The World Architecture Festival (WAF) has spun off a new festival, INSIDE, that will celebrate the most inspired and accomplished interiors around the world. It will run from the November 2-3 in conjunction with WAF.

INSIDE launched at Tom Dixon's pop-up restaurant Parlement during Milan's annual furniture fair. The event was attended by design luminaries Yves Behar, Fabio Novembre, and INSIDE jury chair Ilse Crawford. Award-winning chef Stevie Parle treated guests to an unusual feast made from Milan's freshest produce, including mix-your-own spice concoctions and monksbeard. Diners were treated to an impromptu speech by Marcel Wanders who talked about the importance of collaboration for design, designers and the wider design community.

Dinner guests at Parlement

At the heart of the fair will be the international awards program judged by some of the best names in the business, including David Collins, Ilse Crawford, Andre Fu, Ross Lovegrove and Paul Priestman, Linda Morey Smith, Eva Jiricna and Marcus Fairs—who will debate against each other in live presentations to win the World Interior of the Year.

Marcel Wanders

Each category winner will be interviewed at the event by Marcus Fairs, editor of Dezeen, INSIDE's online media partner. Footage of all the interviews will appear on Dezeen directly after the festival, and then form an online archive. Two million people a month visit Dezeen for the latest news in the design world; winners at the inaugural Inside will play their own part in this.

Marcus Fabio Novembre (middle) and Yves Behanr (right)

Inside will also feature an inspiring talks program curated by Program Director Claire Barrett including topics such as: Can interior design make food taste better? Heal You? Make you work better? Spend better? Help you escape?

Other events include installations exploring the culture of interior design across the world, as well as events, design tours, receptions and parties throughout the city.