The design explorer’s guide to Ventura Centrale

Organisation in Design have released the following preview of Ventura Centrale, the latest event by Ventura Projects, opening at Centrale Station during Milan Design Week, 4 - 9 April 2017.

"A long strip of disused warehouses spreads out along both sides of the rails. Facing the Central Station, follow the pathway on the right-hand side and you will soon reach the Ventura Centrale vaults, which have undergone a massive transformation from depots into full-blown exhibition spaces. We now present you the itinerary for Ventura Centrale, giving you an overview of what to expect from this first edition.

Chapter One

At the first exhibition space you’ll encounter the work of Matteo Zorzenoni in collaboration with the brands MM Lampadari, Nason Moretti and Scapin. In the past, Matteo Zorzenoni has shown his liking for collaborative projects and has worked with some of the best-known designers, labels and institutions. This exhibition is composed of micro ‘sets’ of his latest projects in light, accessories and blown glass.

MM Lampadari, Nason Moretti, Scapin, Matteo Zorzenoni, photo by Tiziano Signorato

MM Lampadari, Nason Moretti, Scapin, Matteo Zorzenoni, photo by Tiziano Signorato

Chapter Two

Turn to the next space to explore ‘PASSAGES’, a research project by the Swiss design studio Panter&Tourron. For the exhibition they have investigated heat, an energy force indispensable for living. The studio shows a series of objects treated with thermochromic ink that, once heated, create an ever-changing fluctuation of gradients and shades. They have collaborated with photographer Jagoda Wisniewska in producing pictures that represent these transitions.

PASSAGES by Panter & Tourron, presented by:The IQOS Pathfinder Project

PASSAGES by Panter & Tourron, presented by:The IQOS Pathfinder Project

Chapter Three

As you continue to the third vault, a special collaboration appears. The rebellious label Lensvelt has teamed up with the anarchic MAARTEN BAAS, ensuring a real spectacle.

MAARTEN BAAS explains the exhibition as follows: “I like to use undiscovered locations during the Salone del Mobile. The space at Ventura Centrale is unique because it wasn't intended as an exhibition space. On top of that, it's an adventure to work with Lensvelt, a true 'rock n roll' furniture manufacturer.”

MAARTEN BAAS by Lensvelt, photo by Siese Veenstra

MAARTEN BAAS by Lensvelt, photo by Siese Veenstra

Chapter Four

Are you starving after all you’ve seen? No worries. You have now hit Sea Food Mobile, a pop-up bar in the unconventional shape of a lifeboat, offering you mouth-watering seafood. Andrea Carletti, the initiator of Sea Food Mobile, has turned his passion for food design into various (outdoor) projects, ensuring circular economic values and recycling goals.

Sea Food Mobile, design & photo by Street Food Mobile™

Sea Food Mobile, design & photo by Street Food Mobile™

Chapter Five

Once you’ve fuelled up, you can get familiar with the work of David Derksen, Sabine Marcelis, Klaas Kuiken, Daphna Laurens, Paul Heijnen and rENs. These six Dutch designers are united under the umbrella of
Baars & Bloemhoff. The exhibition ‘Transitions II’, a follow-up of the widely praised presentation at Ventura Lambrate last year, is curated by Daphna Laurens. The show will display six material-driven projects and aims to emphasise the relationships between space, products and materiality.

Baars & Bloemhoff, Transitions II, Sabine Marcelis, photo by Ronald Smits


Baars & Bloemhoff, Transitions II, Sabine Marcelis, photo by Ronald Smits

Chapter Six

From colourful diversity to white uniformity – the next vault will show you the key pieces from Lee Broom’s 10-year career, transformed into a full white exhibition called ‘TIME MACHINE’. In the middle of the warehouse space a grand carousel spins around, giving the visitor a tour through the designer’s impressive legacy of work. Keeping up with the times, Lee Broom will also present a new exclusive piece in the form of a statuesque Carrara marble grandfather clock.

Lee Broom, TIME MACHINE, sketch by Lee Broom

Lee Broom, TIME MACHINE, sketch by Lee Broom

Lee Broom space at VC photo by Claudio Grassi

Lee Broom space at VC photo by Claudio Grassi

Lee Broom with Time Machine Grandfather Clock. Photo credit Arthur Woodcroft.

