There is a kind of intelligence in nature that no designer can fully replicate. We can only follow. The way a plant fibre grows, the tensile strength of a cactus leaf, the quiet resilience of abaca, the surprising softness of aloe vera: these are not raw materials waiting to be improved upon. They are already […]

The Lost Carpets of King Louis XIV When Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Louis XIV’s minister of finance, commissioned the carpets in 1668, Versailles was still just a hunting lodge. The young king lived at the Louvre, and the Grande Galerie was being transformed into a ceremonial corridor leading to a planned throne room. Every foreign ambassador would […]

Recognised as a pioneer of interior design, Barbara Frua continues to redefine the relationship between spaces and the ground, infusing art into everyday life. Each new chapter of Par terre is at once an evolution and a reaffirmation one in which the designer expands her vocabulary of textures, materials, and colours while remaining true to […]

Marta Bastianello is an Italian architect and designer with over thirty years of experience in the design of private residences in Italy and abroad. Venetian by birth and formation, she has developed a refined and measured design language, grounded in a rigorous orchestration of light, materials and proportions, and in a careful dialogue with the […]

In English, it means a natural predisposition, an innate inclination toward something.  Listening to clients, to spaces, to the quiet story a place is already trying to tell. Aptitude Studio didn’t choose the name by accident – it’s less of a label and more of their signature. A nudge to stay curious, stay open, and […]

Published on JOZAN 24 June 2025 by Ivan Soenderholm   This article is part of Jozan Magazine’s ongoing series of personal portraits from the oriental rug world, highlighting the experiences and perspectives of dealers, researchers, and experts. Alberto Levi is a renowned, Milan-based antique rug and textile art dealer and scholar. Born into a family business founded by […]

The Art of Embracing Nothingness Lila Valadan In a world increasingly defined by speed, spectacle, and separation, Lila Valadan’s approach to design offers something radically different: stillness, depth, and unity. Her work is rooted in a holistic philosophy that sees design not as a series of isolated gestures but as an interconnected web of meaning, […]

Dear Lila, could you tell us more about your journey to becoming a carpet designer? I don’t see myself as a designer. I simply do what I love. I adore carpets—their patterns, their history. I draw inspiration from tradition and art and follow my instincts. Everything else falls into place.   What was the first […]

Philip Shalam – New Frontiers for the Alberto Levi Gallery The Alberto Levi Gallery ventures into photography, presenting Philip Shalam’s captivating works at the Milan Photo Fair. Shalam’s Metropolis series results from years of photography and over two decades of life in New York City, the city that first ignited his creative vision. He combines iconic architectural […]

During Milan Design Week 2025, Galleria Alberto Levi will present the exhibition ‘II Nulla [Heech / Nothingness]’ with its long-time professional partner, pioneer Lila Valadan. Rachel Meek asks Levi about the concept and art of embracing the ineffable. Design Week brings hype, buzz and crowds to Milan every April. To counter the frenetic energy of […]

‘Every carpet holds a story. But the most revealing tale is always about the person who chooses it. (Lila Valadan) Lila Valadan is an award-winning Persian rug designer and a pioneer in the male-dominated world of Persian carpets. As the only female rug producer in Iran, she has redefined the art of rug making, merging […]

….but not always. What makes the Alberto Levi Gallery unique is not only its location in the heart of Milan’s historic city center but also its quintessentially Milanese courtyard, which seamlessly connects both sides of the gallery. Visitors joining us for an exhibition opening know the inviting atmosphere that enhances every event. During our first […]