Summary:

• Max Lamb's Min Chair is a pine seat cut from a single timber dimension, producing near-zero waste across its legs, seat, and backrest
• The chair is a production version of Lamb's self-build Economy Chair concept, developed with Hem over several years and available from August at $899 USD / €799 EUR
• It's the third Lamb x Hem piece after the Last Stool (2015) and the Max Table (2019), both still in production

British designer Max Lamb has revealed a new chair set to launch this August. Named the "Min Chair", and produced by Scandinavian design brand Hem, it sees his long-standing "Economy Chair" concept turned into a timber production-ready version.

Constructed from pine, the Min Chair is built around a deceptively simple principle: a standard timber section is cut diagonally to create multiple structural components, allowing the same quantity of material to go significantly further than in conventional chair construction.

The result is a piece that appears almost primitive in form, but – as with much of Lamb's work – is underpinned by careful engineering.

Lamb, whose practice has often involved physically demanding material experiments — from casting molten metal into beach sand to carving furniture from stone — first developed the original Economy Chair in 2020 using polystyrene. That early version was closer to a conceptual prototype than a commercial product, and was more focused on exploring the idea that structural efficiency could also become a visual language.

“The design itself has been conceived to use almost half the quantity of material that would be required to make the same chair with square legs,” Lamb said, describing a construction logic in which cutting timber diagonally effectively creates “two legs for the price of one.”

But turning a workshop experiment into a scalable product presented complications. Unlike plastic, timber behaves unpredictably — expanding, contracting and shifting with environmental conditions. Lamb said moving into wood required redesigning elements of the structure and adjusting manufacturing techniques to improve consistency, including joining smaller timber sections to create more stable components.

For Hem, which has increasingly positioned itself as a platform for enduring designer collaborations rather than trend-driven launches, the chair extends an established relationship with Lamb that began with the Last Stool in 2015 and continued with the Max Table in 2019. Both remain in production.

“This is an exciting continuation of our work with Max,” Hem founder and chief executive Petrus Palmer said. “Our role was to bring this iteration into production without compromising the idea.”

The launch also arrives as design brands face growing scrutiny over sustainability claims, with efficiency in materials and production becoming a stronger commercial consideration as well as a conceptual one.

Lamb stops short of framing the chair as an eco proposition, but its construction aligns with broader industry interest in waste reduction and manufacturing restraint.

Rather than concealing efficiency behind polished engineering, the design makes its structural logic explicit: blunt pine sections, angular cuts, no decorative excess. It is less a chair dressed up as minimalism than a chair that looks exactly like how it was made.

The "Min" chair launches in August and will be priced at $899 USD (approximately €799).

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Summary

• Silence Please and Kouros Maghsoudi debuted the "Hum Speaker" at NYCxDesign, limited to just ten sets
• The brutalist, club-culture-inspired design features stacked geometries, high-gloss lacquer and a concealed front driver
• Available now, with custom color options available online

During NYCxDesign 2026, New York–based furniture designer Kouros Maghsoudi and hi‑fi audio studio Silence Please unveiled their collaborative project: the Hum Speaker. Presented at Silence Please’s Bowery listening space, the limited‑edition design merges Maghsoudi’s sculptural approach with high‑fidelity audio engineering.

Each speaker pair is produced in an edition of only ten sets, available in custom lacquered finishes. The debut introduces two striking colorways - Bone and Black - emphasizing reflective surfaces and sensual curves that conceal the driver behind a sleek facade, while the rear gradually opens to reveal the speaker component.

The collaboration draws inspiration from New York’s nightlife and techno culture, referencing the visual language of large sound systems, brutalist interiors and the emotional intensity of dance music. Maghsoudi’s design language - stacked forms, repetition of simple geometries, and exaggerated curves - is translated into a collectible object that functions as both audio equipment and sculptural centerpiece.

Available now via Silence Please's website, the Hum Speaker is priced between $12,000 –$15,000 USD range.

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

Summary

• Independent designer Rishi Assar linked up with Heron Preston’s creative hub for a specialized furniture capsule shown at Lichen

• The collection repurposes authentic NYC Department of Transportation infrastructure into functional seating

Heron Preston's L.E.D. Studio partnered with Emerging designer Rishi Assar to debut a collaborative furniture collection composed entirely from reclaimed municipal property of New York City. Leaning away from traditional materials, the design project focuses on a collection of chairs/stools from NYC's regulatory road signs.

The collaborative project marks an intentional continuation of the ongoing design initiatives housed under Heron Preston’s L.E.D. Studio banner. Positioning the urban landscape itself as a raw material source, the unconventional approach reflects L.E.D.'s ethos of being a "less environmentally destructive" practice.

By treating the metropolis as an active design archive, the duo highlights the artistic utility hidden within objects that millions of New Yorkers and global visitors interact with daily. The concept echoes what Heron Preston became known for in his namesake label: a mixture of contemporary style and industrial aesthetics. Engineered with architectural integrity, each seating piece utilizes actual locally sourced traffic signs that once directed NYC traffic and pedestrians. Recognizable iconography—ranging from standard stop signs and school crossing notices to detours, speed bump warnings, and speed limit markers—becomes a collage of different fragments, each boasting a unique weathered character.

See the images above for a closer look at Heron Preston L.E.D. Studio's collaboration with Rishi Assar.

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

Summary

• Features a precision rotary dial for height adjustments that allows for granular tuning to a 10th of an inch, providing tactile feedback similar to high-end audio equipment or gaming mice
• Includes a signature red coiled power cable designed to stay taut and orderly as the desk raises or lowers, preventing the cable clutter typically associated with sit-to-stand setups
• Equipped with an extra-wide cable management trough accessible through a fold-down felt cover, allowing users to organize power strips and peripheral wires from the front without moving the desk

Herman Miller Gaming has introduced the Coyl, marking its first standing desk explicitly engineered for the gaming community. The brand previously offered the Motia as a gaming option. This new release represents an entirely in-house design focused on aesthetics and utility for long sessions. Players spend countless hours at their stations. The company recognizes this reality by delivering a product that blends high-end furniture design with enthusiast-grade technology. Herman Miller designed the piece to be built specifically for gamers.

The desk features a distinctive height dial and a specialized power cord known as "The Coil" to tackle common workspace issues. Integrated headphone hooks offer immediate convenience. An optional pegboard-style back panel provides space for mounting controllers, small plants and other personal accessories. Traditional sit-to-stand desks often struggle with unsightly wire management. The Coyl solves this through thoughtful engineering that keeps cords hidden and organized. The rotary dial mimics the precise and satisfying clicks found on premium audio receivers and professional gaming mice.

