ROOTS Exhibition Milano 2026

Sleeping Beauty, a Symbiotic Symphony

From 20–26 April, ROOTS Exhibition returns to the Design Capital of the World with a new presentation: Sleeping Beauty, a Symbiotic Symphony at Masterly – the Dutch in Milano.

As an award-winning platform ROOTS is setting a new standard in sustainable design. We rethink design through living systems—presenting a clear vision for living and hospitality spaces where health, balance and connection to nature are central.

ROOTS Participants

This year’s exhibition brings together an exceptional group of designers, artists, and innovators, including Back to the Flax, Bionic and the Wires, Ster Borgman, Josja Boting, Piet Hein Eek, Francisco Gomez Paz, Mattijs Koerts, Tomáš Libertíny, Marcos Luengo, Ori Orisun Marhav, Natasja van der Meer, Theo Rekelhof, Dasha Tsapenko, Stijn Weski, Workingbert and Milah van Zuilen, alongside pioneering companies such as BRYCK, Devoonsounds, Empa, CarbonCell, GROWiNK, Hydro, LOADS Collection, Meaningful Matter, Oxman, SAM Panels, Studio Simone van Es, Thonet and Yumeko.

Dream Sessions

Inspired by the myth of Sleeping Beauty, “sleep” is understood as regeneration. Ecosystems restoring, materials evolving, life renewing beneath the surface.

At the heart stands a bed—transforming the exhibition into a space that supports health, non-toxicity and well-being. A place to slow down, to reconnect and to experience design as a form of care.

Surrounded by (real!) bio-based, circular and recycled materials—from fungal and microbial innovations to responsibly reworked aluminium and concrete—the exhibition brings together nature, technology and design in symbiosis.

Throughout the week, the bed becomes a stage for daily Dream Sessions—intimate conversations with designers, thinkers and innovators. This is where we exploring regenerative design, material intelligence and the future of healthy living and hospitality.

Visitors can also join daily Sound Journeys: 11:00 – Morning Energiser or 16:00 – Afternoon Reset. A moment to lie down, immerse and (re)connect through sound within the exhibition environment.

ROOTS x Hydro Talk

On Wednesday 22 April the curated conversation From Circular Aluminium to Meaningful Design brings together industry, design and material innovation. Exploring how circular aluminium reshapes the way we design, build and think, the talk positions material not as a given, but as a starting point for change. At its core lies a fundamental question: under which conditions can industrial materials become part of a truly circular system?

From Hydro’s pioneering work with post-consumer aluminium to architectural applications by Modular Lighting Instruments, and experimental processes by Studio LoopLoop, the conversation traces a journey from material to meaning.

Set within the historic Sala Parlamentino of Palazzo Giureconsulti, this session offers a focused moment of reflection during Milano Design Week—where ideas take shape before unfolding into real-world applications.

ROOTS Rooftop

Sleeping Beauty, a Symbiotic Symphony invites you to reconsider how we live, rest and shape the spaces around us—rooted in regeneration and in balance with life. Visit us, experience the exhibition and enjoy the view from the ROOTS rooftop terrace—one of the most beautiful vantage points overlooking the iconic Duomo.

Find our full program here, a presto!

Simone van Es🌱♻️

Initiator and Curator