The first Brussels House opens in Milan
Brussels House was officially opened in Milan on 2 February 2023. The result of collaboration between visit.brussels and hub.brussels, the space aims to promote Brussels, its way of life and its entrepreneurs, particularly through a permanent exhibition of Made in Brussels creations and an extensive events calendar.
Milan was not chosen to host this first Brussels House at random. As the capital of fashion, design, architecture and Italian gastronomy, it offers plenty of business opportunities for Brussels’ creators and craftspeople wanting to develop internationally.
Italy is also an important market for Brussels tourism. The coming of Brussels House means that the Brussels-Capital Region now has a considerable asset for responding to growing Italian interest.
An international springboard for Made in Brussels creation
Isabelle Grippa, the CEO of hub.brussels, is really enthusiastic about the development of this new tool for businesses. “We would like this Brussels enclave in Italy to serve as a real international launch pad for our craft, cultural and creative businesses, with minimum steps and risk-taking”.
It is enough to express interest to hub.brussels and loan one or more pieces for a few months to find a place in the Brussels House showroom. hub.brussels has already planned a series of events to create contacts with Italian buyers and potential local partners, who will be able to come and test, admire and taste Brussels products and get in touch with the companies directly.
Co-managed on site by the economic and commercial advisor of hub.brussels in Italy, there are also plans for Brussels House to attract an even larger audience during the global Fashion Week and Design Week events.
What you will find in the Brussels House
The space is spread over a hundred square metres on the first floor of a building in Porta Nueva. This north-western district of the city is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike thanks to its shops, cultural activity and architectural attractions such as Stefano Boeri’s Bosco Verticale, an eco-sustainable residential skyscraper that is covered by more than 20,000 trees and faces Brussels House.
Conceived and designed by the Brussels studio oPLA Architure and implemented by MCB Ateliers, Brussels House was thought up as a real house with an office, kitchen, living room and even a dressing room. It exhibits more than 60 creations made in Brussels.
The interior design is in itself a fabulous visiting card for eco-design and Brussels synergies, with contributions from Bel Albatros, BC Materials, MicroFactory, Sonian Wood Coop, BatiTerre, RecyK, RotorDC, Maak&Transmettre et Epigone ! The typographer François Tusseki brought his touch to the window.
The slogan “Be welcome. Be yourself. Be a Brusseler” clearly shows the Region’s intentions in terms of attracting international talent. “Brussels is unique and boasts unique assets. We are sometimes too modest even though we have some of the best companies, products, artists, architects and restaurants… in the whole world. The Brussels Houses are a real showcase for our marvellous city. Thanks to the Houses, we will be able to show the world, in strategic locations, who we are and what we are capable of,” says Pascal Smet, the Brussels Secretary of State for International Relations and Foreign Trade.
What can we discover in the living room?
The living room can be discovered in the light of the origami suspensions of Ben Artside, the metal lighting by Virage and ceramic lighting by Terre de Rêves. We can sit on a vintage chair upcycled by Machao Design and enhanced with a Twaska cushion or we can curl up in the pouf by Sanna pack’une vie selected by Orybany. We can enjoy the musical selection of 50 vinyl LPs made in Brussels by Caroline Music, playing Tukan, Telex and Zap Mama.
The eco-conscious audacity of Brussels design is also a reused cabinet by Regglo and illuminated by a Permafungi lamp designed like mycelium, a piece of furniture made of Anaïs cardboard, and a chair made of recycled denim, co-designed by Re-Use Fabrik and Design with Sense.
We can also appreciate the crochet creations of Plic, the ceramics of Studio Hedi, the artwork selected by la Voie des Arts and the porcelains of Frédérique Ficheroulle.
As for the walls, they feature the work of Alexandra Daoust and Gabrielle Fabry from Moirés and the herbariums of the sustainable florists Versus.
What about the kitchen?
Your taste buds will be able to enjoy the taste of a Corica coffee, a wine by Gudule and the beers of Brussels Beer Project en En stoemelings. We can serve a package of Mad Lab crackers as an appetizer in the ceramic plate designed by HIER and cook the Eclo Farm mushrooms that we will have previously grown in kits.
On the sweeter side, we are delighted to see Buddy Buddy spreads, Pipaillon marmalades and the gourmet creations of Artisan Chocolatier Vandenhende and Eugène Chocolatier.
And the dressing room?
We start with a colorful and offbeat outfit from the Bestellte Beute duo or a cashmere sweater from Tuya Sar. A Conni Kaminski jacket or a cape designed by Nina Bodenhors, aka Niyona. Slip into Norm Shoes‘ eco-friendly sneakers and go for Saskia Shutt or La Fiancée du Bijoutier rings on your fingers.
A headdress by Céline Evrard Modiste, a necklace by Tulipane Design and a Roseline d’Oreye silk scarf complete the So Brussels look. Before leaving, we should not forget a Virginie Château bag or a minaudière from Sieyo Creation to go to the restaurant. 21A bags are the best for sports and Jobags for shopping.
In the cosmetics department, the selection highlights The Good Beer Spa, Indigène, BT Cosmetics, Odyskin, and La Beer Époque.
The list would not be complete without mentioning the well-known Cowboy bike in the window, to which Rool‘s trailer is attached. We could also mention Raypath International‘s cleaning products and a nod to the Brussels-Italian artisanal shoe shiner Marcello Faraggi.
There is still room for more…
Are you a craftsman, designer or entrepreneur from Brussels? There is still room for your pieces at the Brussels House in Milan… What’s more, the selection will be renewed every 3 months. Interested? Visit the hub.brussels website and get in touch with us!
