For Bottega Veneta’s Summer 2026 show during Milan Fashion Week, Milan-based design studio 6AM crafted a stunning installation of Murano glass cubes that blurred the boundaries between art, architecture and craftsmanship. Conceived as seating for creative director Louise Trotter’s debut collection, the luminous cubes resembled oversized candies, glimmering in rich, translucent hues and carried an architectural gravitas inspired by carved stone structures. Check out on SURFACES REPORTER (SR) how art meets functionality and creativity transforms into a study of materiality, texture and light.
Each cube, standing 43cm tall, has been meticulously created using a complex cast-iron mould, a process that balanced precision with the natural fluidity of molten glass. This method gave the objects their distinctive sculptural form, characterized by soft imperfections, gentle indentations, and subtle variations that caught and refracted light differently from every angle. For the studio, the intention was to evoke the bold proportions of stone architecture while celebrating the organic irregularities inherent to glassmaking.
Each cube, standing 43cm tall, has been meticulously created using a complex cast-iron mould, a process that balanced precision with the natural fluidity of molten glass.
The collection featured ten distinct colours, each carefully curated to explore the interplay between transparency, density and luminosity. The hues, ranging from warm ambers and soft greens to deep blues and smoky grey, were arranged in gentle gradients throughout the show space, creating a rhythm of shifting tones that complemented the subtle sophistication of Trotter’s collection. When viewed under the show lighting, the cubes appeared almost liquid, transforming the runway environment into an immersive experience.
Crafted from Murano glass, the stools paid homage to one of Italy’s most revered artisanal traditions. Originating from the island of Murano near Venice, this glassmaking technique is celebrated for its mastery of colour and transparency. Beyond functionality, these cubes served as sculptural symbols of craftsmanship and innovation, encapsulating the brand’s ongoing dialogue between tradition and modernity. To complete the environment, South Korean designer Kwangho Lee contributed hanging installations woven from cords, further enriching the visual atmosphere of the space.
Image credit: Bottega Veneta