Immersive Art on Lake Como: Sabine Marcelis’ Jelly Floats

The pool of the newly opened The Lake Como Edition hotel has become a playground of colour and form, as giant hot-pink, donut-shaped floaties take centre stage in a playful new installation. Titled Jelly Floats, the work transforms the hotel’s pool into a surreal spectacle, blending whimsy with contemporary design.

The installation is part of the Lake Como Design Festival, which continues to draw designers, architects, and enthusiasts from around the globe to Lake Como. Marcelis’ floaties, crafted from translucent PVC, hover like oversized sweets on the water, inviting both delight and contemplation.

The designer behind this bold experiment is Sabine Marcelis, the award-winning Dutch–New Zealand creator renowned for her sculptural furniture, lighting, and home décor. Known for her fascination with translucency, colour, and iconic shapes, Marcelis has previously explored similar forms across rugs, lamps, and bowls. With Jelly Floats, she takes her signature language into a new, inflatable medium, merging art and design in an unexpected aquatic environment.

The Lake Como EditionImmersive Art on Lake Como: Sabine Marcelis’ Jelly Floats, one of the newest landmarks on the lake, provides a striking backdrop for the installation. Its modern architecture and luxury design make it a fitting stage for this immersive experience, while the hotel itself continues to position Lake Como as a hub for cultural and design excellence.

As part of the broader festival programme, which includes exhibitions, workshops, and installations, Marcelis’ creation exemplifies the playful experimentation that has become synonymous with contemporary design at Lake Como. Visitors can explore the vivid, floating sculptures in the hotel pool, a striking fusion of creativity and spectacle on Lake Como’s water.

The Lake Como Design Festival runs until 21 September, inviting visitors to explore the city of Como and its surrounding lake. This year’s theme, Fragments, guides guests through a series of exhibitions and site-specific installations, offering multiple perspectives on contemporary design.

The Lake Como Edition

Via Regina, 41, 22011 Cadenabbia (CO)