DOPIR – The First Bulgarian Pavilion at the Milano Design Week 2026
The Venue – The Casa Bagatti Valsecchi in Milan is a beautifully preserved 19th-century house museum designed in the style of an Italian Renaissance palace. Located in the prestigious Brera district, right next to Via Monte Napoleone, it showcases an extraordinary collection of art and decorative objects within an authentic historic setting. Its intimate courtyard provides a refined and atmospheric space often used for exclusive cultural events and exhibitions.
DOPIR marked the first independent Bulgarian pavilion at Milano Design Week, presenting a curated selection of designers, artists, architects and spatial practices.
Positioned within one of the most influential global design platforms, the project introduced a new perspective from Bulgaria — rooted in material exploration, craftsmanship, and contemporary expression.
Organised and curated by Kaloyan Vasilev and his Haute Charpenterie by KV Design, the pavilion was curated with the intention to position Bulgarian contemporary design within an international context — not as a trend, but as a distinct voice.
The selection process focused on authors with a strong individual language, working across object design, art, and spatial thinking.
Visitors engaged with the works through movement and proximity, experiencing design not only visually, but physically — through scale, texture, and presence. The exhibition unfolded as a spatial journey, where each piece contributed to a continuous narrative.
Material and form – a selection of objects – based practices exploring material as a primary language.
Wood, metal, resin, copper, marble, leather and corian become carriers of form gesture and tactile presence.
Through sculpture, photography and installation, these practices expand the boundaries between object, atmosphere and presence. Works that move beyond function, exploring transformation, image, emotion and perception.
A perspective on space as a living context – shaped through light, composition, architecture and human presence. These works frame the exhibition not only as a collection of objects, but as a spatial experience.
GLOBAL DESIGN PLATFORM – Milano Design Week is one of the most influential global platforms for contemporary design, bringing together leading brands, designers, and cultural institutions. Positioned within this context, DOPIR introduced Bulgarian contemporary design as part of an international dialogue — contributing a distinct and emerging perspective.
The pavilion was shaped through a careful process of spatial composition, balancing scale, material, and movement within a historic architectural context. Each work was positioned to create dialogue — not only with the space, but with one another, forming a cohesive and dynamic environment.
DOPIR introduced Bulgarian contemporary design to an international audience, creating visibility, dialogue, and new connections within the global design scene. The project positioned its participants within a broader cultural and professional context, opening opportunities for future collaborations and development.
