Zona Santambrogio promotes the best projects, exhibitions and events in Milan's Design Week district, between Piazza Sant'Ambrogio, Cadorna, the Castello Sforzesco and the Parco Sempione.
Zona Santambrogio confirms itself once again this year as one of the youngest districts in the Fuorisalone landscape of the Design Week 2017, presenting a rich calendar of events spanning design, culture and history to create connections and showcase the work of designers, artists and excellence-driven companies.
DoUtDesign, confirmed once again as the central hub of Zona Santambrogio, is located in the former convent on via San Vittore. Beyond the truly evocative setting surrounded by greenery, the space is well worth a visit for a number of projects that pay close attention to sustainability, both in terms of products and social design. The 2017 edition, Design to save, change, dream the world, is an invitation addressed to young designers under 35 to reflect on the potential of design in the world of social and environmental sustainability. The exhibition presents a selection of projects and services attentive to themes linked to ecology, such as the life cycle of materials and products and the environmental impact of production.
Wami is a new mineral water brand born with a simple yet revolutionary mission: to put an end to the global problem of access to water by giving each of us the opportunity to be part of a solution. How? By purchasing Wami water bottles at more than 30 bars and restaurants across Milan and Bologna. With every bottle of Wami, 100 litres of drinking water are donated to those who need it most, contributing to the construction of wells in villages where water is not easily accessible and is often not safe to drink. Wami carries out these projects with experienced partners such as Lifewater International, first identifying the community in need and analysing the subsoil to find a safe and sustainable water table. The project by Giacomo Stefanini gives anyone who drinks bottled water on a daily basis the chance to make a more ethical and responsible choice.
OrangeBi is a material that uses industrial processing waste — such as orange peel — transforming it into an organic, mouldable, ecological and non-toxic substance. It has no disposal costs and is biodegradable in soil, where, thanks to the enzymes contained in the peel, it becomes an excellent fertiliser. Young designer Ginevra Taccola presents a collection of material forms, textures and colours created using this truly innovative material, 100 per cent natural and biodegradable in 4 days. How to turn a waste material into something genuinely innovative.
For the very first time, Parco Sempione is hosting a one-of-a-kind exhibition dedicated to the world of design and architecture and to ways of inhabiting and experiencing urban space: five residential units, both Italian and international, alongside design projects devoted to urban sustainability and renewable energy. Inhabits explores solutions and technologies that will change the way we live, conveying its message through moments of entertainment and collective reflection.
Suri (Shelter units for rapid installation) is a housing solution for emergency situations, conceived in the wake of the 2011 earthquake in Lorca, Spain, which seeks to improve the lives and working conditions of people displaced by emergencies and natural disasters. The structure is modular and can be assembled in numerous configurations; the walls are permeable, breathable and insulating, and assembly is straightforward and fast — just two people are needed. Beyond these features, what is particularly notable is the attention that Suricatta Systems devotes to sustainability. The shelter is built entirely from recyclable, reusable or biodegradable materials, is self-sufficient, and thanks to its particular design improves energy consumption.
Still within Parco Sempione, tucked away between the Triennale and Torre Branca, the Colorzone exhibition is well worth a visit: it brings together Milan-based designers and artists. Of particular interest is the Olamp project by designer Fabio Romenici for Forostudio — a lamp handcrafted from recycled paper that generates a variety of lighting effects, transparencies and contrasts that shape its shadow.