Summary:
- Jil Sander and Apartamento open a temporary book exhibition in Milan from April 20 to April 24, 2026.
- Milanese architecture practice studioutte designed the reading space with chrome lecterns and mirrors.
- Guests receive white cotton gloves to handle the sixty selected books and keep the gloves afterward.
Jil Sander and Apartamento present Reference Library during Milan Design Week. The temporary exhibition opens today, April 20, 2026, and runs until April 24. You will find the installation inside the Jil Sander showroom at Via Luca Beltrami 5. The project focuses entirely on physical books and reading habits. Sixty international creatives selected the individual volumes on display. Writers, designers, artists, and filmmakers provided their personal reading choices to build the collection. The space offers a quiet environment for you to sit and read away from the busy design festival. You must book an appointment online to visit the main exhibition. A smaller preview installation is also visible right now at the Jil Sander store on Via Verri.
Milanese architecture practice studioutte designed the viewing room with specific attention to detail. Chrome lecterns stand in organized rows across the showroom floor. Warm overhead lamps light the reading materials resting on the metal stands. A large mirrored wall visually expands the room and reflects the structured layout. When you enter the building, staff members hand you a pair of white cotton gloves. You wear these gloves to handle the books. The organizers provide the gloves to encourage careful interaction with the fragile printed pages. You take the gloves home after your visit as a physical souvenir of the event. The tactile experience forces you to slow down your reading process and appreciate the paper texture.
The sixty titles represent the personal influences of the various contributors. Jil Sander Creative Director Simone Bellotti selected Il Barone Rampante by Italian author Italo Calvino. Bellotti explained his choice by noting the protagonist climbs trees to observe the world clearly from above. He compared the unusual viewpoint to pure creative work. Apartamento Co-Founder Marco Velardi noted the logical connection between the independent publisher and the minimalist fashion house. Velardi stated objects surrounding us serve a biographical purpose rather than a decorative one. He equated a well-made garment to a carefully chosen book. Both items require considered intent and are meant to last a long time. You see this philosophy reflected in the clean design of the room and the curated selection of literature. The installation challenges you to prioritize physical media over digital screens.
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