For Milan Design Week 2026, Verde Verticale contributed to the creation of Break down the Boundaries, an installation designed by Marco Merendi and Diego Vencato for Stannah, presented within INTERNI Materiae at the University of Milan.
Located under the portico of the Cortile d’Onore, the installation explores the idea of overcoming physical, cultural and social boundaries. The title, Break down the Boundaries, reflects this intention: to move beyond conventional limits and reinterpret the Joya stairlift chair not only as a functional device, but as a design element immersed in a sensitive, natural and contemporary landscape.
Within this setting, Verde Verticale curated the green component of the installation through a composition combining preserved moss, trailing preserved greenery and live potted plants, placed inside containers supplied by Paolelli Outdoor. The result is an immersive environment where nature supports the narrative of the project and transforms the space into a temporary, scenographic and welcoming garden.
The moss wall creates compact, tactile and continuous surfaces, adding visual softness and depth. The trailing preserved greenery introduces movement, verticality and a more spontaneous natural effect, while the live potted plants complete the installation with volume, vitality and three-dimensional presence.
The decision to combine preserved greenery with live plants follows a precise design strategy. Preserved greenery ensures aesthetic continuity, visual order and strong scenic impact throughout the event, while live plants introduce a dynamic and authentic natural presence. Together, they create a balanced landscape that enhances the visitor experience and reinforces the emotional quality of the installation.
Within the context of INTERNI Materiae, where matter is explored as a field of experimentation, research and innovation, greenery becomes a true design material. It is not simply decorative, but an active part of the installation’s language: a natural medium capable of engaging with architecture, design and inclusive mobility.
Through this project, Verde Verticale confirms its ability to develop tailored botanical solutions for temporary installations, design events, showrooms and corporate spaces. The green composition created for Stannah demonstrates how vegetation can become a narrative, scenographic and identity-defining tool, strengthening the message of a project and enriching the experience of those who inhabit or pass through the space.