Under the curatorship and vision of founder Nina Yashar, Nilufar presents ‘Silver Lining’, a remarkable exhibition displayed in the atrium of Nilufar Depot during Milan Design Week 2025. To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the Depot space transforms into an immersive environment with a striking installation conceived by Fosbury Architecture. Inspired by the aesthetics of the 1970s, the display examines the multifaceted world of metal — a monochromatic pool of leisure and pleasure. The design utilizes a series of elements — color, curves, edges and texture — to create a cohesive yet dynamic composition.
Once again, Yashar’s meticulous vision unites collectible design with a curated selection of vintage pieces from the 1970s, contemporary works and brand-new objects from a collection of designers, including Audrey Large, Supaform, studioutte and Flavie Audi. These are presented alongside works by contemporary names such as Destroyers / Builders, Wendy Andreu & Bram Vanderbeke, Odd Matter, Irene Goldberg and Michael Schoner as wel as a selection of vintage designs from the likes of Gio Ponti, Marzio Cecchi, Pietro Chiesa, Gino Colombini and Guzzetti, Gabriella Crespi, Giorgio Montani, Mario Bellini, Walter & Moretti and Nanda Vigo.
Yashar focuses the entire exhibition on a single material: metal. By dedicating the exhibit to this single theme, the display highlights the material’s versatile nature, featuring a wide array of finishes and techniques, including galvanized steel, aluminum, nickel-plated brass, chrome-plated steel, silver leaf and stainless steel sheets. The selection unites distinct historical periods, artistic movements and design languages under one cohesive narrative.
“From the very beginning of my research, metals—especially aluminum—have held immense power. In their raw state, they symbolize strength and resilience, yet through the hands of ski led artisans they become delicate and ma leable, transforming into something infinitely expressive. Metal has been a recurring element in my research, and for this year’s anniversary exhibition I decided to curate a selection that challenges the possibilities of this material. With its inherently appealing and captivating nature, it represents the new gold to me” explains Nilufar founder Nina Yashar.
The collaboration with Fosbury Architecture underscores Yashar’s ongoing commitment to working with contemporary talents from Milan. Her never-ending drive to discover and nurture emerging creatives has remained a constant at Nilufar and Fosbury’s innovative, avant-garde approach aligns with this vision.
“We are thrilled to collaborate on this project with Nilufar under Nina Yashar’s curatorship, for whom we have great admiration. Since our curatorship of the Italian Pavilion at the 2023 Venice Biennale, the gallery and Nina have consistently shown belief in our work, making this collaboration for Milan Design Week 2025 an exciting opportunity to deepen our partnership. Beyond a shared passion for 1970s design, we embrace a similar design philosophy—one that is not centered on individual authorship but rather on collective creation”, explains Fosbury founders Giacomo Ardesio, Alessandro Bonizzoni, Nicola Campri, Veronica Caprino and Claudia Mainardi.
Fosbury envisions a confined, almost labyrinthine space that invites visitors to explore an unconventional approach to gathering and interaction. Encased by a reflective aluminum fence, the installation presents an intriguing paradox—a boundary that is tall enough to create a sense of enclosure yet open enough to invite glimpses inside, enticing visitors to step in and engage. Almeco, one of the exhibit sponsors, is a leading company in the surface treatment of metals and is noted for its expertise and strong focus on innovation and sustainability. The collaboration between Nilufar and Almeco for Milan Design Week 2025 represents a unique opportunity to bring exceptional craftsmanship to the service of creativity. With respect to the theme of discovery and play, the design choices of Fosbury could be defined as a playful and unconventional environment for gathering, with a series of volumes arranged to allow visitors to sit and divide up the spaces in a functional way. A burgundy shag carpet stretches across the floor, its warmth contrasting with the cool, reflective surfaces of the aluminum objects on display, thus enhancing the sensory interplay of texture and material. For this occasion, Lanificio Becagli and Nilufar decided to collaborate as they both share a passion for design and artisanal excellence. Lanificio Becagli provided a natural alpaca fiber product, chosen not only for its exceptional quality but also to fully enhance the installation’s artistic power.
This landmark exhibition not only celebrates a decade of Nilufar Depot’s pioneering presence in the design world but also reaffirms Nina Yashar’s commitment to pushing creative boundaries. By uniting past and present through the versatile lens of metal, and fostering dialogue between established and emerging talents, Nilufar continues to shape Milan’s design landscape by offering visitors an immersive experience that bridges history, innovation and artistry.
