Jil Sander and Apartamento Present "Reference Library" at Milan Design Week

Curating 60 inspiring books from global creatives, offering a tactile defense of reading in the digital age.

Summary

• Jil Sander has partnered with Apartamento to present “Reference Library,” a temporary exhibition in Milan running from April 20 to April 24, 2026
• The installation features a curated selection of 60 books chosen by various global creatives, displayed on chrome lecterns designed by Milanese architecture practice studioutte
• Visitors can book an appointment to handle and read the books using provided white gloves, a quiet souvenir they can keep as a reminder of the experience

In an era dominated by digital skimming and algorithmic feeds, Jil Sander and Apartamento are inviting us to slow down. Opening today, April 20, in the heart of Milan, “Reference Library” is a temporary exhibition that champions the physical book. Conceived as a curated collection of personal references, the immersive installation brings together 60 distinct titles—each carefully selected by writers, designers, artists, filmmakers, and thinkers whose perspectives have shaped modern culture.

The exhibition serves as a physical affirmation of reading for pleasure, creating a quiet space designed for close observation. To bring this vision to life, Milanese architecture practice studioutte designed the installation inside the Jil Sander showroom. Chrome lecterns stand in neat rows, illuminated by warm reading beams and expanded visually by a mirrored wall. To emphasize the ritual of handling a cherished object, visitors are provided with a pair of white gloves upon entry. The gloves alter how much care is brought to the act of reading, and guests are invited to keep them as a quiet souvenir of time well spent.

The books themselves represent the invisible lines that connect an idea to the world. For his contribution, Jil Sander Creative Director Simone Bellotti chose a piece of his childhood: Italo Calvino’s Il Barone Rampante (The Baron in the Trees). “Cosimo, the protagonist, climbs into the trees and from there observes the world with more clarity than those living below,” Bellotti shared, likening the character’s unusual perspective to a metaphor for pure creative work.

“The collaboration between Apartamento and Jil Sander is a natural one,” added Apartamento Co-Founder Marco Velardi. “Both have long understood that the things we surround ourselves with are never merely decorative, they are biographical. They speak to attention, to care, to a refusal of the throwaway. A book, like a well-made garment, is an act of considered intent. It is made to last.”

Whether you are looking to discover new literary inspirations or simply seeking a momentary escape during the bustling design week, the “Reference Library” offers a profound, tactile experience. The exhibition is open by appointment, with a preview installation also on display at the Jil Sander Store on Via Verri. The registration is here.

Reference Library
Via Luca Beltrami 5
Milan, Italy
Monday, April 20 – Friday, April 24, 2026