a week with SCHINDLER

the schindler x8 elevator goes on tour

After an attention-grabbing debut at Milan Design Week 2025, Swiss mobility specialist Schindler is taking its 2025 innovation, the Schindler X8 elevator, on a European tour. The Schindler X8 on tour brings the company’s revolutionary design directly to cities including Milan and Basel, started with the Global Elevator Exhibition 2025 in Rho Fiera, Milan. The tour showcases two fully operational units of the Schindler X8, a first-of-its-kind traveling exhibit in the elevator industry, inviting architects, designers, urban planners, curious minds, home owners and design aficionados, to experience firsthand what Schindler calls ‘a new era of vertical mobility.’

after their debut at Milan Design Week 2025, Schindler has taken an unexpected step forward in bringing the innovation of the Schindler X8 | all images courtesy of Schindler

schindler redefines what an elevator can be

Founded in 1874 by Robert Schindler and Eduard Villiger in Lucerne, Switzerland, the Schindler Group began as a small mechanical workshop producing lifting equipment and machinery. Over 150 years later, it has grown into one of the world’s leading providers of elevators, escalators, and moving walkways, operating in more than 100 countries and employing over 69,000 people. With its headquarters in Ebikon, near Lucerne, Schindler continues to blend Swiss precision engineering with forward-thinking design. Its long-standing commitment to innovation, safety, and sustainability has made it a trusted name in both commercial and residential mobility solutions — now reaffirmed by the trailblazing Schindler X8.

In 2025, the Schindler X8 travels the world, redefining what an elevator can be. It is the only model that requires no headroom, no pit, and no structural shaft, operating instead on a standard power supply. This engineering leap makes it ideal for premium residential buildings and complex retrofit projects where traditional installations are impossible. More than a feat of functionality, the Schindler X8 elevates aesthetic standards: its sleek interiors and fully integrated wall doors turn it into a design object that blends seamlessly with architectural space.

the Schindler X8 is the only elevator that requires no headroom, no pit, and no structural shaft, and it operates on a standard power supply

integrating schindler x8 into existing structures

For architects and developers, the Schindler X8 offers newfound creative freedom. By eliminating conventional construction constraints, Schindler enables designers to integrate elevators into existing structures or conceptualize them as expressive architectural elements. This innovation opens possibilities for urban regeneration and residential transformation, supporting projects that merge form, function, and innovation. As the company puts it, the Schindler X8 is not merely an elevator — it’s a platform for imagination.

Launching ‘like a superstar,’ the Schindler X8 on tour introduces a groundbreaking concept: a mobile exhibition house with two operational elevators, allowing visitors to step inside and experience the future of mobility. The tour began in Milan (November 19–21, 2025) during the Global Elevator Exhibition (GEE), where Schindler hosted panel discussions on design, architecture, and real estate development. Highlights included talks such as ‘Beyond the Boundaries of Residential Planning’ with Regina De Albertis and Marco Amosso, and ‘Beautiful and Functional — A Dichotomy Overcome’ featuring Antonio Gioli, Giacomo Geroldi, and Marzia Dainelli.

more than just a practical product, the Schindler X8 transforms the elevator into a design object

The aesthetic language of the schindler x8 is built around a carefully curated palette of materials and finishes designed to harmonize with a wide range of interiors. The collection offers six interior moods, Luna, Mineral, Savanna, Forest, Volcano, and Terra, each inspired by natural textures and tones, from warm wood grains to mineral surfaces and deep, modern shades. These atmospheres can be further personalized with full-height or half-height mirrors, allowing the cabin to shift from spacious and airy to intimate and refined. The minimalist, wall-integrated doors also contribute to the clean aesthetic, creating uninterrupted surfaces and a seamless architectural presence. Combined with simple, high-quality detailing and a configurable digital experience, the schindler x8 allows homeowners and designers to match the elevator’s identity to its surroundings, making it not just a functional element but a cohesive extension of the interior design vision.

After its Milan premiere, the Schindler X8 tour will continue to Basel in January. For those unable to join the European tour, Schindler offers visits to its Sales Boutique on the company’s Ebikon campus, where the Schindler X8 can be explored in detail. Whether through its touring showcase or its home base in Switzerland, the Schindler X8 stands as a symbol of how technology, architecture, and design converge to shape the future of vertical living.

In case you missed the tour, check the future venues here! https://group.schindler.com/en/company/innovations/schindler-x8/on-tour.html

as part of an exciting European showcase, the Schindler X8 on Tour house presents two fully operational elevators: a first-of-its-kind initiative in the industry

because a concrete shaft is not required, the Schindler X8 is so flexible that it can adapt to different building spaces

the pre-designed interiors made by industry experts are inspired by the most sophisticated design trends

the Schindler X8 operates on a standard single-phase power supply, just like a common household appliance

the aesthetic language of the schindler x8 is built around a carefully curated palette of materials and finishes

the Schindler X8 on Tour opened at the Global Elevator Exhibition 2025 in Rho Fiera, Milan, in November 2025