At Palazzo Crespi on Corso Matteotti, a landmark residential building designed by Piero Portaluppi, Kaldewei presented Bubbles of Time during Milan Design Week. The project marked the first time the historic property has opened as an exhibition venue.
Developed in collaboration with Parasite 2.0 and Bianca Felicori, founder of Forgotten Architecture, the installation explored the evolution of bathroom culture through a dialogue between historic architecture and contemporary design.
Designed between 1928 and 1932 for the Crespi family, industrialists and co-owners of Corriere della Sera, Palazzo Crespi is considered one of the most representative examples of Milanese residential architecture. Its façade is defined by a progression of material tones, transitioning from darker marble at street level to lighter finishes above. Arcades, pilasters and recessed terraces establish a clear architectural rhythm.
Materiality formed the foundation of the exhibition. Kaldewei’s steel enamel surfaces were presented alongside marble types specified by Portaluppi, creating a direct dialogue between past and present.
A key feature of Bubbles of Time was a bespoke dusty pink shade developed exclusively for the installation. Referencing Portaluppi’s original marble palette, the colour translates historic materiality into a contemporary design language and connects architectural heritage with modern bathroom design.
In the basement, an exhibition curated by Parasite 2.0 positioned Kaldewei’s products alongside references to Portaluppi’s interiors, including bathrooms at Villa Necchi Campiglio and Villa Panza. Contemporary photography and selected monographs contextualised the bathroom as an evolving architectural space.
At the centre of the installation, the MST Classic Duo Oval was presented as an archetype of the freestanding bath. Its sculptural form reinforces the relationship between bathing rituals and spatial design. This was complemented by the Nuio Duo Zen Edition, which introduces a more immersive and sensorial approach to the bathroom as a space for wellbeing and retreat.
Shower surfaces and precisely crafted washbowls completed the presentation, demonstrating how steel enamel can function as an architectural material across the bathroom environment.
Extensive archival research by Bianca Felicori underpinned the project and highlighted the bathroom’s historical role as a ritual space where technology, material culture and daily life intersect.
With Bubbles of Time, Kaldewei reinterprets Portaluppi’s architectural legacy through a contemporary lens. The installation positions the bathroom as an integral element of residential architecture and reinforces its products as enduring design components.
About Kaldewei
Kaldewei is a premium bathroom manufacturer known for its steel enamel products, combining design, durability and sustainability. Around 600 products are Cradle to Cradle® Certified, reflecting a commitment to circular design principles. Its bathtubs, washbasins and shower solutions are plastic free and designed for long lasting performance.
Through its LUXSTAINABILITY® approach, Kaldewei integrates sustainable innovation with contemporary design, creating bathroom solutions for both hospitality and residential projects.