Milano The School of Design

In occasion of Design Week 2026, Istituto Marangoni Milano Design presents a project developed in collaboration with Poltrona Frau, exploring new interpretations of contemporary living through a series of total living proposals conceived by students from the Master’s programs in Interior Design, Interior Contract, and Luxury Boutique Hotel Interior Design.

The project transforms a villa into a dynamic spatial narrative, articulated through immersive and multi-context environments. Within this framework, architecture, design, and lifestyle converge into responsive systems, where integrated technologies—such as sensors, adaptive lighting, and digital interfaces—enable spaces to adjust in real time to users’ needs. At the same time, material research shapes a deep sensory experience, defined by surfaces, textures, and details that reflect the brand’s values of craftsmanship and refinement. Here are two of the student projects.

ALENTO: Architecture That Breathes

Project by Avi Arora

With ALENTO, Avi Arora develops a reflection on architecture as a living system, capable of naturally adapting to environmental conditions and everyday needs. Set in Ahmedabad, within a complex climatic context, the project stems from the intention to rethink thermal comfort through passive and intelligent strategies.

The core idea is that of a “breathing” space, where the villa is no longer a static container but an organism that evolves over time. As the designer explains, “ALENTO imagines the villa as a living system that responds to changing climatic conditions and user needs,” creating an intuitive and comfortable environment without relying on invasive mechanical systems.

Within this process, the dialogue with Poltrona Frau becomes fundamental in defining a coherent design language. Rather than a purely formal reference, the brand is reinterpreted through its core values: “craftsmanship, proportion, and refinement are translated into spatial expression,” with particular attention to material quality and the tactile dimension of the space. Leather, as an iconic element, becomes a key reference guiding surfaces and detailing.

One of the main challenges was the integration of advanced technologies, addressed by avoiding any overt technical expression. The aim was to maintain a balance between innovation and identity: “the complexity was translating experimental technologies into a coherent and refined architectural language,” where the technical component never dominates the space.

The result is an environment that responds in a quiet and natural way. The space adapts to light, temperature, and presence, offering a fluid and almost imperceptible experience: “the user does not need to control the space—the space takes care of the user,” fostering well-being, focus, and relaxation.

While incorporating technologies that are still under development, the project aligns with a realistic vision of the near future. As Arora notes, “many of these systems are rapidly evolving,” opening the possibility for adaptive architectures like ALENTO to soon become reality.

Gen Z Living: Identity, Material, and Connection

Project by Maria Reiche

While ALENTO explores environmental and technological dimensions, Maria Reiche’s project focuses on the relationship between space, identity, and culture, interpreting the needs of Generation Z.

Starting from the awareness that this is the first generation fully raised in the digital world, the project highlights a complementary need: authenticity. “Gen Z seeks spaces that tell stories, capable of holding memory and emotional resonance,” where materials, textures, and craftsmanship coexist with sustainable technologies.

The home is reimagined as an adaptive ecosystem, where flexibility and transformation become key elements. Modular layouts, transformable furniture, and sensory environments allow spaces to evolve alongside users: “environments that shift with routines, identities, and creative impulses,” shaping a dynamic and personal way of living.

The concept is built around the idea of cultural weaving, both as a design language and a metaphor. Colombian and Balkan traditions merge with a more structured approach, creating a balance between spontaneity and precision. In this sense, “weaving becomes a symbol of connection and balance,” capable of bringing together intimacy and collective experience.

The collaboration with Poltrona Frau introduces a reflection on the relationship between heritage and contemporaneity. As the designer explains, “the challenge was to integrate the identity of a heritage brand and make it part of our generation,” through a reinterpretation of its values.

Collaboration and cultural exchange also played a central role in the process: “bringing together different identities into a shared space” translates into inclusive environments where everyone can feel represented.

The final experience is designed to be immediate and immersive. The goal is for users to feel part of the space from the very first moment: “to walk in and feel at home,” experiencing the environment in a natural and intuitive way.

Looking ahead, the project envisions an evolution of living based on a more conscious relationship between space and individual: “homes will become living systems,” not dominated by technology, but built on a balanced relationship between material, experience, and everyday life.

A New Idea of Luxury

Through these projects, a vision of living emerges as a dynamic and evolving system, capable of adapting to environmental conditions, cultural identities, and emotional needs.

The dialogue with Poltrona Frau builds a bridge between tradition and innovation, defining a new paradigm of luxury—no longer static, but fluid, sensory, and deeply human.