A site-specific installation in a private residence in Milan by Elias Van Orshaegen and Maarten Van Meerbeeck during Salone del Mobile
GARÇONNIÈRE
A cinematic installation by Elias Van Orshaegen and Maarten Van Meerbeeck
Milan Design Week 2026
21 - 26 April 2026
Via San Maurilio 14, Milan, Italy
During Milan Design Week, Belgian designer Elias Van Orshaegen and interior architect Maarten Van Meerbeeck present GARÇONNIÈRE, a site-specific installation that explores the relationship between furniture, interior architecture and narrative space.
Presented at Via San Maurilio 14 in the historic center of Milan, the installation takes inspiration from the historic garçonnière: a private secondary apartment traditionally kept by members of the bourgeoisie as a retreat away from their formal homes. These interiors often allowed for greater freedom of expression in decoration and atmosphere, resulting in spaces that were more intimate, experimental and personal.
Van Orshaegen and Van Meerbeeck reinterpret this historical typology as a contemporary interior staged as a cinematic environment. The installation is structured in a sequence of spatial “acts”, guiding visitors through the construction of the room — from its underlying structure to the finished interior.
A staged interior
Visitors first encounter a backstage environment where the architectural framework of the installation is deliberately exposed. Structural elements, unfinished walls and raw materials reveal the construction of the space. Within this transitional setting, several furniture pieces are presented as standalone objects, positioned between prototype and finished work.
From there, the visitor enters the main installation: a fully composed interior that functions as the garçonnière itself.
The room is defined by soft architectural elements made from stretched fabric, transforming the rigid geometry of the space into an atmospheric setting. The installation references the immersive decorative rhythm of Jean Dunand’s renowned “Les Palmiers” smoking room, while offering a contemporary interpretation rather than a historical reconstruction.
Within this environment, furniture pieces are positioned as distinct presences within the room. Desks, lamps, wall pieces, a daybed and a rug together construct the interior composition. Each object is conceived as both functional design and spatial actor, contributing to the overall atmosphere of the room.
Images of “Les Palmiers” by Jean Dunand (for illustration purposes only, not for publication)
New works presented
The installation introduces a series of new designs by Elias Van Orshaegen, alongside collaborative pieces developed with Maarten Van Meerbeeck. Key works include:
- Kura Table / Desk — solid oak, modified and lacquered
- Kura Console — solid oak, modified and lacquered
- Curoso Table Lamp II — cast aluminium and rock crystal (Van Orshaegen × Van Meerbeeck)
- Curoso Floor Lamp II — mahogany, cast aluminium and rock crystal (Van Orshaegen × Van Meerbeeck)
- Daybed — Oregon pine and silk (Van Orshaegen × Van Meerbeeck)
- Wall pieces – Composition series — modified and lacquered Oregon pine
- A sculpture by Elias Van Orshaegen in Mahogany (tropical hardwood)
- Custom rug by Maarten Van Meerbeeck in New Zealand wool
Together, the works form a carefully orchestrated interior where materiality, proportion and placement define the character of the space.
A collaboration between furniture and interior design
GARÇONNIÈRE marks the first large-scale collaboration between Van Orshaegen and Van Meerbeeck. The project combines Van Orshaegen’s sculptural approach to furniture with Van Meerbeeck’s narrative approach to interior architecture, resulting in an installation that operates both as an exhibition of design objects and as a complete interior environment.
By framing the presentation as a sequence of spatial scenes, the installation invites visitors to experience furniture not as isolated objects but as elements within a larger architectural and atmospheric composition.
About
Elias Van Orshaegen (b. 1995) is a Belgian designer and maker working at the intersection of design, art and sculpture. His work is characterized by a hands-on approach to material and form, often emphasizing the physical and sensory qualities of wood and crafted surfaces. His objects combine sculptural presence with functional design.
Maarten Van Meerbeeck (b. 1996) is an Antwerp-based interior architect whose work focuses on creating layered interiors informed by historical references, art and architecture. His studio develops residential and hospitality projects across Europe and the United States.
Exhibition information
GARÇONNIÈRE
A cinematic installation by Elias Van Orshaegen and Maarten Van Meerbeeck
Location
Via San Maurilio 14
20123 Milan, Italy
Milan Design Week 2026
20 - 26 april 2026
11h-18h, or by appointment.
Selection of images
Download all images here
