Colorful translucent panels stand upright in a row, casting overlapping red, yellow, blue, and green hues onto the background and floor.

May 6, 2026

Words: Mairi Beautyman

10 Standout Installations That Defined Milan Design Week 2026

From a table spread laid out for rats to a wedding made entirely of stone and kinetic monolithic totems, installations across Milan Design Week 2026 moved beyond display to become fully immersive environments—blurring the boundaries between object, narrative, and space. This year, designers used food, textiles, light, found materials and more to construct worlds that invited both participation and reflection. Whether staged in abandoned hospitals, historic palazzos, or carefully restored villas, these works demonstrate how installation has become one of the most powerful formats for experimentation today.

Don’t miss all our 2026 Milan Design Week highlights, from SaloneSatellite to Alcova and more.

Feast for Rats by HEAD – Geneva

  • An indoor table set with rustic, clay pottery and textiles sits beneath an unusual chandelier, in a sunlit, weathered room with tiled floors and large windows.
    Photography courtesy of HEAD – Geneva.
  • A rustic table set with plates, cups, bowls, and a bottle made from earthy, textured materials, all covered in a dusting of flour on a similarly textured tablecloth.
    Photography courtesy of HEAD – Geneva.
  • A metal chair with a seat made of seeded bread and bread shaped like a fork, knife, and spoon hanging on the backrest.
    Photography courtesy of HEAD – Geneva.

What would your dinner party look like if rats were on the guest list? Wire chairs topped with oversized seeded bread rolls surround an edible table laden with grains, seeds, and other rat-attracting fare in “Feast for Rats.” Developed as part of “No One Sees Them Like We Do: Notes on Animal Interiors” by the collective La Dalle (Julie Chavaz and Angélique Kuenzle) and Matilde Arletti—students of the MAIA program at HEAD—Geneva—the project questions hierarchies within domestic space. Positioned near Alcova’s busy snack bar, the installation drew curious human visitors, even if its intended audience remained elusive.

The Wedding by Sten Studio

  • A dimly lit, ornate room features eclectic sculptural furniture and decor arranged on a patterned tile floor, with weathered walls and stained glass windows.
    Photography by Ramona Balaban.
  • A dimly lit room with worn walls features geometric stone and light sculptures, including a tall illuminated piece in the foreground and a smaller lamp on a round table.
    Photography by Ramona Balaban.
  • A small, dimly lit room features stained glass windows, a patterned tile floor, a rustic stool, and an abstract table with a sculptural floral arrangement.
    Photography by Ramona Balaban.
  • Dimly lit room with peeling paint, ornate ceiling, tiled floor, and three candle arrangements on pedestals surrounding a central table with decorative objects and candles.
    Photography by Ramona Balaban.

Set within an abandoned chapel at the Baggio Military Hospital, The Wedding by Sten Studio unfolded as a surreal ceremonial scene. At the end of a glimmering aisle—lined with a custom carpet by Verdi woven with copper and stainless steel thread—stood a bride and groom sculpted from stone. On closer inspection, the happy couple was revealed to be functioning lamps. Living botanical interventions by floral artist Hamish Powell and bespoke scent by Penhaligon’s heightened the atmosphere, transforming the space into a multisensory installation.

La Salle de Bain by Elisa Uberti

  • A bathtub filled with sculptural objects resembling abstract, white cacti-like forms, with one feature functioning as a faucet pouring water into the tub.
    Photography courtesy of Elisa Uberti.
  • A bathroom with beige tiled walls features an unusual sculptural bathtub and sink, a wooden cabinet with carved designs, and a decorative mirror above the sink.
    Photography by Piergiorgio Sorgetti.
  • A sculptural lamp shaped like abstract, segmented legs stands in a shower stall; light shines through strands hanging from its top section.
    Photography courtesy of Elisa Uberti.
  • A wooden cabinet with open doors sits atop a white, sculptural base resembling an abstract cactus or organic form, set against a tiled wall.
    Photography courtesy of Elisa Uberti.
  • Small bathroom with a decorative mirror above a white sink, towels draped on both sides, and tiled walls in neutral tones.
    Photography courtesy of Alcova.

A bathroom at Alcova venue Villa Pestarini was transformed into a dreamlike collection of curiosities in “La Salle de Bain,” by Elisa Uberti. Her curvaceous sculptures and furnishings combine wood, ceramic, and textile in unexpected ways. A ceramic figure reclined in an antique tub, another stood beneath a shower of illuminated merino wool strands, while a third supported a wooden cabinet. The installation unfolded as a sequence of surreal domestic moments, where function dissolves into narrative.

