In order to mark the National Made in Italy Day, on April 15 the Italian Embassy in Tokyo will open to the public the “House of Italian Design”’, the first permanent exhibition of Italian industrial design at an Italian Embassy abroad. The initiative, strongly supported by Ambassador Gianluigi Benedetti and curated by architects Matteo Belfiore and Valentina Cannava (MB-AA), has been organised in collaboration with the Industrial Design Association (ADI) and with the precious contribution of more than 20 Italian companies.
The exhibition, which opened on 12 March, is set up in the open spaces of the Embassy (entrance, atrium and hall) renovated in 2005 to a design by architect Gae Aulenti. The exhibition includes a selection of iconic objects and furnishings, some of which were awarded the prestigious Compasso d’Oro prize. The layout has been designed to easily allow for different configurations of the spaces to suit the various needs of the Embassy.
The first exhibition space is dedicated to automotive design and brings together components designed for four- and two-wheelers. The display totems, produced by Graniti Fiandre, are covered with the innovative 6 mm Maximum Uni Ice Active slabs and house the Brembo Upgrade Gt Braking System disc brake, the Pirelli P-Zero (PZ4) tyre, the Cravattino Piaggio Vespa Primavera, and the Oz Rally Racing rim. The adjoining room contains lockers specially made by Shukoh, a Japanese company with an Italian soul. They are painted in the characteristic red-brown RAL3011 that distinguishes the facade of the Italian Cultural Institute in Tokyo and recalls the colour of refined Japanese lacquer. The famous De Rosa bicycle also finds its place at the entrance.
The atrium, which welcomes guests in a warm waiting room, contains the Flat cabinet by Cassina on which the scale model of the Ferrari Daytona SP3 and the iconic Come Together lamp by Artemide are placed. The modular sliding curtain made by I-Mesh ideally closes the room and marks the passage to the Consular Offices. The Multichair armchair by B-Line and the Ginger chair by Poltrona Frau create a small conversation corner, completed by the Nuvola Rossa bookcase by Cassina and scale models of Lamborghini cars designed by the Centro Stile, the Maserati MC20 and the Ducati Panigale V4 cars.
The Hall is a multi-functional space that, thanks to the lightness of furnishings, allows multiple configurations and makes it possible to hold meetings, press conferences and workshopsrs, as well as promotional activities and cultural initiatives in the meeting room. The Flipper tables by Unifor (Compasso d’Oro ADI 1998), the Close chairs by Quadrifoglio Group, the Componibili cabinet by Kartell, the Touch Down Unit by Unifor, combined with the Dedica coffee maker by De Longhi, together create an equipped work area.
On the opposite side of the room, two relaxation corners welcome guests. The first one, created with the Intervista sofa and armchairs by Poltrona Frau, the D.555.1 coffee table by Molteni and the Luminator lamp by FontanaArte. In the background, the Contemporary Tapestry by I-Mesh. The second one is more informal and , comprises the Bardi Bowl Chair by Arper and Filinea armchairs by La Cividina, the Arco lamp by Flos (Compasso d’Oro ADI 2020) and the CF Bookcase by Unifor.
