An award-winning landscape architecture design has presented an opportunity for stainless steel companies to become involved in a unique project.
The Fuorisalone in the shadow of Milan Design Week forms the backdrop to a botanically inspired stainless steel masterpiece.
By Joanne McIntyre, Stainless Steel World
The Fuorisalone in Milan is an international event dedicated to a selection of temporary installations celebrating the best design in the world. It brings together great landscaping protagonists, artists and architects, young designers, researchers, institutions and companies. The heart of the Festival is a celebration of the garden, not only for its aesthetic-cultural value, but also for its role as an ideal place to enjoy the beauties of the italian Region. “As a winning team, we proposed to create a hidden garden that can be explored,” explains Jenna Richter, Marketing Manager at Pontello Architecture & Engineering.
Stainless fabrication
The design is to be made of marine grade stainless steel A316, the same as the Palio del Golfo Artwork (see box ‘Unique designs’).
The construction process was designed to utilise robotically bent steel rods that are shaped automatically. Various procedural approaches were developed to create structurally optimised non-uniform space frames through the application of robotic arms for non-conventional rod-bending operations.
Through parametric design software, experimentation with different spaceframe design methodologies was conducted, emphasising concepts such as variation and repetition. Simultaneously, finite element analysis software and specialised digital tools enabled both verification of structural performance during experimentation and integration of structural analysis directly into the design workflow. Real-time visual displays of force distribution within space frames under specific loading and support scenarios allowed for the generation of multiple digital iterations and spaceframe variations.
The digital model was subsequently broken down to create exclusively two-dimensional bent components as structural elements. The manufacturing approach utilised automated robotic bending of 6mm and 8mm steel rods while addressing material and production limitations including material elongation, springback effects, and dimensional constraints.
What is the Fuorisalone?
Milan Design Week is a major annual international event focused on design, architecture, and innovation. Established as the global epicenter of design, it takes place each April in Milan, with the 2025 edition running from April 7–17, coinciding with the Salone del Mobile.Milano (April 8–13). The week serves as a platform where designers, architects, companies, and creatives come together to showcase innovation and creativity across the city. A highlight is the INTERNI FUORISALONE exhibition “CRE-ACTION: Natural, Artificial, Collective,” set within prestigious historic venues including the Università degli Studi di Milano’s Ca’ Granda complex, the Orto Botanico di Brera, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, and Audi House of Progress. These locations function as both exhibition spaces and cultural landmarks that blend heritage with contemporary design. The event attracts international participation through sponsored installations, where companies collaborate with leading architects and designers to create site-specific works. With extensive media coverage through INTERNI Magazine (distributed in 250,000 copies), digital platforms, and social media, Milan Design Week has become the world’s most important annual gathering for the design community.
Unique designs
Unique designsReaders of Stainless Steel World may recognise Palio del Golfo project featured in the October issue of the magazine, which utilised inflated stainless steel profiles. To read that article, go to https://stainless-steel-world.net/inflated-stainless-steel-profiles/.
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