“Have you ever stopped to consider how space impacts our senses?” That’s the question Aleph Collettivo’s “Chi Guarda?” installation seems to pose. This outdoor installation was a highlight of Milan Design Week 2024. It encouraged visitors to become active participants in experiencing the connection between space and senses.
Milan Design Week featured many immersive installations. Visitors could walk through most of them. “Chi Guarda?” invited interaction. Many installations focused on a single sense. Google’s installation, for example, explored sound frequencies. It bathed visitors in music as neon lights changed.
Other installations used specific materials. Lasvit used fused glass for its outdoor installation. MAD Architects used aluminum triangles. Hermès used raw materials. “Chi Guarda?” was unique. It focused on the relationship between space and the senses. The Saint Laurent Rive Droite pavilion showcased Gio Ponti’s tableware. It paid homage to modernist architecture.
“Chi Guarda?” was part of a larger trend. Designers are creating experiences. They want visitors to engage with art actively. The installation encouraged exploration and reflection. It prompted visitors to consider their relationship with the environment.
Consider the impact of the materials. Hermès used brick, stone, slate, wood, and compacted earth. These materials depicted a jockey’s silk jersey. The materials created a playful contrast and harmony. “Chi Guarda?” likely used materials to evoke specific sensory responses.
Many installations played with light and color. Sabine Marcelis designed a hovering sun. This sun emitted golden warmth. WE+ created a color-layered installation. Google used neon lights. “Chi Guarda?” probably used light and color to affect visitors’ perceptions of space.
The location of “Chi Guarda?” was important. Many installations were in historical buildings. Palazzo Litta hosted WE+’s installation. Palazzo Clerici hosted Porsche’s installation. The cloisters of San Simpliciano hosted Saint Laurent’s pavilion. The setting likely added another layer of meaning to “Chi Guarda?”.
The “Chi Guarda?” installation wanted you to contemplate the environment. It made you consider your senses. Think about how the designers created this effect. This is the legacy of “Chi Guarda?”.