yaohkt — Unusual slatted lampshades hang over bulbs at the Temporary Museum for New Design.
Stefania D'Alessandro/Getty

galleries/2013/04/10/milan-design-week-the-best-contemporary-offerings-photos/130409-design-fair12_krubum — A man walks through Transition, a mind-bending installation made of lipstick packages.
Luca Bruno/AP

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