Simone Farresin from the Italian studio Formafantasma talks about his practice, together with his partner Andrea Trimarchi, their work, and the different approaches to projects. He also tackles their participation in the Milan Design Week, and the political role of creatives in the world.
Milan: The Latest Architecture and News
Simone Farresin From Formafantasma On Milan Design Week and the Responsibility of Designers
sunRICE Installation / Carlo Ratti Associati
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Architects: Carlo Ratti Associati
- Year: 2024
Milan Design Week Opens with Events and Exhibitions at Salone del Mobile and Across the City
As Milan Design Week begins, the Italian city is transformed into the grounds of one of the most expansive celebrations of global design, with its streets and venues brimming with cultural events, exhibitions, large-scale installations, talks and conferences. At Rho Fiera, the 62nd edition of the Salone del Mobile.Milano brings together designers, architects, producers and leading figures of the design world, featuring over 1950 exhibitors which will remain open for the next 6 days. Additionally, across the city Fuorisalone opens up locations across the city with an engaging and varied cultural program.
New York, Milan, and Venice Amongst Participants in C40's Reinventing Cities Competition 2024
“Reinventing Cities,” C40’s renowned global design competition, has just announced its fourth edition. The competition’s main goal is to “transform underutilized sites or buildings into beacons of sustainability and resilience and act as a showcase for future zero-carbon urban developments.” This year, 15 cities have stepped up the challenge, inviting professionals from various disciplines to reimagine underutilized urban sites and design transformations prioritizing sustainability and inclusivity.
With a commitment to zero-carbon, urban resilient projects, Reinventing Cities has engaged over 3,500 businesses worldwide with 40 projects currently under development globally. This year’s competition is characterized by its ambitious environmental and social objectives; with participating cities spanning continents, including Almere, Bilbao, Bologna, Brussels, Glasgow, Milan, New York, Palermo, Renca, Rome, San Antonio, San Francisco, São Paulo, Seattle, and Venice.
A Recycling Center in Zurich and a Resilience Hub in Arizona: 8 Unbuilt Projects That Champion Adaptive Reuse
As the landscape of architecture and urban development adapts to the modern climate, the traditional notion of construction has been significantly modified and adjusted. Specifically, principles of reuse, recycling, adaptive reuse, and the power of transforming existing structures into something more meaningful and sustainable have gained much traction. Looking at these curated collections of unbuilt projects, one can begin exploring a different way of looking at buildings and heritage, which is significantly more sensitive to the built environment.
From the austere office buildings of the United Kingdom to the proposal to re-activate a skyscraper in Ostrava, these diverse contexts tell stories of resilience, innovation, and a profound commitment to the existing built environment. Offering a new way of looking at things, the projects champion adaptive reuse and activation concepts.
Milan’s San Siro Stadium Spared from Demolition Owning to its Historical Significance
Milan’s iconic Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, also known as San Siro, has been saved from demolition after a decision of the Regional Commission for the Cultural Heritage of Lombardy has determined that the stadium holds cultural significance. The stadium, home ground to f AC Milan and Inter Milan football teams, was set to be replaced by a new stadium, named “The Cathedral”, designed by American architecture studio Populous. The office continues to work with Inter Milan football club to develop a new stadium proposal in the Rozzano neighborhood, according to reporting in the La Gazzetta dello Sport.
OMA's Prada Foundation Through the Lens of Bahaa Ghoussainy
In 2018, OMA opened the Fondazione Prada in Milan, Italy, housed within a former gin distillery established in 1910. The project which includes a statement facade cladded in 24-carat gold leaf and camouflaged mirrors, comprises the renovation of seven buildings in the Largo Isarco industrial complex on Milan’s southern outskirts, making the foundation neither a preservation project nor a new architecture. Recently, photographer Bahaa Ghoussainy captured the infamous structure in his new architectural photo series.
The Iconic Gallaratese Complex in Milan Through the Lens of Kane Hulse
In the aftermath of the Second World War, a drastic housing shortage spread across Europe, and Milan was no exception. Various plans and solutions were conceived to address this crisis, outlining satellite communities for the city to accommodate between 50,000 and 130,000 residents each. The first of these communities began construction in 1946, just one year after the war's end: the Gallaratese project.
In late 1967, as the plan allowed for the private development of Gallaratese 2, the esteemed Studio Ayde, led by partner Carlo Aymonino, was assigned the project. Aymonino invited Aldo Rossi to contribute his architectural skill to the complex, leading to the realization of their distinct visions for an ideal microcosmic community. Together, these two Italian architects began a journey to shape a groundbreaking and historically significant housing icon for Milan. Captured through the lens of Kane Hulse, the building and it’s significance is revisited through this photo series.
Pharo Office Building / Park Associati
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Architects: Park Associati
- Area: 22100 m²
- Year: 2022
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Professionals: General Planning, REAAS, Gualini
Vertigo Terrace / Park Associati
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Architects: Park Associati
- Area: 753 m²
- Year: 2023
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Manufacturers: Appiani, Gruppo Romani, Vetreria Busnelli
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Professionals: Consalez Rossi Architetti Associati, Tekser Srl, Sajni e Zambetti s.r.l., Gruppo Prisma
PAN Bakery Milano / studio wok
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Architects: studio wok
- Year: 2023
Back to the Future Installation / AB+AC Architects
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Architects: AB+AC Architects
- Area: 50 m²
- Year: 2023
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Manufacturers: Fantini Mosaici