Bang & Olufsen Explores the Architecture of Sound at Milan Design Week 2026

At Milan Design Week 2026, Bang & Olufsen unveils a new chapter, extending beyond interiors and into the open air. Presented in collaboration with Antolini—a leader in natural stone since 1956—the installation reimagines how outdoor environments shape not just what we see, but what we hear and feel. Staged within Antolini’s MilanoDuomo Stoneroom, the experience invites visitors to move beyond Milan’s urban fabric and into a contemplative landscape where reflective water, sculptural greenery, and stone surfaces merge with gorgeously engineered acoustics.

At the heart of the presentation is a preview of Bang & Olufsen’s new landscape speaker, Beosound Haven—an object conceived as an element of its surroundings. Here, sound is treated as a spatial material, interacting with Antolini’s natural stones, including the luminous Taj Mahal quartzite, to create a layered sensory environment. 

Rippling water echoes subtle acoustic waves, while aluminum forms and organic textures engage in a quiet dialogue, underscoring a shared commitment to craftsmanship and innovation. The result? An atmosphere where technology and nature converge, and design becomes an experience that encourages us to be present.

“Design at Bang & Olufsen has always been about understanding the relationship between technology, materials, and the spaces people inhabit,” said Kresten Bjørn Krab-Bjerre, Bang & Olufsen’s Senior Director of Design. “With this installation, that philosophy extends beyond the traditional room, exploring how beautiful sound can engage the senses and transform outdoor environments into immersive, sensorial spaces.”

Building on a collaboration first introduced in 2025, this latest iteration signals an evolution in both brands’ philosophies—expanding their mutual focus on material excellence into the realm of outdoor living. Through Bang & Olufsen’s Atelier program and Antolini’s decades-long mastery of stone, the installation demonstrates how contrasting elements—precision and irregularity, permanence and ephemerality—can coexist in harmony. Together, they propose a new language for contemporary environments, one where sounds and surfaces unify to shape not just spaces, but how we inhabit them. 

Bjørn Krab-Bjerre shared with Whitewall details about its Milan Design Week presentation, the forthcoming design, and how it enhances natural atmospheres for a moving, meaningful experience.

Behind the Design: Bang & Olufsen’s Beosound Haven

WHITEWALL: For Design Week, Bang & Olufsen is previewing its forthcoming landscape speaker, Beosound Haven. How does this speaker blend sound, materials, and landscape to form a new language for outdoor living?

KRESTEN BJØRN KRAB-BJERRE: At its core, Beosound Haven is about treating sound as part of the landscape rather than placing an object within it. It reflects our belief that sound should belong—enhancing the atmosphere of a space rather than demanding attention. We’ve approached it as a flexible, compositional system that allows sound to live naturally in outdoor environments. Different elements, forms, volumes, and placements work together almost like a landscape, creating layers that feel integrated and intentional. From a design perspective, we explored the balance between architectural clarity and softer, more organic shapes. Combined with our use of aluminum, this creates a language that feels both precise and natural; distinctly Bang & Olufsen, yet fully connected to its surroundings.

Ultimately, it’s about creating freedom: the freedom to create an environment where sound is not just heard, but felt as part of the moment.

WW: You mentioned that the brand has “always been about understanding the relationship between technology, materials, and the spaces people inhabit.” How does this installation extend that philosophy beyond the traditional room?

KBKB: For us, everything starts with how people experience sound in their lives. It’s never just about technology—it’s about emotion, atmosphere, and connection. With this installation, we’re extending that thinking beyond the traditional room and into the outdoors, which today is a natural extension of how we live. Gardens, terraces, and open spaces have become places where we gather, relax, and create memories. These spaces deserve the same level of intention—and the same sense of atmosphere—as interiors. The idea is to create environments where sound becomes part of the experience. Not as an object, but as something that enhances how we feel a place: the light, the air, the presence of others.

At the same time, we think long-term. Through approaches like Atelier, we allow products to evolve with people over time through materials, finishes, and personal expression so they continue to feel relevant, both inside and out.

Environment Shaping Sound

WW: The installation is hosted at the Antolini Milano Duomo Stoneroom. How does it being shown here enhance the experience?

KBKB: This space is a perfect setting because here, material is not just surface—it’s atmosphere. That aligns very naturally with how we think about sound. There’s a strong synergy between the two brands. Both share a deep respect for materials, craftsmanship, and sensory experience. Bringing sound into this context allows us to explore how different elements—stone, light, acoustics, and form—come together to define a space emotionally, not just visually.

It becomes more than a presentation; it becomes an immersive environment where sound and material speak the same language.

WW: Can you tell us more about how the Antolini materials enhance both brands’ focus on craftsmanship and innovation?

KBKB: What makes the collaboration compelling is the dialogue between precision and nature. On one side, we have aluminum highly engineered, consistent, and exact. On the other, natural stone—unique, expressive, and formed over time. When brought together, they elevate each other. The precision highlights the organic character, while the richness of the stone adds warmth and depth to the metal.

For both brands, craftsmanship is about more than process—it’s about respect for the material and how it contributes to the overall experience. This meeting point between technology and nature reflects a shared ambition: to create something that not only performs but resonates on a sensory and emotional level.

Bang & Olufsen’s 100th Anniversary

WW: Bang & Olufsen celebrated its 100th anniversary last year. How does it feel to be working in design at the brand during such a milestone?

KBKB: It’s a very special moment. What stands out is the consistency of purpose staying true to the idea that technology should serve human experience, and that design should give it meaning. “Beautiful Sound” has always been our guiding principle. And for us, that goes beyond performance. It’s about how sound makes people feel—how it creates moments, memories, and connections. Being part of that legacy is meaningful because it’s not just about creating products, but about contributing to experiences that bring people closer—to music, to each other, and to their surroundings.

At the same time, a milestone like this is also about looking forward. Projects like Beosound Haven and collaborations like this show how we continue to explore new contexts while staying grounded in our core values.

WW: Can you tell us about your role and what a typical day looks like?

KBKB: We work in a very Danish way, with a flat hierarchy and a strong sense of ownership across the team. Each designer drives their area forward, and my role is to support that—removing obstacles, enabling decisions, and ensuring we stay aligned in direction. I enjoy working across both the creative and technical sides -whether that’s exploring materials, refining details, or working closely with suppliers to bring ideas into reality.

At the same time, I’m involved in defining the broader direction of the brand. It’s a balance between strategy and hands-on problem-solving, which keeps the work dynamic and constantly evolving.

Highlights from Milan Design Week

WW: What are you looking forward to experiencing during Milan Design Week?

KBKB: I tend to approach Milan with curiosity rather than a fixed plan. It’s about observing, listening, and experiencing what’s happening around you. Often, it’s the unexpected moments—conversations, encounters, different perspectives—that leave the strongest impression. They give a natural sense of where design and culture are moving. At the same time, it reinforces something we strongly believe in: we’re not here to chase trends, but to understand the world around us and translate that into meaningful, lasting experiences. That’s where we feel we can contribute in a way that is authentic to who we are.