Anyone who visited Milan Design Week this year noticed a striking trend: curves are replacing sharp edges, transitions are becoming smoother, and shapes are becoming more organic.

This isn’t entirely new. At least not for Boffi—or for us.

A Design Language with a History

While many manufacturers are currently rediscovering the organic design language, it has been part of Boffi’s design evolution for years.
As early as 2017, the Cove Kitchen, designed by Zaha Hadid, attracted international attention and demonstrated how closely architecture and the kitchen are intertwined at Boffi. The subsequent reinterpretation of the Cove, as well as its expansion to include a continuous snack counter, has consistently carried this line forward and refined it.

This makes it clear: at Boffi, soft forms are not a trend, but part of an ongoing exploration of space, form, and construction.

XPL: Reduction as an Architectural Approach

The special kitchen innovation unveiled in Milan in 2026 is called XPL and was designed by Piero Lissoni.
It is conceived as a further development of the Xila system, which was originally designed for Boffi by Luigi Massoni in 1972. It is based on a clear principle: reduction of form, control of proportions, and precision in detail.
XPL translates this principle into an island that appears in the space like an architectural volume — calm, precise, and light despite its size.

The true innovation lies beneath the surface.

At first glance, the minimalist design dominates, followed only then by the gently rounded side geometry. Lissoni describes this step with deliberate restraint:
“XPL stems from the idea of reducing the design to its essence… And, for once, I even allowed myself to soften the edges: a small gesture of kindness.”
This “gesture of kindness” naturally makes a big difference, but it is not the core of the design.

The real innovation lies in the engineering achievement behind it.
XPL enables a kitchen island up to 3.60 meters long, yet one whose volume still appears light and precise. The key is the way technology and construction are integrated:
• Water supply and drainage are integrated into the side structures
• The island remains visually uncluttered and minimalist
• An architecturally controlled airspace beneath the crossbar emphasizes its lightness
• The countertop subtly overlaps the side panels
As a result, the island loses its classic technical appearance and gains a strong architectural component.

Architecture Rather Than an Object

At Boffi, design does not begin with form, but with the question of how space functions.
How can a kitchen island appear both prominent and light at the same time?
How can complex technology be invisibly integrated into a clean structure?
How does a calm architectural volume emerge from the construction?
XPL answers all these questions.

Insights from Milan

We had the opportunity to reflect on these and other developments from Milan in a conversation with FindMyHome.

Read more here:
Design Update from Milan – Why the Kitchen of 2026 Is Losing Its Corners

Conclusion: XPL as a consistent Evolution

The new kitchen island expands the existing portfolio of exceptional kitchens with yet another, meticulously crafted solution that demonstrates how consistently Boffi works to blend architecture, construction, and minimalism.
It is not a passing trend.
It is the continuation of a clear philosophy.

For us, XPL is clearly one of the most important kitchen innovations of Milan Design Week 2026 because it brings this philosophy to life with a new level of structural consistency.
Chapeau!