Alchemica: An Evening of Inspiration at Salone del Mobile

Designer Patricia Urquiola with Duravit-CEO Stephan Tahy.

Patricia Urquiola and Duravit Celebrate 30 Years of Elle Decor Italia

At the prestigious Salone del Mobile in Milan, internationally acclaimed designer Patricia Urquiola and premium bathroom manufacturer Duravit came together for a special celebration marking the 30th anniversary of Elle Decor Italia. The evening, titled “Alchemica: An Evening of Inspiration,” offered a thought-provoking journey into design, transformation, and the ever-changing nature of the home.

Sculptural mission: At the heart of the exhibition are the above-counter basins of the Balcoon bathroom range, whose architectural shapes and clear lines create a unique aesthetic with high recognition value while also exuding warmth and accessibility

Set against the elegant backdrop of Palazzo Bovara, the event welcomed over 300 guests from the international design community. At its heart was the immersive “Alchemica” exhibition, conceived by Urquiola and brought to life in collaboration with lighting designer Valerio Tiberi, landscape architect Antonio Perazzi, and creative studio netsuke. The installation was a poetic reflection on transformation—using alchemy as a metaphor to explore how living spaces shift over time, mirroring the complexity and constant evolution of human life.

“The home is a living, transforming organism – shifting throughout the day, the seasons, and the stages of life. It is not a fixed perimeter, but a mutable system, because we are increasingly complex and in constant evolution,” said Patricia Urquiola, speaking at the event with Lüder Fromm, Duravit’s CMO.

The evening also highlighted the debut of Balcoon, Urquiola’s new bathroom collection for Duravit, showcased dramatically within the “Alchemica” space. An impressive sculptural tower of above-counter basins from the range stood as a symbol of elevated, transformative design. Inspired by architectural forms, Balcoon merges minimalism with warmth—its clean lines and sculptural shapes paired with premium features and masterful craftsmanship.

Defined by its soft yet architectural identity, the Balcoon collection was conceived as a response to today’s demand for design that is both functional and emotionally resonant. “Minimalistic, yet rich in identity,” the collection was a centerpiece of the evening, echoing the themes of balance between nature and artifice, permanence and change.

Through the Alchemica installation, Urquiola invited guests to reconsider domestic space not as a static setting, but as a dynamic, ever-adapting laboratory—a metaphorical alchemical chamber where design becomes a process of continuous transformation. The exhibition’s circular structure, evocative of an ouroboros, symbolized the never-ending cycle of creation, adaptation, and renewal.

With this inspiring evening, Urquiola and Duravit offered more than a design showcase—they presented a vision for the future of living, where beauty, innovation, and purpose converge in an ongoing dialogue with change.