What is the value of heritage for a practice that, by definition, aims to innovate? This is the question that design seems to be asking itself in 2024, as well as music, cooking and all the disciplines that have insistently cited the past, leaving us to observe how the worship of an established collective imagery can sometimes threaten the space allocated to the new. Has the project that could become a classic in the future become impossible for today?

The contemporary contribution to that stratification of epochs, thoughts and movements that constructs the concept of tradition (to paraphrase Gae Aulenti) has provided the necessary retrospective to consider the future that the objects of a few decades ago had imagined. In addition to the exhibitions that celebrated them, the genius of the furnishings of the past was unearthed and celebrated everywhere: on posters, in books, in shop windows and on catwalks.

Also central to this dynamic was the contribution of the fashion houses, which repainted, reupholstered or added ears to the most popular furnishings. Whether it was to strengthen their brand identity by borrowing from the past, or to celebrate in a more "free" and authentic way, 2024 was a year in which design products were reissued.

Here are all the times we talked about it on Domus.

Knoll revisits four famous tubular steel collections by Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe: the Wassily Chair, the Cesca Chairs and Stools, the Laccio Tables, the MR Chairs, and the MR Table. Originally designed between 1925 and 1928—when Breuer and van der Rohe were active at the Bauhaus, then directed by Walter Gropius—these furniture pieces are now reimagined with a palette of ultra-matte colors: white, onyx, and an archival dark red discovered by Knoll's design team. Read more

Bottega Veneta has partnered with Flos, one of the world's most celebrated lighting brands, to reinterpret the iconic Modello 600 table lamp by Gino Sarfatti, the renowned Venetian designer whose pioneering and experimental approach to materials and new technologies revolutionized Italy's lighting design industry. Read more

The theme of play has fascinated and inspired the most popular designers of all time: “Designing is a game, playing is a project”, said Bruno Munari. As part of the inter-brand collaborations that have become "normal" on the market, Mattel and Kartell have teamed up for the second time (the first time being the creation of 5 mini Kartell chairs in Barbie pink) to create Componibile Uno, an innovative synthesis of two iconic products from their respective companies: Anna Castelli Ferrieri’s modular furniture and the famous Uno card game. The result is a piece of furniture that retains its iconic, potentially infinite shape and curved sliding doors, but is enriched by a novel mix of colours. The bright colours of Mattel’s game graphics, reinterpreted in a pastel version, find new life in the design of Componibile Uno. Read more

London architect Amos Goldreich has inherited over 10,000 original plans, drawings, slides, photographs, prototypes and books. It is the working archive of his parents, Tamar de Shalit (1932-2009) and Arthur Goldreich (1929-2011). In the second half of the 20th century, these two interdisciplinary designers forged a creative partnership that deserves to be rediscovered. Amos has decided to recount this legacy with Tamart, the brand through which he is now reimagining the projects conceived by Tamar and Arthur. Read more

There is an irresolvable interweave between fashion and space design. And Bottega Veneta has intertwining in its DNA. For the spring summer 2025 show, the Kering brand collaborated with Zanotta on a reinterpretation of the iconic Sacco armchair. In the space set up inside the show’s location at Fabbrica Orobia, immediately in front of the catwalk, a crowd of animal snouts awaits the guests of the fashion show, they are brand new creations, designed for the occasion. Fifteen ‘species’, from dog to dinosaur, from fox to whale, all made - obviously - of leather, Bottega Veneta's material par excellence. Read more

Arthur Arbesser, the Viennese-born, London-trained fashion designer based in Milan for more than 12 years, has revisited in a personal and contemporary key Alessi's famous Anna G. and Alessandro M. corkscrews, made of chromed zamak and thermoplastic resin on the design of the brand's former art director, and Domus editor, Alessandro Mendini. Read more

Several new editions are reviving the work of Robin Day, undoubtedly one of the most significant figures in British post-war design. During the 3days of design event in Copenhagen, Danish manufacturer &tradition reissued two historic Robin Day collections: the Daystak series, featuring a stackable chair and table, and the celebrated designs for outdoor spaces and the foyers and restaurant of the Royal Festival Hall. These include an armchair and a lounge chair with elegant profiles and wooden arms that stretch out like wings. Read more

Timor, the Perpetual Calendar that Enzo Mari designed in 1967 for Danese  has been dressed by Gucci with the now unmistakable Rosso Ancora, the colour that has become synonymous with the brand since Sabato de Sarno took over as its creative director. This particular version of the Timor also came with the invitation to attend the fashion show live. Read more

Adaptions is the exhibition for which Aram, a historic London furniture showroom and design gallery, asked ten British designers to reinterpret the USM Haller furniture system, produced by Swiss company USM Modular Furniture. Read more

Gio Ponti's Domus always had words of admiration for the design of the Nordic countries. At the 1951 Triennale, when Denmark participated with Erik Herløw's calibrated installation, the 'subtle selection' was described as 'of a high and thoughtful level'.  Of particular interest is the plywood and leather armchair by Fritz Hansen, based on a design by Peter Hvidt (1916-1986) and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen (1907-1993). It is 'a Danish model that is often exported abroad, note in particular the special treatment of the plywood, similar to that of tennis rackets', reads the caption below the detail of the legs. Read more