To celebrate the new Design issue launching at Milan Design Week from April 4-9, Oak presents a series previewing the the best new Nordic projects and collaborations to debut at the annual Salone del Mobile

Over the past few years, Milan design week has witnessed an explosion of major brand ‘experiences’ alongside the usual installations and the design fair around which the whole event hinges.

This year, the one to watch is IKEA. Instead of creating an exhibition, IKEA is bringing an entire mini festival to Milan, taking over a 3,500 square metre warehouse in the Lambrate district, an area usually associated with young, radical designers during design week.

Visitors will be able to preview new IKEA products, alongside music, talks, yoga lessons, robotic art, live drawing and installations – including a series of living rooms created by designer Faye Toogood, the editors of OpenHouse and Swedish interior stylists Anna Lenskog Belfrage and Pella Hedeby.

“People have told us that the living room is the heart of everyday life at home, full of activities and precious moments. Yet, it’s a room in need of change,” said Marcus Engman, head of design at IKEA.

“In Milan people get to experience our take on this challenge. Hopefully it will be vibrant, like coming to a great party in someone’s living room.”