Architectural Cases

Milan Design Week 2026's Alcova exhibition revisits the historic Baggio Military Hospital in Milan, an evocative setting that highlights the interplay between past and present. The largely disused facility provides a unique backdrop for alternative design forms and experimental displays, with its original functions still discernible through spaces like the 'lavanderia' (laundry) and 'chiesa' (church). Weathered frescoes and aged tiles bear witness to the building's former life, emphasizing how each room once played a role in a broader daily system. This convergence of eras profoundly shapes how visitors perceive the exhibited objects, which range from serving practical needs to embodying aspirational fantasies.

The exhibition program at Alcova skillfully navigates this dynamic tension, showcasing projects that imbue objects with both functionality and artistic vision. Across the sprawling venue, various installations delve into these layered meanings. Some pieces convey a spiritual essence, while others evoke instinctive or domestic sentiments, yet all underscore the notion that design transcends mere form, embodying the desires it represents. Within this distinctive context, the 'dream' becomes tangible, woven into materials, shaped by practical application, and continuously reimagined by its surroundings. We delve into the creative minds behind these installations, where historical settings merge with forward-thinking design concepts.

Highlighting this blend of old and new, several notable projects captivated visitors. Leo Lague and VERSA created a spiritual atmosphere in the former church with fog, sound, and scent, aiming to evoke a meditative, heavenly experience. Xaver Kuster and Paul Canfora reimagined mundane public water fountains, seeking to restore their aesthetic value by experimenting with form and material. Slalom, V.A.I., and Studiolatte collaborated on an acoustic installation, merging retro synthesizers with contemporary design, emphasizing the irreplaceable sound produced by original instruments. Sten Studio presented 'The Wedding,' an anthropomorphic display of lamps and furniture creating a romantic scene in an abandoned chapel. Caveat established a micro-factory demonstrating spoon production from metal, demystifying large-scale manufacturing processes. Studio Do showcased 'Within The Ruins,' a collection of works crafted from discarded marble, transforming remnants of old domestic structures into new art. Pani Jurek Studio installed colorful ceramic tiles, drawing inspiration from Eastern European public ceramics of the 1950s and 60s, reinterpreting historical aesthetics. Finally, HEAD – Geneva presented designs that challenged anthropocentric views, offering functional and edible creations for non-human inhabitants like rats, birds, and squirrels, capturing their interactions on film. Natalia Triantafylli and Andrew Pierce Scott explored the concept of 'potpourri furniture,' creating pieces that echo memories of antique homes with exaggerated proportions and visible craftsmanship, deliberately retaining the handmade quality of ceramics to honor the past while embracing the contemporary.

These installations collectively highlight the transformative power of design to bridge historical narratives with modern artistic expression. By recontextualizing everyday objects and spaces, designers at Alcova invite viewers to reconsider functionality, aesthetics, and the emotional resonance of material culture. The event celebrates innovation while honoring heritage, fostering a dialogue between different eras and encouraging a deeper appreciation for the stories embedded within our designed environment.

Ulf Mejergren Architects (UMA) has unveiled an inventive Spruce Bark Hut in Grödinge, Sweden, a structure born from the ecological impact of the spruce bark beetle. This architectural endeavor reimagines the remnants of damaged forests, converting loose bark—typically a byproduct of decay—into a primary building material. The project draws inspiration from natural processes, particularly the way ants construct their homes, by building around a living spruce tree that acts as the central support. This method not only offers a novel approach to sustainable construction but also highlights the potential for creative reuse in response to environmental challenges, fostering a dialogue between destructive natural phenomena and constructive human intervention.

This innovative design by UMA emphasizes a harmonious integration with nature, transforming beetle-damaged spruce bark into a functional and aesthetically compelling shelter. The structure's genesis is deeply rooted in observing two distinct natural influences: the destructive path of the spruce bark beetle, which loosens and sheds bark, and the constructive accumulation methods observed in ant colonies. By framing the hut around a living spruce trunk, UMA creates a minimal yet impactful dwelling that celebrates natural materials and processes. The resulting space offers a tranquil retreat within the forest, embodying a philosophy of resilience and repurposing in the face of ecological change.

Transforming Decay into Design: The Spruce Bark Hut's Genesis

Ulf Mejergren Architects (UMA) embarked on a pioneering project in Grödinge, Sweden, to construct the Spruce Bark Hut. This endeavor uniquely utilizes spruce bark gathered from forests severely impacted by the spruce bark beetle. In recent times, vast expanses of spruce forests have suffered considerable damage or outright destruction due to the proliferation of these insects, leading to the loosening and detachment of bark from the trees. What typically signifies ecological decline is here ingeniously transformed into the foundational element for construction. The project's conception is influenced by a duality found in nature: the beetle, which acts as a force of destruction, and the ant, symbolizing diligent construction through accumulation. This symbiotic relationship guides the hut's formation, using the living tree as a structural anchor and progressively building the shelter around it.

The Spruce Bark Hut stands as a testament to adaptive architecture, leveraging a natural resource made abundant by environmental circumstances. The design philosophy of UMA for this project was to interpret the spruce bark beetle's impact not as an ending, but as a new beginning for material reuse. The extensive damage caused by the beetles provides an unexpected surplus of material—bark—that would otherwise go to waste. UMA's approach echoes the meticulous building techniques of ants, which construct complex structures by aggregating small elements around a central core. By drawing parallels between these natural phenomena, the architects have crafted a structure that is both innovative and deeply connected to its environment, showcasing how natural cycles, even those of decay, can inspire sustainable architectural solutions.

Architectural Ingenuity: Crafting a Shelter from Natural Elements

The structure, meticulously designed by Ulf Mejergren Architects (UMA), is built around a living spruce tree, which serves as the primary support column. A light timber framework, complemented by masonite boards, forms a secondary skeleton. This innovative system enables the spruce bark to be applied in layers, securely fastened with a staple gun and a screwdriver. Unlike the dense bark of pine, spruce bark possesses a delicate, almost paper-thin consistency, allowing it to be flexibly folded, overlapped, and molded to the hut's contours. This unique characteristic results in a soft, permeable enclosure, creating a distinct aesthetic. The hut's design evokes the form of a tent, encompassing a snug interior accessible through a narrow opening. Within, it functions as a basic refuge, offering a serene spot to immerse oneself in the surrounding forest, akin to residing within the very core of the tree, enveloped by its natural sheath. The structure subtly blends with the natural arboreal landscape while asserting a singular, almost mystical presence.

The construction methodology for the Spruce Bark Hut highlights a profound understanding of natural materials and their inherent properties. The choice to utilize spruce bark, particularly its thin, flexible nature, was central to UMA's design, differentiating it from more conventional building materials. This flexibility allowed for an organic, layered application, creating a textured surface that responds to the environment. The hut's interior is deliberately minimalist, designed to enhance the connection between occupant and nature. It serves as a contemplative space, inviting visitors to observe the forest from a unique vantage point—from within a structure that feels like an extension of the trees themselves. The architectural form, while distinct, is not disruptive; instead, it offers a harmonious addition to the landscape, demonstrating how thoughtful design can transform readily available natural resources into meaningful and beautiful spaces that respect and celebrate their origins.