British designer Lee Broom's large-scale lighting installation Beacon will be presented in Milan's Piazza San Babila during Milan Design Week 2026, marking the next chapter in the project's international trajectory.
© Lee Broom
Originally unveiled at the London Design Festival 2025 as an official Landmark Project, Beacon was first installed along London's Southbank in collaboration with Materials Assemble. Following its debut, the installation now begins a global tour, with Milan serving as its first international destination.
Positioned in the recently revitalised Piazza San Babila, one of the city's most prominent public squares, the installation contributes to a broader cultural programme extending across Via Durini and Corso Monforte. This network of locations reinforces the district's growing significance as a hub for design, architecture and contemporary cultural activity during Milan Design Week.
Beacon continues Lee Broom's exploration of light as both a functional and sculptural medium, transforming public space through immersive design. By situating the installation in a high-traffic urban setting, the project invites a wide audience to engage with design beyond traditional exhibition formats, aligning with a broader shift towards accessible, city-wide activations.
The Milan presentation underscores the increasing importance of public installations within the design calendar, where large-scale works contribute to the cultural identity of key urban sites. In this context, Piazza San Babila becomes not only a backdrop but an active participant in the narrative, linking historic urban fabric with contemporary creative expression.
As part of its international rollout, Beacon signals a growing emphasis on cross-city cultural exchange, with Milan acting as a strategic platform for global visibility. The installation's presence during Milan Design Week 2026 highlights the event's continued role as a leading stage for experimental and public-facing design initiatives.
More information:
Lee Broom
[email protected]
www.leebroom.com
