For Milan Design Week, Sten Studio transformed an abandoned chapel into the stage for a sculptural wedding ceremony. Titled The Wedding, the installation invites visitors to witness a symbolic union where objects gather like silent guests around a moment of encounter, celebration, and permanence.
Presented within the historic setting of Alcova, the project emerged directly from the architecture of the space. Upon encountering the abandoned chapel, the studio was immediately struck by its atmosphere, a place once devoted to rituals of union and celebration. Rather than simply occupying the space, Sten Studio chose to respond to it, imagining a ceremony unfolding within its walls.
“Weddings are one of the most universal rituals in human life,” says Jose Schnaider, Creative Director of Sten Studio. “With The Wedding, we wanted to translate that shared emotional moment into stone, transforming something fleeting into something enduring. When visitors first enter the room, they might think they are simply walking into a design exhibition, but as they move through the space, they realize they are actually witnessing a wedding ceremony designed to take their breath away.”
At the center of the installation stand two sculptural presences: the bride and the groom. Conceived as monumental stone lamps, they embody complementary forces: feminine and masculine, softness and structure, intuition and strength. Positioned before the altar, the two figures anchor the installation in a moment suspended between anticipation and union.
Surrounding them, the rest of the collection gathers as witnesses to the ceremony. Stools, tables, benches, and candleholders assemble throughout the chapel like invited guests, each piece composed of carefully selected stones whose colors, textures, and mineral patterns bring individuality and character to the scene.
Beneath the installation, a custom carpet created by Verdi in woven copper and stainless steel threads introduces another material dialogue. The metallic surface reflects light and movement across the chapel floor, extending the installation’s language beyond stone into a shimmering terrain.
Floral forms appear throughout the installation, translated into sculptural candleholders that echo the presence of flowers and light in celebratory rituals. Alongside these mineral interpretations, British floral artist Hamish Powell introduces living sculptures, bringing a temporary botanical layer into the chapel.
Within The Wedding, Hamish Powell explores the central paradox of the ceremony: a fleeting moment that signifies a lasting union. Stabilised Italian dandelion introduces a light, transient presence, while preserved amaranthus, rooted in Mexican cultural history, brings permanence through its suspended, cascading form. Together, they reflect how a wedding exists briefly, yet carries meaning that endures far beyond the day.
The project was developed in just three and a half months, from concept and design to fabrication and installation. This accelerated process reflects the studio’s ability to move fluidly between concept, material exploration, and production, highlighting the craftsmanship, technical expertise, and collaborative spirit that define Sten Studio’s practice.
“The collection is rooted in one of the most meaningful moments of my life: my wedding,” says Liliana Radilla, Head of Design at Sten Studio. “From that memory, the space, the emotions, and the presence of those around me, the pieces began to take shape. Once the central figures of the bride and groom were defined, the rest of the objects emerged as presences that accompany and celebrate the union, transforming a personal moment into lasting forms.”
More than a collection of objects, The Wedding is conceived as an immersive narrative, a contemporary ritual where design becomes storytelling and matter becomes emotion.
Inside the chapel, visitors do not simply encounter objects. They witness a ceremony.
Photography courtesy of Sten Studio.
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