LONDON (UNITED KINGDOM) (ITALPRESS) – Internationally renowned architects and designers gathered at the Italian Cultural Institute in London evening to talk about “The History of Design and Architecture and FuoriSalone,” an event organized by the Institute headed by Francesco Bongarrà in collaboration with Interni magazine on the occasion of its 70th anniversary.
Deyan Sudijc, former Director of the Design Museum in London and Domus magazine, columnist for Interni and co-author of the book “30 Years of FuoriSalone,” world-renowned designer Ron Arad, Studio Director of Zaha Hadid, Michele Pasca di Magliano, and architect Claudia Pasquero, who specializes in environmental biotechnology, moderated by architect Carlo Biasia, spoke to a highly qualified audience of mostly British architects and designers about design in general, their professional and artistic connection with our country, new trends, and their own projects in the immediate and future.
“It is a huge pleasure to welcome here these very important global exponents of design and architecture,” said Bongarrà, introducing the guests to the packed hall, “and I am delighted to have the London Institute of Culture’s collaboration with Interni continue, a fruitful relationship that has lasted for years, and to wish this wonderful magazine a happy birthday.
Deyan Sudjic expressed his appreciation for the happy working partnership between the British and Italian design worlds “Italy, thank you!” he exclaimed, then recalling the years when in Milan, the capital par excellence of Italian Design thanks also to important initiatives such as the Triennale, the Salone del Mobile and, of course, the FuoriSalone, those architects and designers who are still among the best known in the world today, such as Gio’ Ponti, Achille Castiglione and Enzo Mari, to name but a few, and the specialized magazines such as Domus, Abitare and Interni, often edited by architects, were formed. Ron Arad spoke about his experience at the Salone and FuoriSalone. “It was in Milan,” he stressed, “that I met all my heroes, Castiglione and Mari first of all, but also Ettore Sottsass. And it is in Italy,” he continued, “that you find the best artisans, those who are able to make prototypes that turn out to be of superior quality to the finished industrial product. In the background, images of some of the design objects made by Arad, from the very famous BookWorm onward.
Michele Pasca di Magliano showed the audience some of the major projects of the Zaha Hadid Studio he heads, “A studio that is constantly growing. Our team now includes 500 people, we follow projects all over the world.” Starting with the well-known “Citylife” in MIlano, and the MAXXI in Rome, but also the Henderson in Hong Kong, the Unicorn Island in Sichuan, the New Science Centre in Singapore, and many others. “We currently have 40 open construction sites in 28 countries,” he added.
Finally, Claudia Pasquero, of ecoLogic Studio, described her work focused on digital bio-design and the search for the new technology of nature: “An example for all,” she explained, “is Tree.One, an example of biotechnology that redefines the boundaries of what is natural, and allows us to observe the repercussions on our future life.
Upcoming architecture and design event at the London Institute of Culture on Wednesday, Sept. 18. On stage at Belgrave Square will be architect Mario Cucinella, author of the Italian pavilion at EXPO 2025 Osaka, in conversation with Maria Porro, President of the Milan Furniture Fair, moderated by curator Priya Khanchandani, in the presence of Ambassador Mario Vattani, Commissioner General for Italy at EXPO 2025.
(ITALPRESS).
