For its new store in Milan, book publisher Taschen required an interior reflecting the international scope of its titles and its commitment to classical and contemporary art. Founded in 1980 by German bibliophile Benedikt Taschen, the publishing house is a household name known for ambitious and accessible publications across the disciplines of art, architecture, design, fashion, film, travel, pop culture and risqué subjects.
The interior design of the Milan store is true to Taschen’s bold, eclectic spirit. It boasts visually compelling surfaces and furniture, showcasing talent from Australia to Italy to the United States.
Marc Newson
Australian industrial designer Marc Newson has created large glass-top cabinets to present Taschen’s Collector’s Editions and Art Editions.
Newson has also created custom bookshelves on the ground floor, crafted from welded, polished, coated and varnished steel sections with yellow Corian inlays.
Salvatore Licitra
A spiral staircase designed by Salvatore Licitra connects the floors in a gradation of colours, with each stair tiled in a different glittering colour.
The staircase has a golden alcove intended for quiet reading and wall art from graphic art consultancy Graphic Thought Facility.
Jonas Wood
The terrazzo tile floor is a standout feature, with a design of Californian flora and fauna in shimmering blues, greens and yellows by American artist Jonas Wood.
Both stories of the Milan store are tiled with these iridescent terrazzo tiles.
Benedikt Taschen’s private collection
Pieces from Benedikt Taschen’s private collection, which pay homage to 1950s Italian design, are also included in the bookstore’s fittings.
A stately chandelier designed by Gio Ponti hangs over the ground-floor entrance and another above Newson’s cabinets displaying Taschen’s collector’s edition books.
A 1954 lamp by Flavio Poli for Archimede Seguso illuminates the exhibition space, currently displaying a series of Julius Shulman photographs.
The big bold table in the front of the store is by Angelo Mangiarotti.
