MILAN.- On the occasion of Milan Design Week 2023, XL EXTRALIGHT® has asked Lausanne-based design studio Panter & Tourron to creatively interpret their innovative material Organix 3.0. In response, the duo has conceived SOFTSCOPE, an architectural urban installation in the courtyard of Capsule Plaza at Spazio Maiocchi.

For the installation, Panter & Tourron, known for their work at the intersection of technology and society, have conceived a pseudo-domestic interior: part conversation pit, part public stage. The pyramid-shaped monolith invites users to sit down and relax on the low bench that borders the perimeter or in the a hollowed-out central section, complete with integrated seating. The objective of the composition is to unite its users in dialog. Both privately, as they explore the exhibition throughout the day, and publicly, through Capsule Plaza’s talks series, which will transform the installation into a platform for speakers.

While the softly textured pyramid takes its physical cues from sneaker design, its conceptual underpinning is thanks to the Radical Design movement, founded in Tuscany in the 1970s. Echoing the forward-thinking spatial utopias from that period as well its social and environmental positive attitude, in engaging with this novel material, Panter & Tourron similarly frame the new challenges design practices face today in seeking a vision for a possible fossil- free future.

Taking full advantage of the soft and colorful properties offered by the material, Panter & Tourron have chosen XL EXTRALIGHT’s Organix 3.0 Material powered by Balance, produced using bio and circular feedstock from recycled organic waste products, for example, waste greases, to construct the installation. The soft and spongey material is typically used by footwear manufacturers as a lightweight outsole for clogs or shoes, however, Panter&Tourron have completely re-contextualized its use, employing it for the first time as an outdoor building material. Water, UV, and bacteria-resistant, as well as free from harmful chemicals, the installation marks a new branch of research into the versatile and sustainable technology.

“We wanted to switch the perspective on XL EXTRALIGHT® and invert the point of view on the material. Inspired by the design language of sneakers sole-units, we shift the material from the technical membrane connecting people to the ground, to become the soft and tactile outer skin for the entire structure.” — Panter & Tourron.

"For the 2023 Fuorisalone, we had the idea to create something that could communicate Organix 3.0's brand pillars and its main properties in an unconventional way, which is why we began a conversation with Panter & Tourron. Their forward-thinking attitude and remarkable focus on research into new design codes and visual experiences have enabled them to reinterpret our DNA and make it tangible on a larger scale." — Carlo Vecchiola, XL EXTRALIGHT® Foam Design Product & Brand Manager.

Panter&Tourron is a multidisciplinary design practice founded by Stefano Panterotto and Alexis Tourron based in Lausanne, Switzerland. Driven by material investigation and technical innovation, the office creates works that challenge the contemporary codes of objects and images. They collaborate with brands and partners offering expertise on commercial works and research across spatial and product design, creative direction, and consultancy.

Where: Capsule Plaza at Spazio Maiocchi, Via Achille Maiocchi 5/7/10, 20129 Milan When: 17 – 23 April 2023