USM’s classic Haller storage system forms the framework for a “breathing” textile membrane that cocoons visitors to this Milan design week installation, developed in collaboration with architecture studio Snøhetta and artist Annabelle Schneider.
The Swiss furniture brand partnered with Snøhetta and Schneider to create the multi-sensory Renaissance of the Real installation, which invites visitors to step away from the digital realm.
USM’s Renaissance of the Real installation was designed by Snøhetta and Annabelle Schneider
Snøhetta used the storage system to construct a rigid architectural skeleton around Schneider’s soft, textile membrane, which is inflated using a system of fans. This causes it to gently expand and contract like a breathing organism in a bid to promote a sense of calm and relaxation.
Hosted in the garden of the Fondazione Luigi Rovati museum, the installation is the latest iteration of Schneider’s exploration into transformative spaces designed to evoke comfort, belonging and well-being.
It consists of a cloud-like “breathing” membrane
“Renaissance of the Real is my response to a moment where reality is increasingly dominated by speed and images,” the artist explained.
“Instead of producing another product, this installation is an immersive permission – a place where the structural clarity of USM Haller holds a breathing environment that invites us to reconnect with our bodies and each other.”
The membrane is held up by USM’s Haller storage system
The structure for the installation is constructed entirely using USM’s Haller storage system, which is customisable using a combination of tubes, ball-shaped connectors and a range of panels, doors and drawers.
“The USM grid is both an anchor and an invitation,” said Snøhetta’s director for interior architecture, Anne-Rachel Schiffmann.
“Our design explores the tension between the gridded and the amorphous, creating a permeable boundary that filters the outside world and draws attention inward to light, nature and the quiet presence of others.”
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The interior contrasts the geometric precision of USM’s units with Schneider’s amorphous Bubble pillows, which are playfully stacked or draped over the furniture to create a casual seating environment.
Artist and audio engineer Devon Turnbull, also known as OJAS, will host daily vinyl listening sessions within the space.
Sunlight streams in through the permeable white walls
New York-based Schneider previously developed an installation called Breathe With Me, which debuted at NYCxDesign and featured a similar womb-like atmosphere.
Snøhetta is a global, transdisciplinary practice that often works with brands on projects aimed at connecting architecture with landscape and human experience.
The installation is housed in the courtyard of the Fondazione Luigi Rovati museum
The studio recently completed a theatre in Australia featuring an undulating glass facade and designed a metro station in Saudi Arabia that is topped with a curving mirrored canopy.
Elsewhere at Milan design week, skincare brand Aesop presented an installation featuring its first-ever lighting designs, while IKEA invited designers and chefs to create a series of food-focused domestic spaces.