Contardi Lighting used Milan Design Week 2026 to unveil the new Contardi Atelier, a renovated Milan showroom conceived as an immersive expression of the brand's evolving identity.
The opening coincided with the company's 20th anniversary and marked what Contardi described as a new chapter, reinforcing its position within the Italian lighting sector through a comprehensive redesign of its Milan presence.
© Contardi
Located on Corso Monforte in Milan, the showroom was redeveloped under the art direction of Dainelli Studio, which also created the company's updated coordinated brand image.
The new Contardi Atelier was designed as an experiential environment focused on the relationship between light, material and perception. According to the company, the project translates its recent strategic evolution into architectural form.
The exhibition route moves through a sequence of lighting scenarios intended to reflect Contardi's current aesthetic and design language. Minimal architectural interventions and strong material finishes were used to allow the lighting collections to take centre stage.
Neutral colour palettes, a recurring feature of Dainelli Studio's design language, were applied throughout the space and extended to the company's new catalogue and broader collection restyling.
At street level, visitors entered a first room defined by warm butter-toned hues, where a curated selection of indoor lamps highlighted Contardi's archi-decorative approach to lighting.
A staircase then led to the basement, opened to the public for the first time. Here, an anthracite palette created a more dramatic backdrop for the company's outdoor lighting collection.
Contardi said the lower-ground interiors were conceived to evoke a twilight atmosphere, allowing the lamps to emerge as sculptural objects. Soft light was used to shape surfaces and enhance material textures, creating what the company described as a suspended environment.
A further feature of the showroom is a dedicated material library, offering designers and industry professionals access to an archive of finishes and textures intended to demonstrate a wide range of bespoke compositional possibilities.
The inclusion of the library reinforces Contardi's custom-made positioning, where specifiers can tailor products for residential, hospitality and contract projects.
For the wider market, the opening reflects continued investment by premium lighting brands in experiential showrooms that function as both commercial spaces and design statements.
By combining architecture, atmosphere and product storytelling, the new Contardi Atelier positions the company for its next stage of international growth.
More information:
Contardi
[email protected]
www.contardi-italia.com
