From 15th to 21st April 2024, during Milano Design Week, MoscaPartners will launch the 4th edition of Design Variations, transforming a garage in the historic Darsena area of the city into a vibrantly creative space.
The presence of more than 90 designers represented by companies from 26 different countries (including Japan, China, UK, Argentina and USA) ensures an immersive journey into the world of design and the latest design trends.
The 2024 edition of Design Variations features two significant collaborations: one with Milan's Park Associati architecture studio and the other with artist Nathalie Du Pasquier, who hails from both France and Italy. Stepping into the historic building, originally constructed in 1938 and completed in 1948 under the guidance of architect Marco Zanuso, visitors are immersed in a vibrant world of colors and graphics that embody Nathalie Du Pasquier's artistic vision. The captivating artwork, named 'Corridor,' comprises twelve decorative panels printed on MEG, a durable and versatile material provided by Abet Laminati. These panels transform the entrance into a captivating tunnel of graphic exploration, guiding visitors on an imaginary journey filled with vivid hues and captivating shapes.
The spatial design project was entrusted to Park Associati, the esteemed architecture studio. Utilizing thermal hemp bricks and lime from BIOmat, the project, titled HEMP_SCAPE, revitalizes the expansive interior volumes. The innovative architectural elements created using dry-stacked blocks, which can take both curved and linear forms, redefine the environment while engaging in a continuous dialogue with the original space—an exemplary representation of industrial archaeology. Encompassing approximately 3,000 square meters, the modular exhibition set offers a sustainable experience that celebrates innovation and environmental responsibility.
Once the Milan Design Week concludes, both site-specific works will find new homes in different locations. MoscaPartners, driven by its mission and vision, is committed to breathing new life into structures and embracing a circular economy approach. In this model, the materials used in events become potential resources for the future, ensuring a sustainable and responsible approach to repurposing and reusing materials.
"The Garage is a deliberate choice," states curator Caterina Mosca, "that suggests unprecedented combinations, offering an updated vision of what it means to design today, returning it to its true experimental nature and ongoing quest. I am also very pleased with the great number of enthusiastic responses we have received from national and international designers and companies which certainly exceeded our expectations.
