Design at Homo Faber

We have already explored the significance of an event like Homo Faber: its growing prestige, the beauty it celebrates and gathers, and the new features of the 2026 edition – all of which you can read about in our previous article. Now, we take a further step, as the event represents a crucial showcase not only for the world of craftsmanship but also for design. Furniture companies are invited to shape the numerous lounge and hospitality areas that complement the exhibition. This synergy is rooted in the manufacturing savoir-faire that defines these Made in Italy brands.

A highlight is the Glasshouse fine dining restaurant. The space, designed by APML | Architetti Pedron / La Tegola for the 2026 edition of Homo Faber, is a captivating winter garden characterized by a refined soft pink, drawn from the color palette of the exhibition’s curator, Es Devlin, with a Michelin-starred menu by chef Salvatore Sodano. Illuminating this setting, in a central position, is the new “Couture” chandelier by iDOGI: a luminous bloom of rock crystal flowers and drops made with 1,270 hand-blown and handcrafted glass and crystal elements, and 80 hyaline quartz elements. Beneath it lies the monumental “Waterfall” light table, over 7 meters long, also created by iDOGI with thousands of glass cylinders (bossole). Arranged around it are seating, tables, and benches by Arper, enhanced by the material texture of fabrics in soft pink nuances, which contribute to the sophisticated, welcoming, and fairytale-like atmosphere of the location.

Also in the Glasshouse, another element where design and manufacturing go hand in hand stands out. The welcome desk is a work by De Castelli: a semicircular volume in polished stainless steel, crossed by deep grooves and enriched with an intense and iridescent sheen. In this context, where creativity and material shape immersive installations and experiential paths, Ethimo also finds its place, contributing to the furnishing of the Giardini della Piscina e dei Giardini delle Capriate (Pool Gardens and the Truss Gardens). The collections define the welcoming atmosphere and contemplative character of these spaces. Among them, a central role is played by Patio, the collection designed by Studio Zanellato/Bortotto that interprets the outdoors as a place for meeting and sharing in a refined balance between design and nature. Alongside Patio, Rotin, also designed by Studio Zanellato/Bortotto, Knit by Patrick Norguet, Venexia by Luca Nichetto, and the Vista armchairs by Christophe Pillet and Kilt by Marcello Ziliani complete the setting.

A further multisensory experience, blending design and gastronomic excellence, emerges from the casual restaurant “A trattoria on an island” inside the Truss Pavilion. Here, the setup by Cappellini showcases the brand’s approach to the contract and hospitality world, where the collection – presented in finishes specially developed for the event – is configured as an open and flexible system. Taking center stage are the Newood and Newood Light chairs by designers Alberto Brogliato and Federico Traverso, a contemporary reinterpretation of Windsor-style seating. Completing the environment are the Break tables, designed by Giulio Cappellini, with their bright yellow laminate tops and champagne-finished steel legs, while the Bac chairs by Jasper Morrison add a dynamic accent in a zinc-yellow lacquered wood, dotting the space with vibrant touches of color.