Beyond Borders: Italy and Switzerland United by Design

The Swiss Center in Milan is a major institutional, cultural, and architectural landmark in the city’s urban landscape, as well as a focal point for dialogue between Italy and Switzerland in the fields of culture and economics. The creation of Swiss Corner in 2012—based on an idea by the Swiss Chamber and an architectural design by Studio Bearth & Deplazes—gave new momentum to the Swiss Center, contributing significantly to the urban quality and the redesign of the plaza.

Today, the new Dehors Swiss Corner, created by the Swiss Chamber —the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Italy—with institutional support from the Consulate General in Milan, represents a redevelopment of the Swiss Center’s outdoor space, aimed at strengthening its institutional and cultural role and enhancing the design of the space to foster dialogue with the city. Designed under the supervisionof architect Riccardo Blumer, Director of the Academy of Mendrisio, and with artistic directionby interior designer Andrea Castrignano, it will host meetings, temporary installations, and discussions dedicated to the themes of design and public space, thereby reinforcing Swiss Corner’s cultural and international mission.

In this sense, the new Dehors takes on symbolic significance as a cultural bridge between Italy and Switzerland. The bioclimatic roof, built by Protezioni srl—an exemplary Italian women-led business recognized in 2022 for research and innovation—embodies a shared vision of contemporary design, grounded in formal rigor, construction quality, attention to detail, and environmental sustainability: values that can be traced back to both Swiss and Italian design cultures.

The Nesos ALL SEASON canopy—a lightweight, reversible, and reconfigurable structure designed for the Swiss Corner outdoor area—enhances comfort and usability in every season, whether it’s snowing, raining, or windy, without compromising the architectural character of the building and its historic base. The bioclimatic canopy, equipped with a sliding roof and seasonal perimeter glazing, is not merely a functional structure but a true design element for the outdoor space, capable of defining the building’s facade, improving microclimatic conditions, and strengthening the relationship between the architecture and the urban context.

Repower’s E-Lounge, a Compasso d’Oro award winner, situated next to the pergola, is a multifunctional piece of Italian design that serves as an electric charging station for devices and bicycles and a Wi-Fi hotspot, providing practical support for sustainable mobility.

From an environmental perspective, the project adopted circular economy principles, prioritizing a demountable structure built with durable, separable, and renewable materials. Replacing temporary installations with a single stable and reconfigurable system reduces the overall environmental impact and enables more sustainable management of the spaces.

The new Dehors Swiss Corner, inaugurated during Fuorisalone 2026, is a living testament to design that unites Italy and Switzerland, where innovation, sustainability, and dialogue redefine the space open to the public.