Echoes of Memphis by Sagarminaga Atelier for Arte

  • A mannequin in a white dress stands in a woven boat surrounded by dry grasses and textured beige panels in an artfully designed display.
    Photography courtesy of Arte.
  • Curved wall panels with textured geometric patterns, metallic flooring, decorative dried grasses, flowers, and two woven cushions arranged in a minimalist, modern display.
    Photography courtesy of Arte.
  • A room with woven straw walls, sand-covered floor, large woven rope sculptures resembling snakes, and dry plant-like structures creating a desert-like scene.
    Photography courtesy of Arte.
  • A woven sculpture of a person holding a staff stands beside a decorative boat and grasses, all crafted from natural fibers, against a textured, patterned wall.
    Photography courtesy of Arte.
  • A window display features woven sculptures of a fox, fruit, and vases, along with a partial figure and decorative grass, all in neutral tones. The word "ARTE" is on the background wall.
    Photography courtesy of Arte.

A creative exploration of Ancient Egypt by Spanish studio Sagarminaga Atelier set the scene at wallcovering manufacturer Arte’s pop-up showroom. Using natural materials—cork, raffia, woven grasses, capiz shells—layered with wallcoverings, artist Gabriela Sagarminaga created a scenographic interior populated by life-size figures and animals, including a snake and a crocodile.

Garden of Hope by Rive Roshan

  • Three tall, rectangular glass sculptures in red and orange hues stand on the grass with sunlight streaming through them, creating colorful reflections and patterns.
    Photography courtesy of Rive Roshan.
  • Three vertical, rectangular, translucent red-brown panels stand outdoors on metal bases, surrounded by grass, trees, and nearby buildings.
    Photography courtesy of Alcova.
  • Rectangular panels with horizontal and vertical grooves in shades of red, orange, and purple, with a purple light at the top center.
    Photography courtesy of Rive Roshan.

A soothing retreat from the bustle of Alcova at the Baggio Military Hospital, “Garden of Hope” consisted of three kinetic sculptural lights with totem-like forms sprouting from an overgrown field. Soft internal illumination brought each sculpture to life—rippling upward like a mesmerizing internal elevator through textured glass marquetry panels, stacked in blocks of varying bold color.

“Renaissance of the Real” by Annabelle Schneider for USM Modular Furniture in partnership with Snøhetta

  • A tall geometric metal structure with large white inflatable spheres is displayed in an elegant, high-ceilinged room with ornate architectural details.
    Photography courtesy of USM and Snøhetta.
  • A contemporary outdoor art installation featuring large white inflated shapes attached to a grid-like metal structure, set on a grassy area with modern buildings and trees in the background.
    Photography courtesy of USM and Snøhetta.
  • Aerial view of a large, white, organic-shaped inflatable structure with interconnected sections, set on green grass and surrounded by trees.
    Photography courtesy of USM and Snøhetta.
  • A white, tent-like room with web-like seams, featuring abstract silver and purple cushions and a small white radiator, lit by natural light and shadows of tree branches.
    Photography courtesy of USM and Snøhetta.
  • A modern outdoor installation features a metal grid structure with green and white panels next to a large, inflated white form in front of a decorative white building.
    Photography courtesy of USM and Snøhetta.

A soft, textile membrane bubbled out of a two-story grid of USM’s steel Haller modular system, appearing to breathe with life in “Renaissance of the Real.” Conceived by artist Annabelle Schneider in collaboration with architecture firm Snøhetta, the interactive installation regularly expanded and contracted, drawing visitors into a central atrium. Inside, a cocoon-like environment engaged the senses through subtle shifts in sound, light, color, and scent.

“Light as Medium” by Bocci

  • Ceiling installation of spherical light bulbs arranged in circular patterns, reflected in mirrored panels above, creating repeating ring shapes.
    Photography courtesy of Bocci.
  • Three large, spherical pendant lights hang in a dim room with beige curtains, near a doorway displaying a colorful glass art installation.
    Photography courtesy of Bocci.
  • A ceiling installation featuring rows of round, red and white glass light fixtures, all illuminated and casting a warm ambient glow.
    Photography courtesy of Bocci.
  • Modern kitchen with dark wood cabinets, minimalist black countertops, a copper vase with green flowers, and a ceiling installation of translucent, disc-shaped pendant lights.
    Photography courtesy of Bocci.
  • Outdoor patio with wicker tables, a yellow sofa, round poufs, decorative lighting, lush greenery, and a stone path beside a building.
    Photography courtesy of Bocci.

