During Milan Design Week 2026, several brands transformed historic Milanese landmarks into immersive sensory landscapes, bridging the gap between centuries-old architecture and contemporary design.

L’Appartamento by Artemest

L’Appartamento by Artemest returned during Milan Design Week as an immersive exhibition celebrating Italian craftsmanship through contemporary interior design. Set within a historic Milanese residence, the project brought together five internationally renowned design studios: Sasha Adler Design, Rockwell Group, MAWD | March and White Design, Urjowan Alsharif Interiors and Charlap Hyman & Herrero, each transforming a distinct room using exclusively Italian-made furnishings, decor and artisanal pieces sourced from Artemest’s network.

The exhibition highlighted a dialogue between heritage and modernity, showcasing how traditional craftsmanship can be reinterpreted through diverse global design perspectives. Each space reflected the unique vision of its designer while maintaining a cohesive narrative of refined living and cultural storytelling.

The Art of Belonging

Muuto’s latest installation in Milan, The Art of Belonging, eschewed the sterile polish of traditional showrooms for a tactile, lived-in realism. This spatial concept posited that our domestic environments are fundamental to our emotional wellbeing, using a palette of light, form and material to elevate the mundane into the meaningful. The apartment was cleverly delineated into ‘functional rooms’ that celebrated the rituals of daily life – from the act of arriving to the quietude of winding down – ensuring the human element remained at the forefront of the design narrative.

Central to this exploration was the Coltre Modular sofa, a collaboration with Studiopepe debuting in September 2026. True to its namesake, the Italian word for ‘blanket’, this series features a quilted textile draped over a structured frame. Defined by rhythmic, parallel stitching, Coltre offers a sculptural yet soft volume that transitions seamlessly from expansive configurations to intimate stand-alone lounge chairs, epitomising contemporary comfort with a sophisticated architectural edge.

Find out more about Muuto, visit muuto.com.

Casaornella

Casaornella presented Animale Sociale, an installation curated by Maria Vittoria Paggini that reimagined the home as a fluid, permeable organism. Located at Via Conca del Naviglio 10, the apartment replaced traditional walls with thresholds, utilising light, mirrored surfaces and sensory landscapes to encourage human proximity and social exchange.

The space featured a custom Turati Cucine kitchen, Fratelli Boffi furniture and the Selvatica ceramic collection, all integrated into a narrative where domestic objects facilitated connection. Notable architectural elements included a water salon bathroom and a sapphire-floored sleeping area, complemented by ambient fragrances and curated culinary rituals.

Ultimately, the project will serve as a permanent showroom and cultural platform, transitioning into Casaornella Sleepover, a hospitality extension that allows guests to inhabit its vision of design as a shared language.

Milan Design Week 2026 ran from 20 to 26 April with the Salone del Mobile.Milano at Rho Fiera Milano and numerous events and installations dispersed across the entire city.

With a focus on ‘circularity, inclusiveness and the promotion of young talents’ Milan Design Week 2026 was a feast of surprises, unearthed gems and bold activations.

To find out more.