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For the Chinese community in Milan, 2024 represents an important anniversary: the centenary of the community’s settlement in the Paolo Sarpi neighborhood, along with the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo’s death. During Milan Design Week, of this representative year, we launched the ZONA SARPI project, with a commitment to closely connect Milan Design Week with the hybrid, active, Sino-Italian neighborhood of “Paolo Sarpi” to highlight the importance of cultural integration and urban regeneration, bringing them to the attention of mainstream culture and the Italian (and other) media.
ZONA SARPI is strategically positioned at the heart of Milan’s design network, making it a prime hub during MDW 2024.
Surrounded by key districts like Brera, Isola, and Tortona, it is seamlessly connected to major design hotspots, including the ADI Design Museum, Triennale, and central transit hubs like Stazione Centrale. Its accessibility and proximity to influential design areas enhance its role as a bridge between cultures, fostering innovation and collaboration
Milan’s historic Chinatown, a hub of culture and creativity, was transformed during MDW 2024. Via Sarpi hosted urban design experiments by independent designers, showcased in shop windows alongside galleries.
With the Centro Culturale Cinese at its core, ZONA SARPI unveiled a fresh new look.
CHANGES! KNOW NOW CHINA
During MDW 2024, Fabbrica del Vapore hosted Changes! by ZONA SARPI, a research and experimental space for Chinese design. Universities, cities, design weeks, and designers showcased cutting-edge work in urban renewal, eco-design, lifestyle, new materials, and more.
During MDW 2024 at the ADI Design Museum, ZONA SARPI hosted cutting-edge design talks and a curated selection of designers, bridging Chinese and Italian design cultures. This platform fosted new forms of communication, uniting Milan, the design capital, with ZONA SARPI, shaping an innovative dialogue between two rich creative traditions.
ZONA SARPI IS A PROJECT ● APPROVed by — Milan Municipal Government ● art director — Michele Brunello | Luca Fois ● SUPPORTING UNIT — Cultural Office of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Italy, Economic and Commercial Office of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Milan ● INITIATORS — Luca Fois | Michele Brunello | Chen Dongliang | Wang Yu Dong | Vittorio Sun Qun | Lin Cunzhen | Hu Kun | Angela Zhou | Marco Grattarola | Camilla Fraboni ● INITIATING ORGANIZATIONS — World Design Weeks (WDW) | International Council of Design (ICoD) | Camera di Commercio Cinese in Italia | Beijing Industrial Design Promotion Organization | Beijing Design Week | Shanghai Design Week | Shenzhen Design Week | Chengdu Design Week | Hainan Design Week | Hainan International Cultural and Creative Week | W'ECO DESIGN FESTIVAL | Beijing Gongxin International technology Development Co.,LTD ● HOST — Milan China Design Center ● CO-HOST — Beijing Design Week ● EXCLUSIVE OFFICIAL OPERATING AGENCY — BEIJING KEYI ● CO-ORGANIZERS — DONTSTOP Architettura | The Playful Living® | Milan Huaxia Group | Milan Huaxia Cultural Association | Associazione Cinese a Milano | Slow Food Great China | China International Ecological Economy Promotion Association | Giuseppe Scarri ● VISUAL & COMMUNICATION — Elvira Zhao | Jane Dai | Ezgi Deniz Ergin
