A nod to the power of nature to spur innovation greets visitors to Milan this week, thanks to some innovative materials from 3M.

The installation, “A Pinnacle of Reflection,” is a collaboration between 3M Design and architect Matteo Thun & Partners for Milan Design Week and incorporates multiple 3M products to create a lustrous color experience.

“This year at Milan Design Week we celebrate how nature inspires designers and scientists to learn and innovate every day,” says Eric Quint, vice president and chief design officer at 3M.

Visitors can step inside the tower to get a sense of how the rare blue morphic butterfly informed 3M’s multilayer optical film technology, as well as the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly, which represents the characteristics of innovation.

3M materials used throughout the installation include 3M™ Dichroic, FASARA™ and DI-NOC™ architectural films and 3M™ Nomad™ floor mats.

“The project is about playfully experimenting with 3M's innovative materials and creating a mimetic effect on the architecture. The visitor becomes part of this unity,” said Matteo Thun, architect and founder of Matteo Thun & Partners.