On the occasion of MDW 2026, students from the three-year Product Design course at Istituto Marangoni Milano Design collaborate with RivAtelier to rethink balconies and terraces as active extensions of living spaces. Outdoor areas become environments capable of accommodating work, relaxation, and social activities throughout the day, combining technical efficiency with formal refinement and redefining the very meaning of outdoor living.
The finalist project “Jhula”, which means “swing” in Hindi, will be exhibited from 20th to 26th April on the fifth-floor terrace of the School at Via Cerva 24, creating a setting that innovatively interprets the relationship between individual, time, and space.
“Jhula takes shape from the intuition of a young designer from Istituto Marangoni Milano Design, whom we had the pleasure of supporting throughout its development. During the prototyping phase, we worked on balancing lightness and solidity, playfulness and refinement, carefully selecting materials to ensure quality and durability. Jhula is the result of a collaboration where creative vision and artisanal expertise meet, giving life to a micro-environment that goes beyond the concept of outdoor furniture.”
says Emanuele Missaglia, Art Director RivAtelier
Designed by second-year student Caahiil Menezes and technically and artisanally developed by RivAtelier, Jhula presents itself as a micro-environment conceived to redefine how outdoor spaces are experienced, offering a more intimate, secluded, and personal dimension.
“Collaborating with the young designers of Istituto Marangoni Milano Design has been a deeply stimulating experience for me and for the entire company. From the very beginning, I was struck by their enthusiasm and curiosity: a free, unrestrained approach capable of bringing fresh energy and new perspectives into the design process. Engaging with the new generations is always invaluable, as is contributing to shaping and giving voice to their ideas, guiding them in the transformation from intuition to tangible projects through the expertise and experience we have developed over the years.”
says Francesco Riva, Owner of Riva Mobili D’Arte
It is not merely a piece of furniture, but a true microcosm: a retreat for those seeking something unique, capable of combining aesthetics, function, and emotion.
Jhula is a place to pause, read, work, rest, and even have fun, thanks to the presence of an integrated swing.
Its identity is built on a careful balance between refinement and materiality. The outdoor fabrics convey a sense of sophisticated comfort, while the wooden structure with a metal core ensures solidity, durability, and construction quality.
Completing the project are integrated planters from which slender strands of ivy grow: a natural system that creates privacy, filters light, and enriches the space with greenery, fostering a more direct connection with nature.
@ IM Milano Design – Via Cerva 24, Milan
April 20 – April 26
