Elle decor Alchemica – Milan Design Week 2025

Alchemica, an installation conceived by Patricia Urquiola for Elle Decor Italia, explored the home through the metaphor of alchemy, interpreting domestic space as a constantly evolving system of transformation and adaptation. Developed as an uroboros—a symbol of perpetual transformation—the installation unfolded through a sequence of spaces inspired by the different stages of the alchemical process. Presented at Palazzo Bovara, Milan, the project brought together design, materials, lighting and landscape in a multidisciplinary environment, extending from the building’s interiors to its courtyard and its cosmopolitan garden. Each setting offered a different interpretation of domestic living, combining objects, surfaces and vegetation in a continuous dialogue between nature and the built environment. The project reflected on the idea of the home as a fluid, ever-changing space, where materials, colours and forms interacted to create different atmospheres and experiences.