Crafted spaces: exploring the poetry of materials and imagination

From April 7th to 12th, 2025, Milan’s Fondazione Mudima hosted Velouria, a conceptual exhibition by Collection Particulière. Returning after their acclaimed Natural Disco installation in 2024, the brand once again invited visitors into a poetic realm where furniture transcended function to become memory, material, and emotion.

Named after a 1990 Pixies song, Velouria was not a place on any map — rather, a sensorial landscape defined by craftsmanship and narrative. Through velvet, bronze, mahogany, and clay, the exhibition offered an immersive storytelling experience.

Visitors never saw Velouria, but they felt her in every corner of the space. Imagined as a passionate, discerning figure — a lover of materials, textures, and tales — Velouria guided the mood of the show. Her presence echoed in the curated contrasts of warm wood and cool metals, soft fabrics and sculptural forms.

The vestibule: an invitation in clay and oak

The entrance introduced the TIO armchairs, whose inclined backrests recall Transatlantic deckchairs. Their sculptural, confident lines contrast with the softness of LINN fabric, inviting guests to settle in. The ELP wall light, born from grogged clay, hovers between brutalism and refinement. Its toasted hues and glazed surface reflect light with subtle energy. Completing the palette, the LOB low table appears in brushed smoked oak, grounding the space with natural warmth.

The boudoir: intimacy in bronze and fabric

At the center of this space, the LIL chaise longue and ottoman sit back-to-back, creating a visual rhythm through asymmetry and sensual forms. Upholstered in OTERO fabric, they offer tactile luxury. The ELSA side table in patinated bronze — light, tripod-based, and vinyl-thin — serves as both functional piece and sculpture, its textured finish catching the light with each step.

The writing desk: where craft meets sculpture

The writing room featured the JEF desk, made of walnut and stainless steel. Complementing it is the ELB chair, which blends a hammered steel frame with an enveloping leather backrest. Designed with a nod to French decorative tradition, the chair is minimalist yet expressive — a piece that merges presence with performance.

The lounge: form, function, and fluidity

The lounge explored versatility. The MIK modules — fluted ceramic columns in three shapes — function individually or as a modular console. The MIU table, crafted from mahogany, stuns with a swirling base that disappears into the surface, embodying effortlessness and elegance. Meanwhile, the B-SIDE side table conceals clever storage in its walnut casing, its faceted planes recalling a cabinet of secrets. The NED armchairs and FAO sofa, upholstered in spring-toned fabrics, bring cohesion and comfort.

The dining room: where sculpture and utility collide

The dining space revealed new interactions. The EUS screen, sculpted from staggered spruce panels, balances its traditional role of privacy with a visual transparency. Alongside it, the YAB dining table in brushed oak and the curving LUM chairs create an atmosphere of calm and convivial design.

A testament to craft and material

Founded by Jérôme Aumont in 2014, Collection Particulière continues with Velouria to explore an art of living rooted in French sensibility. From terracotta to brushed oak, hammered steel to velvet upholstery, the materials tell a story of design heritage reimagined for today. Though the exhibition has closed, the collection leaves a lasting impression. Through story, material, and atmosphere, Collection Particulière crafted a world where design becomes a quiet presence — evocative, elegant, and unforgettable.