HENGE RETURNS TO VOCLA FOR MILAN DESIGN WEEK 2026
Henge transforms a new space within Alcova’s Ospedale Militare into the second iteration of the show’s after-dark destination
26 March 2026
Milan, Italy - 26 March 2026: During Milan Design Week 2026, Henge returns to VOCLA, the evening project founded by Alcova, continuing a collaboration that approaches design as a lived experience rather than a traditional exhibition. First introduced in 2025, VOCLA established itself as an alternative rhythm within Design Week, combining installation, music and hospitality into a social environment designed for gathering and staying.
The 2026 edition unfolds within a dedicated area of the Ospedale Militare di Baggio, part of Alcova. The historic military hospital previously served as Alcova’s main hub in 2021 and 2022, and its return reactivates one of Milan Design Week’s most recognisable sites. Composed of multiple buildings and outdoor spaces, the complex allows VOCLA to operate as an autonomous evening destination while remaining embedded within Alcova’s programme.
Henge shapes the environment through an installation developed in dialogue with the existing architecture, allowing circulation, pauses and gathering points to emerge naturally from the space. VOCLA remains primarily an evening and night format, with evening access by invitation only, while also opening during the day, when the public will be able to visit and experience the space, offering visitors a place to return to throughout the week. In addition to the evening programme, VOCLA will also function as a daytime cultural platform that further expands its role within Alcova’s public-facing activities. The space will host a series of talks and conversations featuring international speakers, including Bjarke Ingels, Chief Architect of BIG, and Eleni Petaloti of the designer duo Objects of Common Interest. VOCLA will also stage the official ALCOVA press conference on Sunday 19 April at 10am.
Rather than presenting individual pieces, Henge constructs a cohesive setting where material, light and atmosphere guide the experience. Stone and mineral surfaces, metal reflections, glass and calibrated lighting, together with textiles and leather seating, create a setting intended for comfort and permanence. Several elements are designed specifically for VOCLA, conceived not as display pieces but as functional components of a living environment.
Music forms an integral part of the programme, while food and beverage are approached as genuine hospitality, reinforcing the idea of VOCLA as a meeting point within the intensity of Design Week. The collaboration with Yapa continues for the 2026 edition, curating drinks and food throughout the week in a more fluid hospitality format, evolving beyond last year’s restaurant concept. Entry and capacity are carefully managed to maintain a fluid and welcoming atmosphere.
The creative direction is developed by Henge and signed by Ugo Cacciatori, continuing an approach centred on material presence and spatial atmosphere. More than an exhibition, VOCLA positions itself as an evening landscape within Milan Design Week, reflecting a broader shift toward formats that prioritise community, cultural exchange and the pleasure of spending time together.
NOTES TO EDITORS
ALCOVA - Opening Times
Baggio Military Hospital, Giovanni Labus, 10, 20147
20th - 26th April
11am - 7pm (Last entry 6pm)
For more information: www.alcova.xyz
ALCOVA - Baggio Military Hospital
Press Preview
Sunday 19 April, 9:00am - 3:30pm
Press Conference: 10am
By accreditation only
For more information: press@alcovamilano.com
ABOUT HENGE
Founded in 2011 by Paolo Tormena, current CEO, and architect Isabella Genovese, Henge is an Italian luxury furniture brand that combines high artisanal craftsmanship with visionary design. Henge is a creative laboratory whose philosophy is rooted in the pursuit of unique materials and innovation, creating timeless pieces that blend tradition and modernity.
In recent years, Henge has expanded its international presence with the opening of showrooms in key design capitals worldwide. Today, Henge operates in over 70 countries through its network and collaborates with leading architects and interior designers, including Ugo Cacciatori, Massimo Castagna, Johanna Grawunder and Yabu Pushelberg.
In 2024, Henge inaugurated a 600-square-meter flagship store in the heart of Chelsea, London, during the London Design Festival, as well as its first showroom in the United States, located in Miami’s Design District, which was inaugurated to coincide with Miami’s cultural week in December. By the end of 2025, Henge plans to open a showroom in Venice, which will be located in a palazzo by the Canal Grande, further strengthening its presence in Italy and offering a new space where clients and industry professionals can immerse themselves in the brand’s universe.
ABOUT ALCOVA
Founded in 2018 by Valentina Ciuffi (Studio Vedèt) and Joseph Grima (Space Caviar), Alcova is a nomadic platform that, during Milan Design Week, gathers designers, companies, institutions, and researchers to collectively explore the future of living and making. By reviving abandoned, forgotten, or inaccessible sites into creative hubs, Alcova has rapidly become one of the most visited and discussed events on the global design calendar.