The base version of the desk starts at $1,095 USD. Prices scale to $1,495 USD for the model featuring an advanced cable management trough. Buyers can opt for the fully equipped version with the back panel for $1,635 USD. The rounded laminate desktop comes in black, white, walnut and ash finishes. A 12-year warranty backs the main structure. The mechanical and electrical components receive seven and five years of coverage respectively. The brand positions this release as a refined alternative to heavy-duty magnetic setups like the Secretlab Magnus Pro or modular rail designs found on the discontinued Corsair Platform:6. Enthusiasts now have a sophisticated option that elevates the look of any room without sacrificing essential functionality.

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

Yes, it's been a month since we were there. But we've spent that time recovering, digesting our thoughts (and reading everyone else's), and sifting through our scribbled notes on the back of taxi receipts. And with all that in mind, we figured the best antidote to the "Milan Design Week has become overrun with brands" sentiment is to share the work of some of the independent designers who showed their work away from the "experiential" installations.

Having scoured the city looking for them, and filling our camera rolls with pictures of their work, we bring you 20 independent designers you need to know from this year's Milan Design Week. You're welcome.

Jesse Butterfield

London-based Jesse has been on our radar for a little while now. His work spans both design and research, and often culminates in a practice that is both inquisitive and process-driven. He also co-founded Computer Room, a research-oriented design collective, alongside fellow London-based designers Andu Masebo and Charlie Humble-Thomas in 2023.

@jesse__butterfield

Jane Wright

We didn't know we needed a leather rug or custom lace curtains until we saw Jane Wright's work. Presenting alongside Jesse Butterfield at Alcova, Jane brought her work with lace and textile to the party – combining contemporary motifs with traditional crafts.

@wright_jane_

MA-MA

Made up of three sisters, MA-MA is a New York and Los Angeles-based founded by Sanam, Laylee, and Safura Salek, who together bring experience from top firms like OMA and BIG. They formed MA-MA in 2018, and went on to create furniture that is, quite literally, transformative – like this chaise longue, which satisfyingly slides out to become a day bed.

@ma.ma.nyc

304.Cage

304.Cage is based in Rotterdam, and was founded in 2023 by Bram Schlangen. It was the studio's big square daybed that caught our attention. Intended to look "hostile" on first view thanks to its harsh-looking aesthetic, the piece is actually a squishy black cushion imprinted with patterns designed in collaboration with artist Chun.

@304.cage

Théophile Blandet

Théophile Blandet is a French designer and artist working in the Netherlands. As you'd expect from a Design Academy Eindhoven graduate, his work is conceptually led, resulting in objects that tend to resist all efforts of categorisation, such as the "Fluid" lamp, which is turned on through an injecting device.

@theophileblandet

Teo Rhe

Teo Rhe is a Korean multidisciplinary designer based in the Netherlands. This year, he showed both his own proejcts and those of others through his platform Bureau Parso. Drawing from his rich cultural experiences, he integrates modern and traditional crafting techniques to create furniture and lighting.

@teo.rhe

Sheyang Li

Together with Teo Rhe, Sheyang Li runs Bureau Parso. His sculptural, hands-on approach is bolstered by a background in engineering, with material experimentation being at the centre of much of his work. His unique way of working with metal stands out amongst a see of polished, perfect steel, given the way he layers it and combines it to create something totally unexpected from the material.

@_sheyang_

CWR Studio

Despite Christoph Wimmer-Ruelland's work being made up of found objects, you didn't necessarily notice until you looked closer, because the execution was so impressive. Avoiding the use glue or screws, he began researching knots to hold the pieces together. Interestingly, his research took him to the forums of those interested in Doomsday prepping, and here, the communitiy taught him how to tie specific knots that would make the pieces incredibly strong and durable, while ensuring they could be dismantled without damage.

@wimmrue

Soft Baroque

We've been obsessed with the fantastical approach of Soft Baroque for a long time, so it was great to see them have a solo presentation in Milan this year. Created alongside Belgian gallery Uppercut, the "Ghost Kitchen" was located in a downstairs gallery space, that the studio (made up of Saša Štucin and Nicholas Gardner) had turned into a tiny apartment, complete with furniture and a custom kitchen area.

@soft_baroque

Serim Kwack

Curator Valentina Ciuffi described the expressive glass work of Serim Kwack as being "like a painting", having placed his work in her show "Romance of Fragility" Delvis (Un)Limited. Kwack's work uses found industrial glass panes to create subtle imprints of everyday objects, treating the material in a way that comes across as an ode to the mundanity of life.

@serim_kwack

Akiyama Ryota

Akiyama Ryota was part of one of the best shows we saw during our time in Milan. Based in Mashiko, Japan, Akiyama showed a collection inspired by a packaging method used by Japanese stonemasons, who place objects together using nothing but rope. Named “Looping”, the project saw complete pieces of furniture finished with rope, which was wrapped around the piece to create an outline-like detail.

@ryotaakiyama01

Studio Booboon

Studio Booboon is a multi-disciplinary design firm founded by Korean designer Jisu Yun and British designer Richard Bone. The firm takes its name from the Korean word "booboon" (부분), meaning a detail or part of something. Their collection in Milan was made from off cuts and surplus materials, which were then transformed into pieces of furniture using an approach they call “3D marquetry”.

@studiobooboon

Niels Raoul Boone

This blue sink is the stuff of our dreams. In fact, all of Niels Raoul Boone work is. The designer etches whimsical patterns into the surface of metal furniture, which is usually crafted to take on an elaborate, ornamental form. A true metalwork magician.

@nielsraoulboone_

Rumba Bor

The work of Thailand-based studio Rumba Bor is inspired by the aesthetics of the mundane, everyday. Founded by Rumpa Paweenpongpat, the studio takes mass-produced or forgotten objects — such as their celebrated Choei stool, revived from an old factory mould — and re-contextualises them through new materials and packaging.

@rumba.bor

Patrice Lortz

We've literally never seen a candle as complex as this one. Made by Patrice Lortz, a French product designer and CGI artist, they are designed to blur the border between the physical object and the virtual object, making reference to the shape of a birthday cake, candle holder and flower bouquet.

@patricelortz

Lucie Gholam

French-Lebanese designer-maker Lucie Gholam blends ancient craftsmanship techniques with contemporary design. Her sustainability focused practice often looks to the possibility of working with more circular materials, and typically reuses construction waste as a way of callenging our ways of building and our connection to objects and spaces.

@luciegholam

LS Gomma

LS Gomma's (aka Joel Muggleton) work with rubber has made him a firm favourite on our lists. Working primarily with polyurethane rubber and metal mesh from his Paris-based studio, LS Gomma fabricates everything by hand, with each handcrafted rubber panel becoming a spatial painting at the core of the practice. This material has become the studio's signature, and was on view at both Salone Raritas and a solo show hosted by Uppercut.

@ls.gomma

Napalosa

We first came across the work of Napalosa when her furry lamps appeared on our algorithm. Hooked ever since, we've been tracking the growing popularity of the studio, which was founded in 2021 by Nelly Bellegarde, and is based in Antwerp, Belgium.

