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HI-MAZE, a labyrinth in urban greenery

An installation in HIMACS designed by Studio Cappellini Design at the Fabbrica del Vapore Milan Design Week | 7-13 April 2025 HI-MAZE is an immersive installation conceived by Studio Cappellini Design and made entirely of HIMACS solid surface. From April 7 to 13, 2025 — during the always highly anticipated Milan Design Week, which attracts visitors from around the world— the 'urban labyrinth' will be open to the public in the outdoor space of the Fabbrica del Vapore.

HI-MAZE investigates the relationship between humanity and contemporary design, reinterpreting the aesthetics of the labyrinth and transforming it from a symbol of bewilderment and complexity into an immersive, exploratory experience. Innovative materials, light, colour, greenery and space are all intertwined here in elegant harmony.

The installation consists of a series of wall blocks and seats made of HIMACS — inviting visitors to pause and interact — thoughtfully arranged to guide them through a dynamic pathway, punctuated by strategic openings and captivating plays of light. The result is a harmonious dialogue between matter, form and perception, in which the various levels of the monoliths evoke an urban landscape in miniature and a stripped-back skyline reduced to its purest forms.

HI-MAZE sets out to explore the material and its potential, highlighting the extraordinary aesthetic and functional qualities of HIMACS, processed using advanced thermoforming and CNC techniques by Luxu Design for IDC. The walls tracing the labyrinthine path make use of the Alpine White Ultra-Thermoforming shade, an ideal choice for the application of relief motifs such as waves, spirals and elaborate textures, milled into the surfaces and enriched with evocative lighting.

This choice not only enhances the labyrinth's design but also underscores a commitment to increased sustainability: HIMACS Alpine White Ultra-Thermoforming is made with 8% SCS-certified recycled content.

The seats and planters along the route are also made from HIMACS, here offered in the delicate pastel shades of Emerald and Sapphire from the HIMACS Lucent collection. With their unique translucency, these colours interact beautifully with strategic lighting, turning surfaces into immersive, visually striking elements.

Curated by Bespoke Lighting Solutions, the lighting design brings to life a light installation that evokes the allure of cities seen at night: the skillful use of illumination and the workmanship of the HIMACS panels amplify the depth of the space, making the experience even more immersive. In addition, A' Piè Group's contribution to the design of the greenery underscores HIMACS' commitment to a more environmentally conscious design, in tune with nature and the recycled aspect of the material itself.

HIMACS is an extremely versatile material designed to ensure optimal use in any context. Its distinctive characteristics meet the most sophisticated needs of architects and designers, thanks to a robustness akin to natural stone and an extraordinary formability allowing almost any desired shape to be achieved. These qualities are complemented by exceptional durability, high standards of hygiene and superior resistance to fire and water.

Location Fuorisalone, Fabbrica del Vapore, via Giulio Cesare Procaccini 4 | Milan (Italy)
Architecture & Design Studio Cappellini Design
Material used HIMACS S305 Emerald, S303 Sapphire, S928 Alpine White Ultra-Thermoforming with SCS Recycled Content
Fabrication Luxu Design for IDC
Photo Credit Studio Cappellini Design
Other HIMACS master distributor: Sogimi
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