12 large-scale installations not to be missed at Milan Design Week 2024

Elica, in collaboration with the Ermanno Casoli Foundation, presents "Straordinaria," a site-specific immersive installation curated by Marcello Smarrelli and designed by the Japanese design studio we+, in the courtyard of Palazzo Litta, a prime example of Lombard Baroque architecture in the heart of the 5 Vie cultural district. The artwork takes inspiration from the lightness of clouds, creating a continuous flow in the alternation of nuances that evoke air and warmth, elements strongly associated with the brand, as well as the use of materials, modularity of forms, lightness, and dynamism that characterize the installation.

"Mooring by the Moon," in the courtyard of the Bagni Misteriosi, is an installation created for Azimut by Michele De Lucchi and AMDL CIRCLE, inspired by the Seadeck Series, an emotional journey through beauty and innovation towards a dreamlike landscape. A boat moored in the heart of the city, illuminated by a large moon, aims to invite us to be amazed by the wonder of nature, encouraging us to see things as if for the first time and evoking another possible world where we protect the environment that gives us so much. The technology in this installation serves the purpose of protecting the sea.

Tempesta Gallery and the Ukrainian artist Aljoscha, known for his bio-futuristic creations that explore the relationship between biology and aesthetics, present a site-specific work in the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, better known as the church of Sant'Angelo, in the historic center of Milan. The installation, in stark contrast to the historical environment that hosts it, will activate an evocative dialogue between ancient and contemporary art, offering a new perspective on history.

The installation Transitions, presented by Stark with the creative team composed of architects Alice Buroni and Gloria Lisi together with Alex Buroni and Sabine Lindner, invites a multisensory and interactive exploration of the transitions drawn by the relationship between matter and water. Descending into the Pillar Hall of the Sforza Castle will be like entering inside a transitioning matter, thanks to the signs generated by the presence or absence of water within it. As it might happen to a terrain, the broken, hardened, and dry lines transform through the presence of pervasive humidity until they become meandering flows. The soundscape created by composer Paolo Bragaglia will guide the gaze through the subtle transitions of light that animate the space.

glo for art, together with Emiliano Ponzi, presents “Flower Up”, a kaleidoscopic artistic installation that aims for the democratization of the artistic experience and seeks to celebrate a positive spirit. A tunnel leads visitors to a charming garden hosting a large installation. Ponzi's work aims to evoke emotions through vibrant shapes and colors in every single visitor, to the extent that it overflows towards empathy and common sharing, finding themselves immersed in the same feeling characterized by optimism, inclusivity, and open-mindedness.

In the 18th-century courtyard of Università Statale di Milano, “SUB” is an installation by Piero Lissoni, Sanlorenzo’s Art Director since 2018, which invites visitors to immerse themselves in the underwater world to raise awareness about ocean conservation from the perspective of the sea itself. This effect will be achieved through a play of light where sunlight appears to dance through the water, giving life to the characteristic interplay of reflections, lights, and shadows, constantly in motion. At the center of the installation is an innovative 10-meter-long multi-hull vessel capable of reaching speeds of 50 knots, with a range of 180 nautical miles, foil, and powered exclusively by hydrogen. BGH’s digital reconstruction during navigation, with an underwater viewpoint, also aims to raise awareness about respecting the marine environment.

The installation by Zaha Hadid Design for Iris Ceramica Group explores the noblest technical qualities of ceramics, such as strength and ductility, transporting them into its unmistakable aesthetic. The material, at the center stage, transforms into a wave. Ceramics thus surpass the limits of its traditional applications, showcasing how much there still is to explore in terms of design possibilities.

The installation commissioned by Bertolotto to the Venetian architect and artist Marco Nereo Rotelli aims to symbolically open the doors to a better world. In the Honor Courtyard of the Università Statale, the artwork consists of a large golden gate made up of 46 door panels – signed, made, and certified by Bertolotto – engraved with poetic verses on the various meanings of the concept of love. Emerging from the gate is the sculpture of a tank – painted blue. This collaboration gives rise to a special edition of designer doors, a collection of 14 doors characterized by the artist's unmistakable style, transformed into unique works of art that embellish spaces.

This year, Ingo Maurer incorporates amorphous textures, fluid forms, and organic elements into an installation called FLOWAIR, which winds its way through the inner courtyard of the cultural center BASE, the fire escape staircase, and the roof, offering a spectacle of lights and colors both by day and by night, exploring the theme of inflated shapes and synesthesia. The outdoor installation is composed of an orchestra of objects up to 10 meters tall, which slowly inflate and deflate, harnessing the energy of the wind to dance among the lights.

In the Pharmacy Courtyard of the Università Statale, Amazon presents "The Amazing Walk", an immersive installation created by MAD Architects. The installation transports the visitor into an evocative setting, where a majestic mountain is reflected in a lake. A pathway suspended over the water aims to be a metaphor for the "journey" of customers as they explore products for their homes. The selection of designer products available on Amazon, according to this vision, triggers the same attention mechanism as a walk in nature. Through a perspective of the object that goes well beyond what is shown, MAD Architects has conceived the mountain as an environment capable of transporting the visitor into a dimension waiting to be explored, revealing itself step by step.

In the era of the Beatles and the miniskirt, Porsche left its mark not only with the iconic 911, but also with the Pepita motif, a distinctive pattern of squares and diagonal lines that has been used in the interiors of the Stuttgart company’s cars since the 1960s. It is this very Pepita pattern that serves as the muse for Porsche’s installation at this year’s Design Week, which returns to the illustrious setting of Palazzo Clerici. Aptly titled “The Art of Dreams,” the exhibition features a towering installation by the design collective Numen / For Use – a habitable tower of suspended spaces made of nets – that dominates the expansive courtyard. In addition, Vitra announces a new edition of three of its chairs with the Pepita motif, including the famous Plastic Side Chair by Eames.

Legend has it that a dragon once lived in Lake Orta (Piedmont, Italy), wreaking havoc until Julius, a Greek cleric on a mission to evangelize the locals, killed it with a simple swing of the crucifix around his neck. A tangible relic of this story is said to be an egg that still rests on the island in the lake now named after the saintly Julius. This dragon and its egg serve as the inspiration for a grand installation by Playlab’s Los Angeles studio, symbolizing the unfolding of Alessi’s creative prowess, which traces its roots to the shores of Orta. Surrounding the installation are four historical elements that recount Alessi’s mythical beginnings, interspersed with the company’s most recent product launches.