Hotel group Rosewood unveiled an installation centred on the work of late Italian designer Andrea Branzi during Milan design week, bringing together a series of his signature lamps alongside contemporary artworks.
Titled Objects that Speak, the exhibition marked the brand’s debut at the festival. The installation traced Rosewood’s approach to design through a focus on craft, identity and narrative, while paying tribute to Branzi’s legacy.
Curated in collaboration with Deyan Sudjic, the show centred on a collection of 15 limited-edition lamps designed by Branzi, displayed together for the first time.
Rising up to three metres tall, the pieces are made from materials including Japanese rice paper, Belgian bluestone, bamboo and maple leaves.
Arranged in a circular formation, the lamps emitted a soft glow intended to create what the organisers described as a “space for reflection amid the intensity of the city’s design week”.
The works were accompanied by two wall paintings by Branzi, also presented publicly for the first time.
Branzi, a key figure in Italy’s Radical Design movement and a founding member of Archizoom Association, was known for challenging conventions of mass production through the use of natural materials and handcrafted processes.
His approach sought to create “unrepeatable” objects, keen as he was to emphasise the individuality of the maker.
“Branzi was fascinated by ideas, and unusual in his ability to be both a designer and a theorist,” said Sudjic.
“He refused to take anything for granted and always looked to question, and to challenge, designs and their systems – a perspective needed now more than ever.”
“His signature lamps are a wonderful example of his passion for imperfection,” said Sudjic, who curated the show as an “intimate echo” to the Continuous Present retrospective exhibition currently at Triennale Milano.
Alongside the historical works, the exhibition included pieces by a group of contemporary designers and artists whose work has been commissioned for Rosewood properties worldwide.
These included the Kids Clock by Maarten Baas, a model of the Love Catcher by Jaime Hayon and a bronze bonsai sculpture by Marc Quinn.
The selection spanned a range of media, from sculptural objects to ceramics, and was intended to extend Branzi’s concept of “objects that speak” into a contemporary context.
According to the organisers, the works explore themes of culture, nature and society, reflecting on the evolving role of design.
“Local culture and history are the heartbeat of our design process,” said Rosewood chief design officer Trish Luyckx. “It’s about creating an authentic connection to the destination.”
The photography is by Daniel Delikatnyi.
Objects that Speak was on show at Via Carlo de Cristoforis 1 in Milan from 21 to 25 April 2026 as part of Milan design week. See Dezeen Events Guide for more architecture and design events around the world.
