On the occasion of the Milan Design Week, Zenucchi Design Code has become part of the cultural debate proposed by the Fuorisalone 2026, which for this edition has chosen as its theme “Being Project: a reflection on design as a living process, capable of connecting people, spaces, materials and visions.
A concept that resonated deeply with the Zenucchi Design Code philosophy, summarised in a principle that has guided the company's work for over twenty-five years: focus on the project and not the product.
For Zenucchi Design Code, design has meant first and foremost listening and interpreting, working alongside architects, interior designers and customers at every stage of the design process. Every home is born from a dialogue between those who live in it and those who imagine it, between personal desires, space architecture and design culture. There was no standard solution, but a design process that took shape through expertise, research into materials and shared work with architects and interior designers to develop customised solutions.
In this sense, the proposed by the Fuorisalone found a natural correspondence in the company's approach: design was not just the end result, but the path that led to its realisation. It was in the process, in the relationship between architects, partner companies and craftsmen, that the project came to life and acquired value.
Zenucchi Design Code has therefore interpreted the theme “Being Design” as a concrete condition of its daily work. A way of working that has placed design culture at the centre as a tool for building authentic spaces, capable of evolving over time together with the people who have lived in them. An approach that has also translated into constant support for the work of architects and interior designers, offering consultancy, selection of materials and furnishing solutions designed to be integrated within residential and contract projects.
During Milan Design Week, this vision was translated into a tale of materials, collaborations and design solutions developed together with architects, designers and partner companies, in which each element contributed to defining an idea of contemporary living: sensitive to the context, attentive to quality and oriented towards creating relationships between design, architecture and everyday life.
The project partners
On the occasion of the Milan Design Week and in dialogue with the theme of Fuorisalone 2026, “Being Project”, Zenucchi Design Code built its installation under the artistic direction of the’architect Massimo Castagna together with a network of partner companies who shared the same vision of contemporary design.
Realities with different histories, materials and expressive languages, but united by a common approach: transforming the product into part of a broader design process, capable of generating value, research and quality of living.
Through collaboration with brands that have represented excellence in Italian design, from leather work to experimentation with metal and glass, from the reinterpretation of wood to the design of marble, the project has taken shape with the design vision of Massimo Castagna, like a choral tale in which materials, technologies and skills have dialogued with each other.
Each partner contributed with its own know-how and a vision attentive to the durability of materials and the culture of making. The result was a system of design relationships that interpreted design not as a simple object, but as a shared experience and process.
Kreoo
Kreoo was an Italian brand born from the experience of Decormarmi with the aim of reinterpreting marble, a millenary material of art and architecture, within contemporary design. Founded in 2010, the brand has developed collections of furniture, surfaces and accessories that have transformed natural stone into a contemporary and sophisticated design language. The focus on durability, the quality of raw materials and the valorisation of natural resources has reflected a sustainable vision of design, in which stone has become an expression of balance between nature, design and innovation.
LIGHT YOU
LUCE TU was a Milanese lighting atelier, founded and conceived by Isacco and Nicole Brioschi, which combined contemporary design and high craftsmanship to create distinctive, tailor-made lighting solutions. The company has developed lamps and lighting design projects from a sartorial approach, in which each creation was born from the encounter between craftsmanship know-how and state-of-the-art technology. LUCE TU enhanced materials such as glass, brass and handcrafted metals, creating objects that were not just light sources but true architectural elements of space. The creative process integrated traditional techniques and contemporary tools such as prototyping and 3D printing, allowing a high degree of customisation. The focus on local production, waste reduction and collaboration with local craftsmen testified to the brand's commitment to responsible and sustainable design.
Studioart Leather Interiors
Specialising in the processing of leather for interior design, Studioart Leather Interiors has set an international benchmark for high-end leather upholstery. The company has transformed leather into a true architectural material through collections of wall coverings and decorative surfaces that have combined craftsmanship, aesthetic research and technological innovation. Studioart Leather Interiors solutions were designed to offer maximum customisation and compositional freedom, allowing architects and designers to create unique, highly textured environments. Sustainability was an integral part of the production process: all leathers are derived from selected raw materials and processed entirely in Italy using environmentally friendly techniques. The result was a balance between manufacturing tradition and contemporary design language.
Tonelli Design
Tonelli Design was an Italian company specialising in the production of furniture and accessories in glass, a material that the brand has transformed into the protagonist of contemporary design. The company distinguished itself for its ability to combine technological research and craftsmanship, experimenting with new forms of expression through collaborations with international designers. Tonelli Design furniture systems are the result of constant research and development that has explored the structural and aesthetic potential of glass and more. Tonelli's philosophy has been based on a continuous dialogue between tradition and innovation, with a strong focus on Made in Italy quality. Glass, a completely recyclable and durable material, has also represented an environmentally responsible choice, contributing to a vision of design oriented towards sustainability and circularity.
