Massimiliano Locatelli revives ancient mosaic art with ceramic murals at Milan Design Week 2026

Milanese architect Massimiliano Locatelli has transformed SiMa Townhouse bar into Glazed Bar during Milan Design Week 2026, featuring three ceramic mosaic murals across its three floors. The installation showcases a revival of the millennia-old mosaic technique, with artisans from Vietnam creating wall-sized compositions using meticulously cut ceramic fragments. Locatelli discovered these skilled craftspeople while working on a residential project for the Prime Minister's daughter in Vietnam, where he encountered families preserving traditional techniques passed through generations. The ground floor presents a playful drinks menu against a sky background, the first floor depicts Milan's Teatro alla Scala in tiny tiles, and the top level features a farmyard scene with chickens and fruit trees. The bar at Corso di Porta Vigentina 12 will be open from 6 pm to 1 am on April 11-18, 2026, and from 6 pm to 2 am on April 19-26, 2026. Mosaic murals date back to Roman times, visible at Pompeii and Ravenna's Byzantine basilicas, and were common in early 20th-century Milan entryways like Luigi Caccia Dominioni's Galleria Strasburgo. Locatelli emphasizes the three-dimensional, tactile quality of the murals, describing the experience as 'a trip through the building' from sky to countryside.