@Napalosa

Electric Architects

If Milan is anything to go by, you could argue that smoking is very much back. Perhaps it's the Milan vibe that inspires the designers to create smoking-related projects, but there really did seem to be a theme appearing. One of these projects came from Electric Architects, who created a series of smoking objects collectively named "The Vice". Our favourite was The Vice Sentinel is a large-scale, multi-armed ashtray.

@electricarchitects

Joshi / Greene

Turning a simple concept into an architectural detail, Joshi / Greene presented their Rail System amidst the residential backdrop of the Convey exhibition. The rail that runs the length of the room is designed to accommodate corresponding accessories, including a mirror, shelves, chair, clock, vase, and coat hanger, transforming the environment one object at a time.

@joshi_greene

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

Summary

• Nintendo has released a Super Mario Yoshi Teapot and Cup Set in New york and San Francisco, designed to look like a classic Yoshi egg with green speckled porcelain exterior
• The lid of the teapot lifts off and doubles as a cup and saucer, with the full set including a tea filter and a small Yoshi plate; the teapot holds approximately 450ml and the cup approximately 350ml

Nintendo has released a Yoshi Egg Teapot and Cup Set, and it is exactly what it sounds like. The porcelain set is shaped like a classic Yoshi egg, complete with the character's signature green speckled exterior, and comes with a lid that lifts off and doubles as a cup and saucer. 

The design is straightforward and effective. The teapot body takes the egg-dome shape in full, with the green speckled pattern running across the exterior in the exact register of Yoshi's iconic egg design. Inside, the set includes a tea filter and a small Yoshi plate, making this a fully functional tea service that happens to double as an extremely covetable shelf piece. The teapot holds approximately 450ml; the lid-cup holds approximately 350ml. It is not microwave or dishwasher safe, which feels appropriate for something this cute.

The drop arrives alongside a wider range of Yoshi merchandise currently live on the Nintendo online store, including egg-shaped Yoshi plushies in green, light blue, pink, and yellow, and a themed Yoshi Decorative Cloth. The timing is deliberate: Yoshi and the Mysterious Book launches on Nintendo Switch 2 on May 21, and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, in which Yoshi also features, opened in theaters just last month. Nintendo is running a full-spectrum Yoshi moment across software, film, and your kitchen shelf simultaneously.

The teapot is the centrepiece of the range and the piece most likely to move quickly. Nintendo's lifestyle merchandise has form for selling out fast — the Hatchin' Yoshi animatronic repeatedly cleared stock after its New York Toy Fair debut, and the Super Mario Galaxy Movie popcorn bucket was flipping on eBay for nearly $100 USD within days of release

The Nintendo Super Mario Yoshi Teapot and Cup Set is available now at the Nintendo stores in New York and San Francisco.

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

Summary

• Hender Scheme and NOTA&design launched a capsule collection, swapping the material functions of leather and unglazed yakishime ceramics
• The collaborative lineup includes home items like a leather wall pocket, matching coasters and unique tableware

Japanese footwear and accessories brand Hender Scheme has tapped Shigaraki-based studio NOTA&design for a collaborative capsule exploring the tactile contrast between leather and ceramic.

The collection reinterprets everyday lifestyle objects by swapping their traditional material functions, pairing Hender Scheme's signature vegetable-tanned leather with NOTA's unglazed, reduction-fired yakishime ceramics. Left without a glaze, the raw texture of the pottery mirrors the natural, matte quality of untreated leather, ensuring that both materials will develop a deep, distinctive patina over time through daily use.

The seven-piece lineup includes a versatile mix of home goods and tableware, spanning cups, plates, bowls, a clock and a wall pot. A core highlight of the project is the cross-material reinterpretation of specific items -- Hender Scheme remade NOTA's signature ceramic wall pot using leather, transforming a vessel meant for holding water into an organic, flexible wall pocket.

Additionally, the collection introduces matching coasters produced in both mediums, with the ceramic and leather iterations carefully matched in thickness and stamped with the logos of both brands. Due to the inherent nature of yakishime firing, every ceramic object boasts a unique finish, offering slight variations in shade and texture from piece to piece.

The collection officially releases on May 16, 2026, with availability across Skima stores in Japan and online. A dedicated exhibition at NOTA SHOP will run from June 13 to July 12, 2026, offering visitors an immersive experience of the project’s creative world.

 

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For the first time ever, three of Italy's most recognised "radical design" brands are being shown together in the US, as part of an exhibition taking place inside a New York townhouse. On the occasion of the NYCXDesign festival, the Italian Radical Design group – made up of Memphis, Gufram, and Meritalia – has taken over a space named Kalei NYC, in the Bowery district of the city. Iconic pieces from each of the three brands are spread out across three floors – from Gufram's Cactus, to Memphis' Carlton bookcase. The idea to present them all mixed in with one another was intention, with the group hoping to give visitors an immersive overview of the Italian Radical Design Movement - describing it as a "shared cultural language rather than a sequence of individual brands". The show comes at a moment when Radical Design period, which took place in Italy from the mid 1960s to the 1970s, has gained a whole new generation of appreciators. "This take-over asserts the enduring urgency of Radical Design today as an ongoing challenge to how objects are experienced," they add.Central to the show is the work of the Gaetano Pesce, who had a studio in NYC up until his death in 2024. Paying homage to Pesce's influence on the Meritalia brand since its beginnings, they will be reissuing a collection from the late designer, the "Broadway" dining set. Now available in a limited edition of 33 sets, each comprises a dining table, four four-legged chairs, one stool and one nine-legged chair in orange and blue color variations. "Originally conceived in 1993, the Broadway series re-emerges here as one of Pesce’s most radical statements on domestic space," the brand says. "The 543 Broadway Chair rejects the language of industrial standardisation in favour of expressive imperfection: moulded in multicoloured transparent epoxy resin, each piece behaves like a singular composition rather than a repeatable object."Italian Radical Design group is on view at Kalei NYC from 15 May to late June 2026.

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

]]> Fri, 15 May 2026 08:39:00 +0000 https://hypebeast.com/2026/5/meritalia-nycxdesign-apartment-italian-design-news https://hypebeast.com/?post=6720769 info@hypebeast.com (Hypebeast)

For the first time ever, three of Italy's most recognised "radical design" brands are being shown together in the US, as part of an exhibition taking place inside a New York townhouse.

On the occasion of the NYCXDesign festival, the Italian Radical Design group – made up of Memphis, Gufram, and Meritalia – has taken over a space named Kalei NYC, in the Bowery district of the city.

Iconic pieces from each of the three brands are spread out across three floors – from Gufram's Cactus, to Memphis' Carlton bookcase. The idea to present them all mixed in with one another was intention, with the group hoping to give visitors an immersive overview of the Italian Radical Design Movement - describing it as a "shared cultural language rather than a sequence of individual brands".

The show comes at a moment when Radical Design period, which took place in Italy from the mid 1960s to the 1970s, has gained a whole new generation of appreciators. "This take-over asserts the enduring urgency of Radical Design today as an ongoing challenge to how objects are experienced," they add.

