Transforming the courtyard of Palazzo del Senato into a playful landscape of soft sculptural forms for Fuorisalone 2026
Background
For Milan Design Week 2026, Ulises designed an immersive installation for Škoda inspired by the malleability of modelling clay. The installation invited visitors to explore a colourful spatial environment that translated the brand’s design language into an interactive architectural experience.
The project was recognized as the highest-rated installation of Fuorisalone 2026, (opens in new tab) receiving the public award for the most appreciated installation of the event with nearly 60,000 visitors throughout the week.
Designed to be approachable and participatory, the installation placed human experience at its center. Visitors were encouraged to move through the space, interact with its forms, and discover the installation from multiple perspectives. By translating the evolving design language of Škoda into an immersive architectural experience, the project created a dialogue between design, movement, and public interaction, turning the historic courtyard into an open playground for creativity and discovery.
At the center of the experience, a multimedia digital dome expanded the installation into the virtual dimension, surrounding visitors with immersive visuals that extended the project’s playful design language.
Around it, the courtyard hosted different moments of interaction: relaxation areas where visitors could pause and observe the installation, design talks and creative workshops that explored the ideas behind the project, and special activations throughout the week that transformed the space into a lively meeting point for the design community. Through this combination of physical sculpture, digital media, and public programming, the installation invited visitors to experience design as curiosity, discovery, and shared creativity.
As daylight fades, the installation reveals a new atmosphere through a vibrant lighting design that transforms the courtyard of Palazzo del Senato. The soft sculptural volumes become luminous objects, illuminated by shifting colors that emphasize their fluid geometry and amplify the playful character of the project.
At night, the installation becomes a more immersive and sensory environment within Fuorisalone 2026. Vibrant lighting transforms the courtyard into a dynamic landscape where color, shadow, and movement continuously reshape the visitor’s perception of the space.
Client
ŠkodaCredits
- Experiential / Interactive Gattinoni Group, WOA Studio
- Lead Artist / DesignerRicardo Orts (Ulises)








