FLOS Palazzo Visconti Showroom Installation by ARQUITECTURA-G

On the occasion of Milano Design Week 2024, FLOS commissioned ARQUITECTURA-G to create a site-specific lighting installation at the historic Palazzo Visconti, a celebrated example of Milanese Baroque architecture. The project was conceived to present three new designer lamp collections, each reflecting the unique identity of its creator while engaging with the rich architectural heritage of the palace.

The installation occupies the main floor of Palazzo Visconti, where the simplicity of the spatial layout is enhanced by characteristic Baroque features. Vaulted ceilings adorned with trompe-l'oeil frescoes, mirrored false doors, illusionary windows, and false balconies contribute to a sense of continuity and visual complexity, providing an immersive backdrop for the lighting pieces.

To respect the individuality of each designer’s collection while maintaining the experience of the hall as a cohesive whole, the architects introduced a large mirrored cross along the room’s axes of symmetry. This design strategy created four exhibition zones of equal size, generating the optical illusion that each designer occupies the entire hall. The mirrored configuration amplifies the palace’s innate sense of spatial wonder and enhances the perception of depth, allowing parts of the installation to visually “disappear” into the architecture itself.

Each quadrant of the hall seamlessly connects to an adjacent room: three quadrants display the non-suspended pieces from each collection, while the fourth serves as the entrance and circulation space. Visitors navigate the installation along the perimeter, guided by the palace’s existing doors, creating a continuous circular route that encourages exploration and engagement throughout the week-long event.

This project exemplifies a sensitive integration of contemporary design with historical architecture, blending innovative lighting design, immersive spatial experience, and Baroque grandeur into a single harmonious installation.

All Photographs are works of Maxime Delvaux