Central to the show is the work of the Gaetano Pesce, who had a studio in NYC up until his death in 2024. Paying homage to Pesce's influence on the Meritalia brand since its beginnings, they will be reissuing a collection from the late designer, the "Broadway" dining set. Now available in a limited edition of 33 sets, each comprises a dining table, four four-legged chairs, one stool and one nine-legged chair in orange and blue color variations.

"Originally conceived in 1993, the Broadway series re-emerges here as one of Pesce’s most radical statements on domestic space," the brand says. "The 543 Broadway Chair rejects the language of industrial standardisation in favour of expressive imperfection: moulded in multicoloured transparent epoxy resin, each piece behaves like a singular composition rather than a repeatable object."

Italian Radical Design group is on view at Kalei NYC from 15 May to late June 2026.

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

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SummaryMAD Architects’ Hainan Science Museum is now open in HaikouIts floating, biomorphic fiberglass shell uses three cores to eliminate interior column.A spiral ramp connects diverse galleries, a planetarium and outdoor education spacesEver wonder what it feels like to step inside a silver cloud hovering above a wetland? Designed by visionary architect Ma Yansong and his firm MAD Architects, the Hainan Science Museum creates exactly that floating illusion, having officially opened to the public in the tropical coastal city of Haikou, China.Developed between 2019 and 2026, the sprawling 46,528-square-meter complex recently concluded a highly successful four-month soft opening period that attracted over 350,000 visitors. The museum is commissioned by the Haikou Association for Science and Technology, the museum was conceived as a vital piece of civic infrastructure for local families, strategically located near more than 30 schools and kindergartens.Situated within a lush wetland environment, the museum's architecture blends its natural tropical context with modern technological innovation. The six-story building features a striking biomorphic form intended to resemble an "updraft," visually mimicking the upward movement of warm air from the Earth's surface.To achieve this fluid shape and combat the region's rainy climate, the exterior is clad in a silver shell composed of 843 Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) panels, which are equipped with open seams and water-guiding grooves for effective drainage. The ring-shaped structure is supported entirely by three concrete cores; this advanced engineering eliminates the need for columns on the exhibition floors and creates the striking visual illusion that the entire museum is effortlessly floating above the surrounding reflecting pools and sunken plazas.Inside, the museum offers a deeply immersive and thoughtfully choreographed visitor experience. At the heart of the building is a continuous spiral ramp that ascends like a twisting DNA strand, connecting the ground floor to the sixth level while being bathed in natural light from a central glass dome. This winding layout links all the main exhibition spaces, which feature offshoot galleries dedicated to subjects ranging from marine ecosystems and life sciences to aerospace technology.The expansive facility is also equipped with a planetarium, a giant-screen cinema and interactive learning areas tailored to visitors of all ages. Beyond the interior, the museum extends its programming into the landscape with outdoor education spaces focused on plant science and tropical agriculture, fully realizing MAD Architects' vision of a harmonious intersection between nature and the future.Hainan Science Museum8QF+RXV, Binhai Blvd, Longhua District,Haikou, Hainan, China, 570101

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

]]> Thu, 14 May 2026 12:58:29 +0000 https://hypebeast.com/2026/5/mad-architects-ma-yansong-floating-science-museum-haikou-china https://hypebeast.com/?post=6720775 info@hypebeast.com (Hypebeast)

Summary

• MAD Architects’ Hainan Science Museum is now open in Haikou
• Its floating, biomorphic fiberglass shell uses three cores to eliminate interior column.
• A spiral ramp connects diverse galleries, a planetarium and outdoor education spaces

Ever wonder what it feels like to step inside a silver cloud hovering above a wetland? Designed by visionary architect Ma Yansong and his firm MAD Architects, the Hainan Science Museum creates exactly that floating illusion, having officially opened to the public in the tropical coastal city of Haikou, China.

Developed between 2019 and 2026, the sprawling 46,528-square-meter complex recently concluded a highly successful four-month soft opening period that attracted over 350,000 visitors. The museum is commissioned by the Haikou Association for Science and Technology, the museum was conceived as a vital piece of civic infrastructure for local families, strategically located near more than 30 schools and kindergartens.

Situated within a lush wetland environment, the museum's architecture blends its natural tropical context with modern technological innovation. The six-story building features a striking biomorphic form intended to resemble an "updraft," visually mimicking the upward movement of warm air from the Earth's surface.

To achieve this fluid shape and combat the region's rainy climate, the exterior is clad in a silver shell composed of 843 Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) panels, which are equipped with open seams and water-guiding grooves for effective drainage. The ring-shaped structure is supported entirely by three concrete cores; this advanced engineering eliminates the need for columns on the exhibition floors and creates the striking visual illusion that the entire museum is effortlessly floating above the surrounding reflecting pools and sunken plazas.

Inside, the museum offers a deeply immersive and thoughtfully choreographed visitor experience. At the heart of the building is a continuous spiral ramp that ascends like a twisting DNA strand, connecting the ground floor to the sixth level while being bathed in natural light from a central glass dome. This winding layout links all the main exhibition spaces, which feature offshoot galleries dedicated to subjects ranging from marine ecosystems and life sciences to aerospace technology.

The expansive facility is also equipped with a planetarium, a giant-screen cinema and interactive learning areas tailored to visitors of all ages. Beyond the interior, the museum extends its programming into the landscape with outdoor education spaces focused on plant science and tropical agriculture, fully realizing MAD Architects' vision of a harmonious intersection between nature and the future.

Hainan Science Museum
8QF+RXV, Binhai Blvd, Longhua District,
Haikou, Hainan, China, 570101

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

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SummaryIKEA unveils the PS 2026 “Playful Functionality” Collection, its tenth PS line spotlighting 44 pieces by 12 designersHighlights include an inflatable chair, rocking bench, flexible lamp, sofa‑bed and whimsical decorLaunches in stores today and online starting May 22, 2026IKEA has unveiled its PS 2026 “Playful Functionality” Collection, its tenth signature PS line and first since 2017. The 44‑piece range, developed by 12 designers, emphasizes joy and interaction while maintaining the brand’s principles of Democratic Design — form, function, quality, sustainability and affordability.Standout pieces that prioritize interaction and discovery, such as Mikael Axelsson’s inflatable easy chair, which updates the '90s trend with a sturdy metal frame and a textile cover to provide the support of a traditional armchair. Other highlights include Lex Pott’s flexible floor uplighter, a cylindrical metal lamp that can be reconfigured by the user, and Marta Krupińska’s solid pine rocking bench. The range also explores master craftsmanship with Friso Wiersma’s boatbuilder-inspired storage pieces and a high-comfort sofa-bed by Ola Wihlborg that utilizes pocket springs to ensure a premium sleep experience.The collection caters to small spaces and modern living, with products designed to invite interaction and surprise — ranging from foldable tables and chairs to rolling trolleys and cable‑hiding bedside tables. Prices span under £2.50 GBP (approx $3 USD) for wall decorations to £550 GBP (approx. $715 USD) for the sofa‑bed, the PS 2026 collection releases in UK stores on May 14, 2026, and online from May 22, 2026.

