POLTRONA FRAU MI CONTAINER

Neri & Hu

A game of solids and voids, an attentive study of materials and forms and a design approach which operates by subtraction until it achieves the perfect balance between simplicity and elegance. The Mi storage units designed by Neri & Hu for Poltrona Frau play around with light, shade and transparencies to conceal or reveal the objects they house.

Mi is a Chinese pinyin word with a dual meaning used to express both the action of “looking” but also the word “secret”, which inspired this project. In fact, in the Mi storage units, rather than being displayed in full view the objects are hidden by the oblong external shell. You can only discover them by peeking through a layer of tempered glass which closes the space left by the shelves, raised and separated from the body of the unit.
The external surface of the Mi storage units is upholstered in Saddle Extra leather, which is embellished with an original vertical striped canneté texture that gives the product a 3D effect. A thin but solid metal structure frames the body of the product and acts as a link with the raised top in Calacutta gold or Nero Marquinia marble.
The Mi collection consists of three elements: a tall 2-door Mi cabinet, a low 4-door Mi cabinet with book opening, and a Mi trolley on wheels.