During Milan Design Week, a handful of installations turned the four classical elements into immersive, monumental experiences that drew visitors into a world of light, stone, water and glass.
Stone and Water Converge in “La Casa di Marmo”
Architect Hannes Peer transformed a basement garage beneath a historic Brera villa into a marble‑lined sanctuary. Partnering with natural stone supplier Margraf, the space features honey‑toned Santafiora marble and a selection of Italian onyx, quartz and agate. A glowing panel directs water into a shallow pool, while two sculptural busts rest on marble plinths, echoing ancient Roman rain‑catching cisterns.
Beyond the dramatic water feature, the exhibit retains a domestic feel. Velvet banquette seating lines a backlit tiled wall, and an unmade bed invites visitors to linger, proving that even a rigorous, raw environment can host relaxation.
Light as a Material in Bocci’s “Light as Medium”
At the brand’s Via Giuseppe Rovani showroom, designer David Alhadeff curated a series of luminous displays that suggest the origin of light itself. The entrance room houses Omer Arbel’s “93” orbs, each formed by pouring molten aluminum into hand‑blown glass vessels and illuminated from within.
Further inside, thick, multicoloured glass ridges create a glowing glacier, while a cluster of hundreds of Bocci lights swirls into a radiant cyclone. The pieces blend volcanic intensity with icy clarity, offering a spectrum of sensory moments that linger in the memory.
New Zealand Nature in Fisher & Paykel’s “Nature—Ritual”
The EuroCucina stand presented a 450‑square‑metre showcase where the sounds of native birds filled the air. The kitchen systems, clad in reddish‑brown tōtara veneers and basalt countertops, served aromatic kawakawa tea in ceramic cups crafted by artist Aaron Scythe.
Highlights included a four‑metre‑tall sculpture housing Fisher & Paykel’s Series 11 ovens, and a wine cellar with separate temperature zones for different vintages. A panoramic photograph of Milford Sound formed a lush backdrop, evoking the forest floor’s texture.
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For many visitors, the exhibit suggested how everyday appliances might integrate more closely with natural environments, turning kitchens into quiet sanctuaries rather than purely functional spaces.
Glass Repetition in “Over and Over and Over and Over”
Design studio 6:AM Glassworks filled the abandoned Piscina Guido Romano with modular glass blocks that resembled oversized ice cubes. The “Batch” stools, blown glass with cast‑iron moulds, stacked from floor to ceiling, emphasizing the subtle variations that arise from handcrafted production.
Beyond the repetitive forms, the installation incorporated textured black cast‑glass lighting and totems clad in the studio’s Paysage panels. The former shower stalls and hallways of the pool added a historical layer, reminding viewers that the space once held water, now transformed into light.
Water‑Centred Wellness in Grohe’s “Aqua Sanctuary”
Inside the Piccolo Teatro Studio Melato, Grohe offered three spa‑like “sanctums” that combined high‑tech fixtures with natural motifs. The displays featured the Allure and Atrio faucets, modular Aqua Tiles, and conceptual prototypes such as a tree‑shaped rainshower and a hanging lily‑pad faucet beneath a colour‑shifting oculus.
A vanity with a steam sink and a refrigerated drawer for skincare products rounded out the experience, creating a meditative atmosphere that contrasted the fast‑paced design week.
Visitors left inspired.