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

]]> Thu, 14 May 2026 10:08:48 +0000 https://hypebeast.com/2026/5/ikea-ps-2026-playful-functionality-collection-release-info https://hypebeast.com/?post=6720626 info@hypebeast.com (Hypebeast)

Summary

• IKEA unveils the PS 2026 “Playful Functionality” Collection, its tenth PS line spotlighting 44 pieces by 12 designers
• Highlights include an inflatable chair, rocking bench, flexible lamp, sofa‑bed and whimsical decor
• Launches in stores today and online starting May 22, 2026

IKEA has unveiled its PS 2026 “Playful Functionality” Collection, its tenth signature PS line and first since 2017. The 44‑piece range, developed by 12 designers, emphasizes joy and interaction while maintaining the brand’s principles of Democratic Design — form, function, quality, sustainability and affordability.

Standout pieces that prioritize interaction and discovery, such as Mikael Axelsson’s inflatable easy chair, which updates the '90s trend with a sturdy metal frame and a textile cover to provide the support of a traditional armchair. Other highlights include Lex Pott’s flexible floor uplighter, a cylindrical metal lamp that can be reconfigured by the user, and Marta Krupińska’s solid pine rocking bench. The range also explores master craftsmanship with Friso Wiersma’s boatbuilder-inspired storage pieces and a high-comfort sofa-bed by Ola Wihlborg that utilizes pocket springs to ensure a premium sleep experience.

The collection caters to small spaces and modern living, with products designed to invite interaction and surprise — ranging from foldable tables and chairs to rolling trolleys and cable‑hiding bedside tables. Prices span under £2.50 GBP (approx $3 USD) for wall decorations to £550 GBP (approx. $715 USD) for the sofa‑bed, the PS 2026 collection releases in UK stores on May 14, 2026, and online from May 22, 2026.

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

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SummaryFocus Focus is a 70-square-meter Marseille optical store blending eyewear, architectural design and immersive soundArchitects Margaux Fritz and Lucie Toussaint created a fluid, sensory environment for avant-garde curationMatthieu Astruc selects rare, forward-thinking brandsLocated in the heart of Marseille, Focus Focus is an independent optical store conceived as an immersive environment where design, optics, and sound converge. Designed by local architects Margaux Fritz and Lucie Toussaint, the 70‑square‑meter space balances architectural precision with fluidity, creating a setting that feels both structured and sensory. The interior emphasizes clarity while inviting intuitive engagement, positioning the store as more than a retail space — it is an experience that redefines how eyewear is presented and perceived.Founder Matthieu Astruc curates a sharp selection of rare and forward‑thinking eyewear brands, including Vada, Port Tanger, Paloceras, and Kaci, alongside established houses such as Bottega Veneta. Many of these labels are difficult to find elsewhere in Marseille, and in some cases even in France, making Focus Focus a destination for discerning customers seeking exclusivity. This curated approach underscores the store’s identity as a cultural hub, where eyewear is treated as both functional object and design statement.Sound plays a defining role in the environment, with a system designed by Mateo Garcia that acts as an integral part of the store rather than a backdrop. The audio shifts throughout the day, giving the space a rhythm and pulse that enhances its immersive quality. At a time when retail spaces often feel standardized, Focus Focus distinguishes itself with a clear point of view — rooted in Marseille’s local context yet resonating with broader conversations in design, lifestyle, and culture.

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

]]> Wed, 13 May 2026 09:40:45 +0000 https://hypebeast.com/2026/5/margaux-fritz-lucie-toussaint-focus-focus-marseille-france https://hypebeast.com/?post=6719909 info@hypebeast.com (Hypebeast)

Summary

• Focus Focus is a 70-square-meter Marseille optical store blending eyewear, architectural design and immersive sound
• Architects Margaux Fritz and Lucie Toussaint created a fluid, sensory environment for avant-garde curation
• Matthieu Astruc selects rare, forward-thinking brands

Located in the heart of Marseille, Focus Focus is an independent optical store conceived as an immersive environment where design, optics, and sound converge. Designed by local architects Margaux Fritz and Lucie Toussaint, the 70‑square‑meter space balances architectural precision with fluidity, creating a setting that feels both structured and sensory. The interior emphasizes clarity while inviting intuitive engagement, positioning the store as more than a retail space — it is an experience that redefines how eyewear is presented and perceived.

Founder Matthieu Astruc curates a sharp selection of rare and forward‑thinking eyewear brands, including Vada, Port Tanger, Paloceras, and Kaci, alongside established houses such as Bottega Veneta. Many of these labels are difficult to find elsewhere in Marseille, and in some cases even in France, making Focus Focus a destination for discerning customers seeking exclusivity. This curated approach underscores the store’s identity as a cultural hub, where eyewear is treated as both functional object and design statement.

Sound plays a defining role in the environment, with a system designed by Mateo Garcia that acts as an integral part of the store rather than a backdrop. The audio shifts throughout the day, giving the space a rhythm and pulse that enhances its immersive quality. At a time when retail spaces often feel standardized, Focus Focus distinguishes itself with a clear point of view — rooted in Marseille’s local context yet resonating with broader conversations in design, lifestyle, and culture.

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

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SummaryThe United States Mint is releasing a new $1 USD coin honoring Apple co-founder Steve Jobs as California's representative in the American Innovation $1 Coin Program, featuring a reverse design of a young Jobs in a reflective pose against a Northern California landscapeAvailable for public sale starting May 12, 2026, the collectible coins are offered in 100-coin bags for $154.50 and 25-coin rolls for $61.00 from both the Philadelphia and Denver minting facilitiesThe design includes the inscription "Make Something Wonderful" and follows other 2026 releases honoring Dr. Norman Borlaug, the Cray-1 supercomputer, and the development of mobile refrigerationThe United States Mint is officially cementing Steve Jobs into American numismatic history. Acting as California's representative for the 2026 American Innovation $1 Coin Program, the Apple co-founder graces the reverse side of a newly minted dollar piece. The design captures a youthful Jobs in a moment of quiet reflection, set against the rolling, oak-covered hills of Northern California. It operates as a fitting visual for a figure who consistently sought to bridge organic intuition with complex technology, fundamentally transforming the way modern society communicates.Releasing to the public on May 12, the collectible currency highlights the tech icon alongside the engraved phrase "Make Something Wonderful." This specific inscription nods directly to an internal employee meeting held on October 23, 2007, where Jobs encouraged his team to express their appreciation for humanity by creating exceptional products. Mint Director Paul Hollis noted that the release formally honors the CEO’s global impact and undisputed importance to California’s entrepreneurial legacy. Production numbers remain highly exclusive, with exactly 25,950 total units manufactured for the general public.Collectors and tech enthusiasts looking to secure a piece of this monetary tribute can purchase the coins directly through official government channels. Buyers can select between 100-coin bags priced at $154.50 USD or 25-coin rolls set at $61.00 USD, struck at either the Philadelphia or Denver facilities. Purchasing limits are strictly capped at 10 items per household to prevent rapid aftermarket buyouts. Each coin’s obverse side unifies the 2026 collection with a classic Statue of Liberty profile, accompanied by a special Liberty Bell and "250" privy mark celebrating America’s Semiquincentennial.Jobs’ inclusion in the multi-year series places him alongside a curated roster of historical heavyweights shaping the nation's progress. The program, which began in 2018, dedicates a dollar coin to pioneering achievements from each of the 50 states, territories, and the District of Columbia. For the 2026 cycle, California's tech-forward tribute drops alongside Iowa’s nod to Nobel Peace Prize-winning agricultural scientist Dr. Norman Borlaug, Wisconsin’s homage to the circular Cray-1 supercomputer, and Minnesota’s celebration of early mobile refrigeration. Together, the collection transforms everyday pocket change into a striking timeline of national ingenuity.