Lee Broom with Time Machine Grandfather Clock. Photo credit Arthur Woodcroft.

Chapter Seven & Eight

And if that wasn’t enough, dessert is yet to come.  With not one but two vaults, the Italian company Salviati is thinking big. Making optimal use of the character of the space, the transformed vaults achieve a chapel-like atmosphere. Salviati will be presenting an impressive installation by Luca Nichetto and Ben Gorham, showing glass craftsmanship.

“I'm fascinated by the depiction of humans throughout culture and history,” Luca Nichetto says. “This project with Salviati wasn’t just about coming up with a product. We had the chance to work on something that inspired us.”

Salviati, Luca Nichetto, Ben Gorham, credits by Mattia Balsamini

Salviati, Luca Nichetto, Ben Gorham, credits by Mattia Balsamini

FaberExposize – dress up the world

The Dutch company of FaberExposize is a specialist in large print projects that have the ability to completely transform any interior. Through printing walls, floors, ceilings, windows, and furniture FaberExposize creates a unique world immersed in gorgeous patterns by your own design. FaberExposize embraces the idea of design and is always on the look-out for new and inspiring collaborations that embellish the world. We are the proud partners of i.g. Nike, Studio Job and Rijksmuseum Amsterdam."

Printproject by FaberExposize - Studio Job MAD House, Studio Job 2016, MAD New York, photo Butcher Walsh

Printproject by FaberExposize - Studio Job MAD House, Studio Job 2016, MAD New York, photo Butcher Walsh

Practical information

Ventura Centrale is part of Ventura Projects, produced by Organisation in Design, also responsible for Ventura Lambrate and Ventura New York.

How to get from the Station Milano Centrale to Ventura Centrale:

Milan Design Week #1 Event in Dezeen Hot List

This week Dezeen released its 2016 Hot List, ranking the most newsworthy, searched-for and influential designers, architects, events and brands from the past year.

Milan Design Week ranked #1 in the Event category and #3 in the overall Hot List of 400 items. Read the Dezeen story below and checkout our Milan Design Week 2017 tour.

"Milan's design week is the biggest annual get-together in the calendar and the highest-ranking event in our Hot List. Its position at number three is testament to Milan's enduring importance to the design world and proof that no other design week comes close to matching its influence.

Interestingly "Milan Design Week" is not really a thing at all but rather a made-up umbrella term used as shorthand for all the various design-related activity that takes place in the city each April.

The biggest of these is the official Salone del Mobile furniture fair, which is located in the giant Rho Fiera fairground outside the city and runs concurrently with activities located in defined areas such as Ventura Lambrate and Brera Design District.

But for our audience these distinctions don't seem to matter – either that or they are confused about what the week is called and don't know where to go for information. This is borne out by the diversity of the search terms our readers used to find our Milan content, with people entering all kinds of different combinations of terms and spellings.

Our most popular posts about Milan this year were thematic previews and reviews that rounded up highlights from across the city, suggesting that our readers crave tips on how to navigate the vast number of exhibitions in the city, and want help deciphering what is important.

The lack of any single online resource for the week (and the generally poor websites of the big events) works to our advantage, since baffled fairgoers end up on our site. But it's also fair to say that the sheer number of stories we post about Milan – 250 this year, compared to 140 for the London Design Festival – creates a critical mass of content that generates strong Google juice, which in turns leads to lots of traffic."

More Dezeen Hot List

Checkout our Milan Design Week 2017 tour

 

MDW Ventura Lambrate 2017 - Call for Entries

Applications are now open for Ventura Lambrate at Milan Design Week 4-9 April 2017. Organisation in Design presents the 8th edition of Ventura Lambrate, the district of Fuorisalone during the Salone del Mobile where anything is possible.

Ventura Lambrate invites all designers, design studios, brands, academies, design schools and institutions to apply. This international call goes out to those who have valuable creative projects in mind. If you'd like to know more about Ventura Lambrate and how to apply, visit Ventura Projects.

The deadline for applications is 1 December 2016.

“There is no denying that this is a unique event that captures the true spirit of creativity. A diverse mix of up-and-coming designers from around the world, leading design schools and established names all coming together for the same cause - the ultimate celebration of design”. Yellow Trace