FORMICA (r)EVOLUTION: a journey into the evolution of laminates during Milano Design Week

Formica Group, which invented high-pressure laminate in 1913 and is part of Broadview Materials—the world-leading group in the production and distribution of innovative surfaces, including FENIX®—presents FORMICA (r)EVOLUTION at Milan Design Week 2025.

The installation, hosted at FENIX Scenario in Via Quintino Sella 1, guides visitors through a captivating journey through the salient years in the evolution of Formica® laminates, from the 1940s through the 1980s.

The exhibition, designed by Sopa Design Studio, includes a range of iconic furnishings and collectors’ pieces selected by Daniele Lorenzon, owner of Compasso Gallery, and architect, Alessandro Pedretti, a designer and design collector.

A tribute to an inimitable meeting of functionality and style, FORMICA (r)EVOLUTION celebrates design and innovation through the surfaces that redefined ideas about living by combining durability, versatility and aesthetics. This exploration of design history features everyday objects alongside furniture produced by great masters, showcasing how this timeless surface has transformed the way of experiencing and designing both residential and commercial spaces.

The objects in the exhibition—icons of style and innovation—are exceptional expressions of aesthetics and functionality, from their vibrant colours to an array of signature patterns. The shapes and lines of the past, which have always blended beauty with practicality, form the foundations that inspire and influence the forward-thinking design solutions of tomorrow.

The event is also the prelude to FENIX Scenario’s transformation into a permanent exhibition concept dedicated to the Formica® brand, representing a meeting point for industry professionals and design enthusiasts. FORMICA (r)EVOLUTION is a contemporary anthology linking past, present and future, while inviting visitors to rediscover the value and appeal of a material that continues to inspire modern design today.

FORMICA (r)EVOLUTION is the first in a series of projects to be centred around Formica® surfaces over the course of the year. After Milan Design Week, the next event will be the 3daysofdesign in Copenhagen with FAST / FORWARD, a research and experimentation project that continues the path forged by curator Federica Sala. The exhibition will involve six furniture pieces, made by combining FENIX® and Formica® materials and created by six international designers who have been invited to reinterpret the shapes that have marked the history of Formica Group.