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

]]> Tue, 12 May 2026 07:10:43 +0000 https://hypebeast.com/2026/5/steve-jobs-1-coin-joins-2026-american-innovation-line https://hypebeast.com/?post=6719037 info@hypebeast.com (Hypebeast)

Summary

• The United States Mint is releasing a new $1 USD coin honoring Apple co-founder Steve Jobs as California's representative in the American Innovation $1 Coin Program, featuring a reverse design of a young Jobs in a reflective pose against a Northern California landscape
• Available for public sale starting May 12, 2026, the collectible coins are offered in 100-coin bags for $154.50 and 25-coin rolls for $61.00 from both the Philadelphia and Denver minting facilities
• The design includes the inscription "Make Something Wonderful" and follows other 2026 releases honoring Dr. Norman Borlaug, the Cray-1 supercomputer, and the development of mobile refrigeration

The United States Mint is officially cementing Steve Jobs into American numismatic history. Acting as California's representative for the 2026 American Innovation $1 Coin Program, the Apple co-founder graces the reverse side of a newly minted dollar piece. The design captures a youthful Jobs in a moment of quiet reflection, set against the rolling, oak-covered hills of Northern California. It operates as a fitting visual for a figure who consistently sought to bridge organic intuition with complex technology, fundamentally transforming the way modern society communicates.

Releasing to the public on May 12, the collectible currency highlights the tech icon alongside the engraved phrase "Make Something Wonderful." This specific inscription nods directly to an internal employee meeting held on October 23, 2007, where Jobs encouraged his team to express their appreciation for humanity by creating exceptional products. Mint Director Paul Hollis noted that the release formally honors the CEO’s global impact and undisputed importance to California’s entrepreneurial legacy. Production numbers remain highly exclusive, with exactly 25,950 total units manufactured for the general public.

Collectors and tech enthusiasts looking to secure a piece of this monetary tribute can purchase the coins directly through official government channels. Buyers can select between 100-coin bags priced at $154.50 USD or 25-coin rolls set at $61.00 USD, struck at either the Philadelphia or Denver facilities. Purchasing limits are strictly capped at 10 items per household to prevent rapid aftermarket buyouts. Each coin’s obverse side unifies the 2026 collection with a classic Statue of Liberty profile, accompanied by a special Liberty Bell and "250" privy mark celebrating America’s Semiquincentennial.

Jobs’ inclusion in the multi-year series places him alongside a curated roster of historical heavyweights shaping the nation's progress. The program, which began in 2018, dedicates a dollar coin to pioneering achievements from each of the 50 states, territories, and the District of Columbia. For the 2026 cycle, California's tech-forward tribute drops alongside Iowa’s nod to Nobel Peace Prize-winning agricultural scientist Dr. Norman Borlaug, Wisconsin’s homage to the circular Cray-1 supercomputer, and Minnesota’s celebration of early mobile refrigeration. Together, the collection transforms everyday pocket change into a striking timeline of national ingenuity.

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

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SUMMARYA Ma Maniére's latest flagship serves as a permanent cultural landmark in Atlanta’s historic Old Fourth Ward neighborhoodArchitectural design splits the facade between a historic Edgewood Avenue sensibility and a modern Boulevard-facing progressionThe interior programming integrates the "Maison" retail experience with specialized "Living Suites" and high-concept hospitality zonesA Ma Maniére has officially unveiled its most ambitious physical footprint to date: a 23,000-square-foot flagship located on Edgewood Avenue in Atlanta. Situated in the heart of the Old Fourth Ward, the expansive development marks a significant shift from traditional boutique retail toward a fully integrated cultural ecosystem, housing the brand’s "Maison" retail concept, luxury "Living Suites" and a dedicated culinary program.The structure is defined by a deliberate architectural tension intended to reflect the neighborhood's evolution and Black cultural history. On the Edgewood Avenue side, the building maintains a historic sensibility, preserving the original textures and rhythms of the local landscape. This transitions into a Boulevard-facing exterior that utilizes a modern architectural language, creating a visual dialogue between Atlanta’s heritage and its future trajectory.Internally, the programming is segmented into distinct sensory environments. The retail floor, dubbed A Ma Maniére “Maison,” adopts the structural logic of a high-fashion house, prioritizing curated atmospheres over traditional commerce layouts. Above the retail floor, the "Living Suites" offer a hospitality component where each room — named The Morrison, The Hurston, The Baldwin, The Simone and The King — serves as a technical study in luxury living, designed to immerse guests in a specific cultural aesthetic.

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

]]> Mon, 11 May 2026 16:07:37 +0000 https://hypebeast.com/2026/5/a-ma-maniere-atlanta-flagship-edgewood-avenue https://hypebeast.com/?post=6718141 info@hypebeast.com (Hypebeast)

SUMMARY

• A Ma Maniére's latest flagship serves as a permanent cultural landmark in Atlanta’s historic Old Fourth Ward neighborhood
• Architectural design splits the facade between a historic Edgewood Avenue sensibility and a modern Boulevard-facing progression
• The interior programming integrates the "Maison" retail experience with specialized "Living Suites" and high-concept hospitality zones

A Ma Maniére has officially unveiled its most ambitious physical footprint to date: a 23,000-square-foot flagship located on Edgewood Avenue in Atlanta. Situated in the heart of the Old Fourth Ward, the expansive development marks a significant shift from traditional boutique retail toward a fully integrated cultural ecosystem, housing the brand’s "Maison" retail concept, luxury "Living Suites" and a dedicated culinary program.

The structure is defined by a deliberate architectural tension intended to reflect the neighborhood's evolution and Black cultural history. On the Edgewood Avenue side, the building maintains a historic sensibility, preserving the original textures and rhythms of the local landscape. This transitions into a Boulevard-facing exterior that utilizes a modern architectural language, creating a visual dialogue between Atlanta’s heritage and its future trajectory.

