Last year's Salone was all abuzz with Ventura Lambrate, a new experimental design district in an industrial area in the northeast side of Milan. Due to its success, Zona Ventura Lambrate has announced that it will be back again this year!

For the Milan virgins out there, the Milan Furniture Fair is not only about the main fairgrounds at Rho, (the focal event of the Salone Internazionale del Mobile), but it also encompasses the countless 'satellite' concurrent events all over the city. The Zona Tortona area had been previously known as the nucleus of independent events from emerging designers, but even this perception is changing (and to some, becoming much more 'commercial' and way too expensive) with the entrance of larger, established names.

Ventura Lambrate aimed to be area for younger and fresher design minds, from Royal College of Art and Design Academy Eindhoven to Tord Boontje and Maarten Baas. Sparked by Utrecht-based Organisation in Design, Ventura Lambrate is located slightly further from the center of Milan and requires a hike to a suburb-like industrial area -- so they must curate very carefully for the content to be worth it.

Even though it's a few months away, Ventura Lambrate's exhibitor list is growing and our April excitement is a-rustling. For a review of last year's Salone, be sure to peruse our favorite picks here.