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MILANApril 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kohler, in collaboration with Flamingo Estate founder Richard Christiansen, unveiled The Flamingo Estate Bathhouse by Kohler at Milan Design Week 2026. This immersive, multi-sensory installation invites visitors into a world centered on the “elements,” where architecture, landscape, and tranquility are perceived as an intertwined, interdependent holistic experience, creating a space for contemplation and renewal.
The Flamingo Estate Bathhouse by Kohler Debuts at Milan Design Week
Located in the courtyard of the Padiglione d’Arte Contemporanea (Via Palestro 14), the installation centers on a single bathhouse structure. This bold Brutalist form appears to grow organically from a meadow of seven types of unadorned wildflowers, blurring the boundary between architectural form and organic ecology. The 247-square-foot monolithic building draws inspiration from the bathroom at Flamingo Estate in California, employing weathered metal and raw-textured surfaces as its core material language. The exterior is finished with Intonachino plaster, presenting a concrete-like mineral texture and mass. Inside, a giant stained-glass window crafted by Milanese artisan Samuele Dossena allows light to filter through and scatter across terracotta-toned surfaces; Flamingo Estate candles punctuate the space, further enhancing the quiet, contemplative atmosphere.
Richard Christiansen, founder of Flamingo Estate, said: “This bathhouse is a meditation on ritual, nature, and the quiet power of materials. We envisioned a space where wildflowers, water, and light converge to create a sensory experience that reconnects one with the rhythms of the earth. Collaborating with Kohler allowed us to bring this vision to life with extraordinary craftsmanship, creating a space that invites people to slow down, reflect, and re-engage with the natural world.”
Stepping inside the bathhouse, visitors encounter Reverie — a new interpretation of Kohler’s iconic freestanding enameled cast-iron bathtub, now clad in an external copper structure that serves as the visual focal point of the space. This copper cladding envelops the cast-iron tub, which itself is made from at least 80% recycled materials, underscoring Kohler’s enduring commitment to sustainable craftsmanship and durable design traditions. This marks the first time Kohler has used copper as a central visual and material language in a bath design, introducing a new expressive dimension to the product category.
David Kohler, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Kohler Co., said: “Design and creativity have always been core strengths at Kohler, shaping both our heritage and driving our ongoing evolution. We see design as a bridge connecting legacy and innovation, continuously evolving through material exploration and craftsmanship. We are thrilled to collaborate with Richard Christiansen and Flamingo Estate during Milan Design Week and to continue inspiring through art and design.”
The garden space features four one-of-a-kind pollinator baths, conceived by Christiansen, designed by Kohler, and cast at its historic foundry in Wisconsin. These sculptural vessels provide habitats and resting spots for birds, bees, and other pollinators, extending the installation’s narrative of reciprocity between human craftsmanship and the natural world.
Michael Seum, Vice President of Global Design at Kohler Co., said: “With The Flamingo Estate Bathhouse, we wanted to explore the relationship between architecture and ecology — how design can create moments of care not only for people but also for the natural environment around us. The pollinator baths translate this concept into sculptural language: the exterior draws on the structural logic of Brutalism, while the interior transitions into more organic, nature-inspired surface expressions. This reflects our belief that design should reserve space for both human ritual and environmental stewardship.”
The Flamingo Estate Bathhouse by Kohler elevates the bathing experience into a restorative practice, making it a space for both ritual and repose — where the body slows, the mind quiets, and the perception of light, water, and materials is reawakened and deepened. Through the fusion of architecture, craftsmanship, and ecology, the installation presents the shared vision of Kohler and Flamingo Estate: that true, lasting well-being stems from a deeper connection with nature.
The candles within the bathhouse were created by Flamingo Estate exclusively for this installation. Flamingo Estate Pollinator Candles are paired with Pollinator Bath Soap Bars. Their fragrance is inspired by a stroll through the streets of Milan. Wild Linden Blossom is an olfactory invitation to wander through Milan in full bloom. As summer approaches, the iconic linden trees burst into fragrance — spreading a rich, honeyed warmth along entire boulevards, capturing Milan in its purest form. In sun-drenched markets, bergamot sparkles with the green and bright notes of its peel, while sweet pollen drifts lightly through the air. The candles and soap bars are available for purchase at FlamingoEstate.com.
The installation will be unveiled at the Padiglione d’Arte Contemporanea during Milan Design Week’s FuoriSalone, located at Via Palestro 14, 20121 Milan, Italy, and will be open to the public from Tuesday, April 21, through Sunday, April 26. Opening hours are as follows: Tuesday from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Wednesday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
For installation images and more information, click here to access the press kit.
About Kohler Co.
For over 150 years, Kohler Co. has been a global leader in bold design and innovation, committed to helping people live elegant, healthy, and sustainable lives through its kitchen and bath products, luxury cabinetry, tile and lighting, wellness offerings and services, as well as luxury hospitality experiences and major golf tournaments. Kohler Co. is a privately held company founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin. The company also develops sustainable living solutions to improve the quality of life for current and future generations. Its Innovation for Good platform addresses pressing issues such as clean water and safe sanitation for underserved communities through groundbreaking products and services. David Kohler serves as Chair and Chief Executive Officer, representing the fourth generation of Kohler family leadership.