OREANDA-NEWS. In the year of its 150th anniversary, BASF and its consultation center designfabrik(r) are exhibiting at the Milan Furniture Fair. The exhibition is being held in the old "La Posteria" customs hall in the historic quarter of Brera. In these atmospheric surroundings, BASF, with the support of the design trio DING3000, will be exhibiting materials and projects in a cabinet that will amaze with optical tricks and ideas. With this inspiring installation, BASF's designfabrik(r) seeks to build practical associations between the achievements of the age when the company was founded, in 1865, and modern, high-tech materials. Meanwhile, experts will also be on hand to advise customers on suitable material choices and color trends. The exhibition in Milan thus takes up the threads of fabriktag, the successful customer event first hosted by designfabrik at Ludwigshafen in January 2014, for over 100 guests.

The Milan exhibition focuses on the so-called "Wunderkammer", or "cabinet of curiosity". In this section, products currently in serial production made using BASF materials and expertise, like the adidas Energy Boost sports shoe or designer chairs by Vitra, Brunner and Interstuhl will be seen in a surprising room installation. Optical illusion here blends objects and visitors into a striking picture puzzle - making a game of magic and illusion of the kind that was typical of 19th-century fairs.

The "1865 - Inspired by History" section of the exhibition refers to the age in which BASF was founded. Visitors here can see the "Concept 1865" e-bike, conceived by DING3000 as a roadworthy, modern velocipede. In the context of "1865 - Inspired by History", designfabrik(r) has also invited twelve young Stuttgart designers to seek inspiration in the age of industrialization. They have explored everyday products of the period and considered how modern materials might be used to bring these products up to date. The result is twelve new interpretations, including a beehive, a mechanical kitchen appliance, and even a modern version of a long-forgotten English outdoor game.

Additionally, the team of the designfabrik(r) will offer advice about materials and manufacturing processes and thus, will support BASF customers as they work towards a successful realization of their ideas and projects.