Last updated on 18 June 2021
The Fuorisalone event sees the involvement of almost all the districts in the city, even though some are more active than others in terms of offering high-profile initiatives. Moreover, since the advent of the Fuorisalone event, some districts have been assigned the endorsement by the Municipality of Milan, providing a quality certification for the events and initiatives featured in every district.
Brera – artsy and bohemian allure
This is the district that houses a Pinacoteca and art Academy famed throughout the world. This artsy neighbourhood with its narrow, cobbled streets boasting a dense concentration of antique shops, galleries, showrooms and prestigious locations, exudes a truly alluring, bohemian aura year-round. During the Fuorisalone, Brera offers a high-profile events calendar, featuring several of the world’s most prestigious brands, and focuses on attracting a design-savvy, culturally oriented public. Brera Design District is a territorial marketing project promoting excellence and commercial real estate development.
Brera district: M2 (green line) Lanza, M2 (green line) Moscova.
Official website: www.breradesigndistrict.it
Tortona Design Week – former warehouses and innovation
Although Tortona is the name of a single street, during the Fuorisalone the events in its neighbouring area – namely the one lying behind the Navigli, known for its “viby” atmosphere – multiply. The area, home to former warehouses and factories, becomes a major display platform featuring a slew of futuristic, original and experimental events targeted, according to the organisers, at creating a truly knockout effect. Big names and loads of emerging talents create an urban workshop of contemporary design. Design Week in Tortona promotes various events spread over some of the most important hotels and recently renowned open spaces.
Tortona district: M2 (green line) Porta Genova, M2 (green line) Sant’Agostino.
Official website: www.tortonadesignweek.com
5 Vie Art+Design District – promotion of Milan’s old town
Aptly named 5vie after the “five streets” that form the area, the district is simultaneously one of the city’s oldest but also emerging districts. The area spans from the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, up to the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio and the church of San Satiro, where Bramante worked. One of Milan’s least touristy and best-kept secrets, the area participates officially in Design Week with a triple circuit consisting of showrooms displaying the latest in design, old artisan workshops where you can admire traditional handicrafts (in particular in via San Maurillio and via Santa Marta) and a cultural itinerary featuring museums, churches, cloisters, archaeological sites and breathtaking inner courtyards. 5vie District involves a cultural and territorial marketing project to promote Milan’s Old Town.
5 Vie district: M2 (green line) Sant’Ambrogio, M1 (red line) Cordusio.
Official website: www.5vie.it
Ventura Centrale – combining old and new
The once-abandoned 11 spaces of the Magazzini Raccordati in via Ferrante Aporti, formerly home to important local warehouses, provide visitors with a visually evocative experience. Under the rough tracks and characteristic vaults of Milan’s Stazione Centrale creativity – a specific focus on design from the Netherlands and Belgium – takes centre stage featuring an eclectic mix of contemporary design by showcasing both emerging as well as established brands. Projects in the area are curated and powered by the international design organisation Ventura together with local association Centrale District, spread over the core areas of Centrale Railway Station and the nearby area of Repubblica.
Ventura Centrale: M2 (green line) and M3 (yellow line) Centrale F.S. and M3 (yellow line) Repubblica.
Official website: www.venturaprojects.com
Lambrate Design District – sustainable design
Formerly a historical industrial site, the Lambrate District has been undergoing a significant process of urban redevelopment since 2000. Thanks to the collaboration with important international design companies, the area that spans from the spaces of Spazio Ventura and Spazio Lambrate, that used to host old warehouses and industrial complexes has now been transformed into a symbol of innovation, freshness and quality. Here particular attention is given to sustainability and to eco-friendly design solutions.
Lambrate Design District: M2 (green line) Lambrate F.S
Official website: www.lambratedesigndistrict.com
Porta Venezia in Design – from Liberty to design
Porta Venezia in Design combines the contemporary side of design to the art and architecture of the liberty style characteristic of Porta Venezia area. This area is particularly interesting for its Liberty itineraries organised in collaboration with FAI-Fondo Ambiente Italiano free and upon reservation. During the Fuorisalone showroom and stores introduce the latest creations in design with a particular focus on Liberty style and the food&wine field.
Porta Venezia in Design: M1 (red line) Porta Venezia
Official website: www.portaveneziaindesign.com
Isola Design District – emerging talents
Located in the shadow of the ‘Bosco Verticale’ and the skyscraper of Banca Intesa, Isola Design District, with its myriad courtyards of the times gone by, shop windows and open spaces, nestles the creations of young, emerging talents in art and design. The various design creations spread all around the district challenge boundaries and celebrate all forms of design, from the most traditional examples by local artisans up to cutting-edge innovations.
Isola Design District: M5 (purple line) Isola
Official website: www.isoladesigndistrict.com
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Alpha District – the interactive side of design
More than just a traditional district, Alpha District is a territorial marketing project conceived to value the multi-faceted urban area of Portello. Once revolving around the former the site of the Alfa Romeo plant, now the area has been given a makeover and is rich in designer architecture, such as the large-scale projects by masters such as Gino and Pietro Valle, Fabio Novembre, Emilio Isgrò, Jorrit Tornquist, Cino Zucchi, Guido Canali, Charles Jencks, Mario Bacciocchi, Michele De Lucchi and Renzo Piano. For the Fuorisalone, the area offers a rich programme of initiatives centred on the concept of experiential design that, through the use of interactive technologies, can stimulate a new sense of belonging and community within the area.
Alpha District: M5 (purple line) Portello
Official website: www.alphadistrict.it
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