Internally, the programming is segmented into distinct sensory environments. The retail floor, dubbed A Ma Maniére “Maison,” adopts the structural logic of a high-fashion house, prioritizing curated atmospheres over traditional commerce layouts. Above the retail floor, the "Living Suites" offer a hospitality component where each room — named The Morrison, The Hurston, The Baldwin, The Simone and The King — serves as a technical study in luxury living, designed to immerse guests in a specific cultural aesthetic.

The facility’s secondary zones include "The Galerie" and "The Reserve." The former is a dedicated space for gathering and exchange, focused on atmospheric presence rather than transaction. "The Reserve" anchors the building’s hospitality wing, functioning as a culinary ecosystem that integrates food and beverage into the brand's wider retail philosophy. Every square foot of the 23,000-square-foot layout is engineered to engage sight, sound and taste, moving away from the isolated boutique model toward a total-environment flagship.

A Ma Maniére Atlanta
479 Edgewood Ave
Atlanta, GA 30312

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SummaryThe Eames Houses exhibition at Triennale Milano debuted the Eames Pavilion System, a modular, prefabricated architecture conceptFull‑scale pavilion installations and archival materials showcased Charles and Ray’s architectural legacyAccompanied by Phaidon’s sourcebook, reinforcing architecture as central to the Eames visionPresented during Milan Design Week 2026, the Eames Office unveiled The Eames Houses at the Triennale Milano, an expansive 800-square-meter exhibition that reexamines the architectural legacy of Charles and Ray Eames. Grounded in extensive archival research, the showcase places full-scale, walk-in installations alongside a wealth of previously unseen drawings, models, and studies from the Eames Office Archive. The initiative marks a significant effort to shift public perception of the Eameses' work from purely furniture design to a foundational systemic architectural thinking that views buildings not as static objects, but as flexible backgrounds for life.A central highlight of the exhibition is the global debut of the Eames Pavilion System, a modular construction kit developed in partnership with the Barcelona-based manufacturer Kettal. Translating the designers' 1940s and 1950s architectural principles into a contemporary engineered product, the system utilizes a rational grid and repeatable structural modules to maximize volume within a small footprint.Designed for adaptability, the system supports configurations ranging from compact 16‑square‑meter pavilions to two‑story houses, with applications across residential, hospitality, workplace, and exhibition contexts. Its use of recyclable aluminum, engineered decking, bioclimatic roofs, and integrated lighting reflects both sustainability and technological innovation, while remaining unmistakably Eames in spirit.Coinciding with the exhibition, a namesake sourcebook published by Phaidon was released, further establishing Charles and Ray’s vision for modular, prefabricated living as a living expression of their design values. Authored by Eckart Maise with contributions from Catherine Ince and forewords by Norman Foster and Eames Demetrios, the book documents built and unbuilt projects from 1945 to 1954, situating architecture as a continuous thread in the Eames legacy.

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

]]> Mon, 11 May 2026 09:54:08 +0000 https://hypebeast.com/2026/5/the-eames-houses-exhibition-eames-pavilion-system-debut-triennale-milano https://hypebeast.com/?post=6718583 info@hypebeast.com (Hypebeast)

Summary

• The Eames Houses exhibition at Triennale Milano debuted the Eames Pavilion System, a modular, prefabricated architecture concept
• Full‑scale pavilion installations and archival materials showcased Charles and Ray’s architectural legacy
• Accompanied by Phaidon’s sourcebook, reinforcing architecture as central to the Eames vision

Presented during Milan Design Week 2026, the Eames Office unveiled The Eames Houses at the Triennale Milano, an expansive 800-square-meter exhibition that reexamines the architectural legacy of Charles and Ray Eames. Grounded in extensive archival research, the showcase places full-scale, walk-in installations alongside a wealth of previously unseen drawings, models, and studies from the Eames Office Archive. The initiative marks a significant effort to shift public perception of the Eameses' work from purely furniture design to a foundational systemic architectural thinking that views buildings not as static objects, but as flexible backgrounds for life.

A central highlight of the exhibition is the global debut of the Eames Pavilion System, a modular construction kit developed in partnership with the Barcelona-based manufacturer Kettal. Translating the designers' 1940s and 1950s architectural principles into a contemporary engineered product, the system utilizes a rational grid and repeatable structural modules to maximize volume within a small footprint.

Designed for adaptability, the system supports configurations ranging from compact 16‑square‑meter pavilions to two‑story houses, with applications across residential, hospitality, workplace, and exhibition contexts. Its use of recyclable aluminum, engineered decking, bioclimatic roofs, and integrated lighting reflects both sustainability and technological innovation, while remaining unmistakably Eames in spirit.

Coinciding with the exhibition, a namesake sourcebook published by Phaidon was released, further establishing Charles and Ray’s vision for modular, prefabricated living as a living expression of their design values. Authored by Eckart Maise with contributions from Catherine Ince and forewords by Norman Foster and Eames Demetrios, the book documents built and unbuilt projects from 1945 to 1954, situating architecture as a continuous thread in the Eames legacy.

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

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SummaryMuller Van Severen’s Silhouettes exhibition celebrated their 15th anniversary at Milan Design Week 2026Featured 15 aluminim candle holders, abstracting motifs from past worksHighlighted themes of reduction, balance, and material clarity, reaffirming their global design influenceMuller Van Severen’s exhibition Silhouettes: Celebrating 15 Years, presented by Apartamento and Tim Van Laere Gallery, took place during Milan Design Week 2026 at Ordet. The show marked the Belgian design duo’s fifteenth anniversary by reinterpreting their signature forms into abstract, life‑size candle holders. Rather than a retrospective, the exhibition served as a celebratory pause, reaffirming their internationally recognized voice in contemporary design.The presentation featured 15 aluminium candle holders, each abstractly referencing recurring motifs from Muller Van Severen’s past works — chairs, cabinets, lamps, vases, and sculptural structures. By reducing these archetypes to silhouettes, the duo explored the tension between recognition and abstraction. Each piece was crowned with a large colored candle, introducing a temporal dimension as the wax slowly burned, transforming the static forms into evolving compositions.Within the context of Salone del Mobile, Silhouettes highlighted Muller Van Severen’s ongoing exploration of reduction, balance, and material clarity, while celebrating fifteen years of collaboration and influence in the global design landscape.

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

]]> Fri, 08 May 2026 11:50:29 +0000 https://hypebeast.com/2026/5/muller-van-severens-silhouettes-is-an-ode-to-15-years-of-innovation https://hypebeast.com/?post=6717973 info@hypebeast.com (Hypebeast)

Summary

• Muller Van Severen’s Silhouettes exhibition celebrated their 15th anniversary at Milan Design Week 2026
• Featured 15 aluminim candle holders, abstracting motifs from past works
• Highlighted themes of reduction, balance, and material clarity, reaffirming their global design influence

Muller Van Severen’s exhibition Silhouettes: Celebrating 15 Years, presented by Apartamento and Tim Van Laere Gallery, took place during Milan Design Week 2026 at Ordet. The show marked the Belgian design duo’s fifteenth anniversary by reinterpreting their signature forms into abstract, life‑size candle holders. Rather than a retrospective, the exhibition served as a celebratory pause, reaffirming their internationally recognized voice in contemporary design.

