The 16th edition of Brera Design Week has come to a close, once again confirming the district as a benchmark for design excellence and the most visited by professionals and design lovers alike.
With record-breaking numbers and a vibrant atmosphere, Design Week brought Brera to life with events hosted in historic buildings, unexpected venues, and permanent showrooms. The theme of Fuorisalone 2025 “Connected Worlds” was also embraced by the Brera district, becoming a key narrative for many events. Reflections emerged around innovative materials, sustainable urban forests, interactions between humans and AI, cutting-edge spaces, and interiors with a domestic feel.
Highlights of this edition:
The cinematic installation La Prima Notte di Quiete by Loro Piana Interiors in collaboration with Dimoremilano, set in the iconic Cortile della Seta, offered a sensory journey that captivated visitors by exploring the boundary between reality and cinematic imagination. The space, filled with evocative sounds and atmospheres, recreated a dreamlike voyage of calm and beauty, a place that welcomed, protected, and inspired.
Library of Light by Es Devlin took over the courtyard of the Accademia di Belle Arti: a circular, kinetic installation containing over 2,000 books, reflections, and thoughts, reshaping the space and sparking new connections. The work drew inspiration from a quote by Umberto Eco: “Books are the compass of the mind, pointing to countless worlds yet to be explored.”
Frozen, created by renowned Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka for Grand Seiko, explored the relationship between nature and time through a constantly evolving ice sculpture. At its center, the Aqua Chair: a crystallized water seat that transformed under the influence of light and wind, gradually dissolving, a poetic symbol of the ephemeral nature of time and water.
glo™ for art presented HYPER PORTAL, a vibrant installation by Michela Picchi that merged art and technology in an immersive, multisensory experience at Palazzo Moscova, a venue opening its doors to the public for the first time during Brera Design Week, becoming the stage for an impactful visual and cultural event.
Design wasn’t the only star on the streets of this multifaceted district. Leading fashion houses brought their own creative flair to Brera Design Week through installations, exhibitions, and performances. From Hermès at La Pelota, to Gucci at the Chiostri di San Simpliciano, Loewe at Palazzo Citterio, Miu Miu at the Circolo Filologico, and Jil Sander for Thonet at Galleria II Castello, the district pulsed with fashion and design synergy.
Sustainability also took center stage: Muji showcased its manifesto-home built with bio-based materials, rainwater recovery systems, recycled fabric insulation, and a white roof to combat urban heat islands. Pelagic.earth introduced an installation using ocean plastic and end-of-life plastics as sustainable alternatives to cement. Pianca transformed its showroom into an immersive narrative space, addressing urgent topics like the climate crisis and ocean preservation. Many other brands presented forward-thinking, responsible design solutions, fostering a shared reflection on the future of design and the need for a more conscious, eco-friendly approach.
Another defining feature of this edition was the participation of international collectives. House of Switzerland returned for its third edition at the atmospheric Casa degli Artisti with the theme In Collaboration; dOt – design Outdoor Texture once again transformed the square and cloisters of San Marco Church into a space of design research and experimentation; MENU, hosted at All Saints’ Anglican Church, presented a bold and engaging exploration of contemporary design. These are just a few of the initiatives that brought fresh energy and creativity from across the globe to the district.
Brera Design Week 2025 also saw the debut of major new openings, including Palazzo Molteni&C, Tacchini, Masiero, Materia 2.0, Moooi, Nardi, and many others, further enriching the cultural and commercial value of the district.
What made this edition truly stand out was the district’s ability to foster meaningful relationships and present design as a cultural and narrative process, far beyond mere product display.
Next year’s appointment is set for April 20–26, 2026.
A special thanks to C.M.C.2.0 for providing the InfoPoints again this year in Largo Treves and Largo La Foppa, essential structures for navigating the Brera Design Week.