From a pulsating triangular form in a shadowed corner to a dramatic tilted cluster, lighting took center stage in lighting designer and manufacturer Bocci’s historic Milan apartment—nearly bare of furnishings this year. Curated by David Alhadeff, founder of contemporary design gallery The Future Perfect, the exhibition recontextualized both new and existing works by Bocci co-founder and creative director Omer Arbel.

“Full Metal Banquet” by Eric Charles Donatien for LcD Textile Edition

  • Large abstract sculpture made of white and gray translucent material displayed in an ornate, gold-accented baroque room with a chandelier overhead.
    Photography by Alessandra Cenna.
  • A mannequin in an ornate, historical gown sits in a lavishly decorated room with gold details, mirrored floors, and large windows.
    Photography by Alessandra Cenna.
  • A decorative table setting features a glittering faux pineapple arrangement with gold accents, surrounded by ornate decor and reflective surfaces in a luxurious room.
    Photography by Nathalie Krag.
  • Opulent baroque room with gilded walls, mirrored floors, ornate chandelier, and table set with elaborate decorative sculptures and draped fabric.
    Photography by Nathalie Krag.
  • Ornate room with gilded walls and mirrors, a chandelier, and a dining table set with elaborate floral arrangements and sculptural decorations, surrounded by translucent, draped materials.
    Photography by Nathalie Krag.

In a historic room at Palazzo Litta, “Full Metal Banquet” by artist Eric Charles Donatien for LcD Textile Edition reimagined textile waste as an opulent still life. Production scraps were assembled into a lavish table setting, complete with fruit, flowers, and a life-sized figure in a flowing gown. The seemingly headless guest introduced an element of intrigue, later resolved by the discovery of the figure’s embroidered head on a nearby chair.

“The Shift” by Draga & Aurel

  • Colorful translucent panels stand upright in a row, casting overlapping red, yellow, blue, and green hues onto the background and floor.
    Photography by Nathalie Krag.
  • Translucent colored panels stand upright in a row, overlapping to create a layered effect with vibrant red, blue, yellow, and green hues illuminated by soft light.
    Photography by Nathalie Krag.
  • Colorful abstract art installation featuring tall, translucent panels with blurred, vibrant hues of red, purple, blue, and green, set against a softly lit background.
    Photography by Nathalie Krag.
  • Abstract artwork featuring vibrant swirls and blocks of orange, red, yellow, and blue colors with layered translucent effects.
    Photography by Nathalie Krag.

In a room at Rossana Orlandi Gallery, sliding doors were reinvented as monumental objects of beauty with changing depth, color, and expression in “The Shift.” To complement an abstract triptych painting by Aurel K. Basedow, design studio Draga & Aurel applied epoxy resin to lucite panels. Mounted on a track system in front of the painting’s three sections, the panels then merged with the work for a dynamic functional system. An additional artwork by Basedow completed the installation.

“Guatemala Designs by Hand” by the Guatemalan Tourism Institute, Idonika, and Amarillo Studio

  • A woman in traditional clothing uses a backstrap loom to weave purple fabric, surrounded by colorful handmade textiles displayed on the walls.
    Traditional weaving took place live. Photography courtesy of the Guatemalan Tourism Institute.
  • A patterned chair with cylindrical legs, a round seat, and a short rounded backrest, placed on a white surface with a plain background and soft shadow.
    The Batz Living chair by Asociación Brillantes Tejedoras Tactiqueñas B’atz. Photography courtesy of the Guatemalan Tourism Institute.
  • A modern table lamp with a spherical white bulb set in a textured, half-bowl stone shade on a rounded brown base, placed on a neutral fabric surface.
    Reflector, Piedra Chinautla Lamp by Estudio Calido. Photography courtesy of the Guatemalan Tourism Institute.
  • A mosaic sculpture of a bear-like figure made from variously colored wood pieces stands on a white surface against a plain background.
    Altar de la Selva by Studio Itza. Photography courtesy of the Guatemalan Tourism Institute.

“Guatemala Designs by Hand” brought together 17 studios in a collective presentation centered around craft and collaboration. At its core stood a glass-bead-covered reinterpretation of the Temple of the Great Jaguar, anchoring the installation in cultural reference. Surrounding works highlighted material diversity, including a Chinautla clay and pumice stone lamp, a hand-carved altar made from eight native woods, and a woven textile chair. Together, the pieces emphasized the richness of Guatemalan craftsmanship and its potential for contemporary dialogue.

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