KIRI³

In the Cortile d'Onore of the University of Milan (Statale di Milano), the very heart of Fuorisalone 2026, MM Design and Xlam Dolomiti present an architectural-scale installation: a 4x4 metre cube built entirely from Paulownia and SUPERTIMBER, an innovative material achieved through the patented densification of Paulownia wood (known as Kiri in Japanese). The name KIRI³ is a manifesto in itself: the cube (the geometric third power) and the Kiri (Paulownia) merge into a single word, synthesising material, form, and meaning. It is not merely a metaphor; it is a structural statement.

This project stems from the synergy between MM Design, one of the world's most awarded Italian industrial and strategic design studios, and Xlam Dolomiti, a Trentino-based industrial centre of excellence with over a decade of expertise in producing structural timber panels. Prior to KIRI³, the two partners collaborated on Kirizuna, a SUPERTIMBER seating system showcased at the ADI Design Museum as part of the Legno Trentino collective. KIRI³ represents the natural next step: scaling up from product design to architectural frameworks.

SUPERTIMBER takes centre stage. Developed by Xlam Dolomiti as part of the SU.PRE.MO research project, in collaboration with Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK) and supported by the Autonomous Province of Trento, this material is born from the industrial densification of Paulownia planks. It acquires unprecedented characteristics: a density exceeding 1,000 kg/m³, mechanical strength comparable to steel, a carbon-negative footprint, and fire resistance vastly superior to standard timber. Furthermore, it can be machined and glued like any conventional wood.

Paulownia (Kiri) is the fastest-growing tree globally: a single hectare of cultivation absorbs over 100 tonnes of CO2 annually, up to ten times more than other plant species. Crucially, it regenerates directly from the stump without the need for replanting.

MM Design chose to entrust the entire narrative to the material itself. No claddings, no finishes. The result is a lattice structure featuring thin boards and reduced thicknesses that would be impossible to achieve with any other wood. At the centre of the cube, a stylised Paulownia emerges as a sculptural element: a sacred tree in Japanese culture, a symbol connecting earth and sky, and a living manifesto of the project's core philosophy. The design, signed by MM Design, conveys formal rigour and technical radicalism. The structure can support weights that are otherwise impossible for such thin profiles. This is not just an aesthetic suggestion; it is a practical, verifiable demonstration of SUPERTIMBER's exceptional qualities.

"KIRI³ demonstrates that the future of construction and product design lies in materials that not only respect the environment but actively regenerate it. SUPERTIMBER does not simply replace steel: it redefines the very concept of structural sustainability."
- Alex Terzariol, Designer and General Manager, MM Design

KIRI³ is more than just an installation; it is the tip of the iceberg. The profound knowledge behind the project, spanning decades of materials research, field trials, and performance benchmarks, is accessible on Mathub (mathub.eu), the digital archive of material know-how launched by MM Design in 2023. Kiri/SUPERTIMBER is one of the platform's flagship materials: technical data, application sheets, and comparative analyses form a comprehensive knowledge ecosystem that turns every discovery into a tool for continuous design.

KIRI³ and Kirizuna are not isolated projects: they are two demonstrators of an application potential that remains largely unexplored. Architectural structures, interior design, lightweight mobility, structural packaging, and professional equipment: wherever conventional steel or timber is used today, SUPERTIMBER is already a highly credible alternative. Multidisciplinarity is not an abstract value here; it is the vital condition that transforms research into an object, the object into a system, and the system into genuine innovation.