The presentation featured 15 aluminium candle holders, each abstractly referencing recurring motifs from Muller Van Severen’s past works — chairs, cabinets, lamps, vases, and sculptural structures. By reducing these archetypes to silhouettes, the duo explored the tension between recognition and abstraction. Each piece was crowned with a large colored candle, introducing a temporal dimension as the wax slowly burned, transforming the static forms into evolving compositions.

Within the context of Salone del Mobile, Silhouettes highlighted Muller Van Severen’s ongoing exploration of reduction, balance, and material clarity, while celebrating fifteen years of collaboration and influence in the global design landscape.

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

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In Milan this year, Andrea Branzi was the subject of two major shows. One at the city's Triennale museum, and the other, a presentation of his huge lighting sculptures in a smaller gallery setting.Since the Italian architect and designer passed away in 2023, there seems to have been an industry-wide reflection on his impact. "He was not afraid to change his mind during his career," says Deyan Sudjic, the curator behind "Objects That Speak, a Conversation Continued with Andrea Branzi" show. "He was able to work in an industrial context, as well as in the world of fashion."And while Branzi was born in the 1930s, this ability to cross boundaries has never been more relevant. Design weeks are no longer defined by furniture launches, and are instead a melting pot of disciplines all using design as a vehicle for communication. This is the very reason that Rosewood, the organiser of the exhibition, chose to show up during this cultural moment. “Local culture and history are the heartbeat of our design process,” said Trish Luyckx, Chief Design Officer at Rosewood. “They guide us in every decision, from the materials we select to the narratives we weave into the space.Paying homage to Branzi's ability to genre-bend, the show paired his works alongside contermporary artists and designers. Inside the dark-hued space, 15 of his domed lamps towered above the ground, each with their own pattern and texture made visible from the light source within. They speak to a more artistic form of design, which, according to Sudjic, is typical of his work. "Branzi moved beyond the conventional view of design as purely functional; for him, it was just as much about posing questions as it was about providing answers," he added. "He was able to explore the way that we work and live, and the emotional connection that we have with our possessions."Meanwhile, over at the Triennale, the "Andrea Branzi by Toyo Ito. Continuous Present" shows his work through the lens of the Japanese architect. Bringing together over 400 works, the show is split into themes rather than in a chronological order, paying homage to Branzi as a thinker and academic. "The era in which Andrea Branzi lived was the golden age of Italian design. It was a time when star architects and designers such as Marco Zanuso, Ettore Sottsass, Vico Magistretti, Gae Aulenti, Alessandro Mendini, and Achille Castiglioni were at the height of their careers," said Ito. "Among that constellation, Andrea alone was more of a thinker than an architect or designer," he continued. "I think he felt the practice of designing actual buildings or furnishings was nothing but a vain attempt. As a result, he never engaged in a design project for design’s sake throughout his entire life."At a time when everything feels fleeting, and creativity often feels to exist for the sake of the algorithim, Branzi's way of thinking perhaps allows fledgling designers to see a different way of working. Beyond those making work themselves, it might also encourage design fans to look beyond the aesthetic of an object, and choose to engage with something because of the method or message behind it. At least thats what Sudjic thinks makes him someone for us all to know. "Branzi maintained a deep curiosity and a resistance to accepting received wisdom, qualities that continue to resonate strongly with new generations," he says. "Objects That Speak" took place during Milan Design Week, while "Andrea Branzi by Toyo Ito". Continuous Present continues until October 4th.

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

]]> Thu, 07 May 2026 15:04:47 +0000 https://hypebeast.com/2026/5/andrea-branzi-rosewood-triennale-milan-design-week https://hypebeast.com/?post=6713400 info@hypebeast.com (Hypebeast)

In Milan this year, Andrea Branzi was the subject of two major shows. One at the city's Triennale museum, and the other, a presentation of his huge lighting sculptures in a smaller gallery setting.

Since the Italian architect and designer passed away in 2023, there seems to have been an industry-wide reflection on his impact. "He was not afraid to change his mind during his career," says Deyan Sudjic, the curator behind "Objects That Speak, a Conversation Continued with Andrea Branzi" show. "He was able to work in an industrial context, as well as in the world of fashion."

And while Branzi was born in the 1930s, this ability to cross boundaries has never been more relevant. Design weeks are no longer defined by furniture launches, and are instead a melting pot of disciplines all using design as a vehicle for communication.

This is the very reason that Rosewood, the organiser of the exhibition, chose to show up during this cultural moment. “Local culture and history are the heartbeat of our design process,” said Trish Luyckx, Chief Design Officer at Rosewood. “They guide us in every decision, from the materials we select to the narratives we weave into the space.

Paying homage to Branzi's ability to genre-bend, the show paired his works alongside contermporary artists and designers.

Inside the dark-hued space, 15 of his domed lamps towered above the ground, each with their own pattern and texture made visible from the light source within. They speak to a more artistic form of design, which, according to Sudjic, is typical of his work. "Branzi moved beyond the conventional view of design as purely functional; for him, it was just as much about posing questions as it was about providing answers," he added. "He was able to explore the way that we work and live, and the emotional connection that we have with our possessions."

Meanwhile, over at the Triennale, the "Andrea Branzi by Toyo Ito. Continuous Present" shows his work through the lens of the Japanese architect.

Bringing together over 400 works, the show is split into themes rather than in a chronological order, paying homage to Branzi as a thinker and academic.

"The era in which Andrea Branzi lived was the golden age of Italian design. It was a time when star architects and designers such as Marco Zanuso, Ettore Sottsass, Vico Magistretti, Gae Aulenti, Alessandro Mendini, and Achille Castiglioni were at the height of their careers," said Ito.

"Among that constellation, Andrea alone was more of a thinker than an architect or designer," he continued. "I think he felt the practice of designing actual buildings or furnishings was nothing but a vain attempt. As a result, he never engaged in a design project for design’s sake throughout his entire life."

At a time when everything feels fleeting, and creativity often feels to exist for the sake of the algorithim, Branzi's way of thinking perhaps allows fledgling designers to see a different way of working. Beyond those making work themselves, it might also encourage design fans to look beyond the aesthetic of an object, and choose to engage with something because of the method or message behind it.

At least thats what Sudjic thinks makes him someone for us all to know.

"Branzi maintained a deep curiosity and a resistance to accepting received wisdom, qualities that continue to resonate strongly with new generations," he says.

"Objects That Speak" took place during Milan Design Week, while "Andrea Branzi by Toyo Ito". Continuous Present continues until October 4th.

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

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