The summer 2026 issue of AZURE magazine focuses on the publication’s 16th annual AZ Awards. It also examines Milan Design Week, the expansion of New York’s New Museum, and new developments in building envelope systems.
Milan Design Week: Color and craft take center stage
Milan Design Week this year made a strong visual impact. Exhibits at Salone del Mobile and installations throughout Fuorisalone featured bold, saturated colors—shades typically seen in sports drinks rather than furniture. Kartell, Cassina, and Moroso adopted these bright tones, while B&B Italia, Living Divani, Minotti, and Poliform offered collections that mixed vibrancy with subtlety.
Wicker, often limited to outdoor settings, became a surprising interior trend. Designers gave the woven material a modern twist, showing how traditional elements can feel contemporary. Conceptual installations also stood out: Gucci and Bocci built immersive environments, while Fisher & Paykel’s EuroCucina display and Grohe Spa’s wellness area turned functional spaces into dramatic experiences.
The event moved quickly, leaving little time to fully appreciate each piece. Still, the atmosphere was electric as designers and brands vied for attention in a competitive field.
A kitchen could resemble a gallery, and a bathroom fixture could pass for sculpture. For a few days in Milan, the boundary between function and art disappeared.
These shifts reflect broader changes in how design events prioritize connection over pure sales, though Milan’s scale still leaned toward spectacle.
New Museum expansion: OMA’s intervention refines SANAA’s original
The New Museum in New York has been shaped by SANAA’s 2007 design—a stack of asymmetrical boxes that became an iconic landmark. However, the building’s circulation was tight, a problem OMA’s expansion aims to fix. Architectural writer Tim McKeough calls the new addition “an equal partner that makes the beloved original even better.”
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The expansion improves the original without overshadowing it. OMA’s design creates a conversation between the two structures, resulting in a more practical space that preserves the museum’s character.
Architects have praised the project for its thoughtful balance. It demonstrates how an expansion can enhance rather than simply enlarge an existing building.
Building envelopes: New materials and structural innovations
The issue also explores advances in building envelope systems, which are growing more important as energy efficiency and sustainability become priorities. A home in Porto uses rice husks in its exterior panels, turning agricultural waste into effective insulation.
In Vancouver, The Hive by Dialog adopts a different approach. The building’s timber exoskeleton replaces traditional concrete cores, reducing its carbon footprint while allowing flexible interior layouts.
These examples show how modern architecture blends performance with aesthetics. The best building envelopes now shape a structure’s identity, not just its shell.
For architects, these innovations provide new ways to meet sustainability demands. Challenges remain, including cost and long-term durability, but experimentation is essential.
The summer 2026 issue of AZURE is available now. Information about the AZ Awards winners and finalists appears on the magazine’s awards site.
