#Italy #Milan #Kohler #Flamingo Estate #Milan Design Week

Kohler's Flamingo Estate Bathhouse: An Oasis of Wellness

At the Milan Design Week 2026, Kohler has collaborated with Richard Christiansen, the founder of Flamingo Estate, to unveil a multisensory installation that invites visitors to immerse themselves in the primal elements of nature. This innovative exhibit emphasizes the unity of architecture, landscape, and tranquility, creating a space for reflection and rejuvenation.

A Bold Architectural Statement

Nestled in the courtyard of Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea during Fuorisalone, the exhibition features a daring brutalist design inspired by the distinctive spa structure situated amidst the California hills on the Flamingo Estate grounds. This installation showcases a new incarnation of Kohler's iconic freestanding enameled cast iron tub, now adorned with a pure metal lid, impressively presented in copper. The color palette of this masterpiece draws from weathered metals and natural surfaces, as if it organically emerged from its environment rather than imposing itself upon it. Elevated above a meadow of untamed wildflowers, the design philosophy underscores a commitment to harmony with nature.

The Flamingo Estate Bathhouse transforms bathing into a restorative experience characterized by ritual and sanctuary, soothing the body, calming the mind, and enhancing awareness of light, water, and materials. At the installation's heart lies the new Kohler Reverie enamelled cast iron bathtub with a copper lid, blending architectural precision with elemental richness, while pushing the boundaries of design language. This breathtaking piece captivates with surfaces that absorb sunlight filtered through grand stained-glass windows, complemented by 200 flamingo estate candles lining the walls, deepening the atmosphere of serene contemplation.

Intersection of Tradition and Innovation

The featured copper shell, premiered in Milan, represents 153 years of Kohler's dedication to craftsmanship, while ushering in a bold new chapter in material innovation. Traditional techniques of hand-forming, welding, and finishing intersect with contemporary artistry, shaping the future of bathroom design.

Scattered within the wild garden are four unique pollinator baths—conceptualized by Christiansen, designed by Kohler, and cast in Kohler's historic foundry in Wisconsin, USA. Each uniquely shaped bath extends the narrative of the installation, emphasizing the relationship between human craftsmanship and nature, serving as havens for birds, bees, and other pollinating species. Utilizing durable materials that foster biodiversity, these pollinator baths reflect the shared belief of Kohler and Flamingo Estate that sustainable living and well-being arise from design that respects the rhythms, needs, and poetic intelligence of nature.

Celebrating Craft and Lifestyle

This enchanting collaborative environment highlights a passion for craftsmanship, culture, and a lifestyle that finds sustainability through moderation and well-being through connection with nature. The Flamingo Estate Bathhouse by Kohler will be showcased during FuoriSalone at Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea, located at Via Palestro 14, 20121 Milan, Italy. The installation will be open to the public from Tuesday, April 21, to Sunday, April 26, during the following hours: Tuesday, 12:00–19:00; Wednesday, 12:00–16:00 and 20:00–22:00; Thursday to Saturday, 12:00–22:00; and Sunday, 12:00–18:00.

For photographs and additional information, visit [here].

About Kohler Co.

For over 150 years, Kohler Co. has been a global leader in design and innovation. Through kitchen and bath products, luxury furnishings, tiles, lighting, wellness solutions, and hospitality experiences—including hosting prestigious golf tournaments—Kohler helps people live elegantly, healthily, and sustainably. Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin, this private company has a long-standing commitment to developing sustainable lifestyle solutions aimed at improving the quality of life for both current and future generations. Its Innovation for Good platform addresses urgent global challenges, such as access to clean water and safe sanitation, through innovative products and services to underprivileged communities. Kohler is led by David Kohler, a fourth-generation member of the Kohler family.

About Flamingo Estate

Founded in the 1940s on the hills above Los Angeles, Flamingo Estate has always been a hedonistic enclave celebrating sunshine, folk myths, and nature’s healing power—a secret sanctuary of wild alchemy in the City of Angels. Today, it serves as the home of Richard Christiansen, who embodies the radical celebration of garden pleasures rooted in its origins. Here, they cultivate nature's most precious gifts at the precise moment they are needed. Flamingo Estate operates under the belief that nature is the ultimate luxury, collaborating with over 125 farms and growers to source exceptional ingredients. These are not ordinary ingredients, but the purest forms of natural materials, each traceable to specific growers, creating daily rituals rich in nutrients and sensory experiences, with nature as the guide.