Fashion Exhibition Center

Milan, Italy

HMCmuseums
Fashion Exhibition Center
Milan, Italy
2006

program: Architectural concept of the exhibition building E3, within the Integrated Plan for the redevelopment of the Area Garibaldi-Repubblica in Milan
total area: 13 000 m2
client: Milan Town Council
project: Alfonso Femia * with Rudy Ricciotti
structural and infrastructures engineering: OveArup Italia, Stefano Migliaro
services engineering: Hilson & Moran Italia spa
safety and building yard advisor: Studio Russo Ingegneria
images: ©Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia & Rudy Ricciotti
model: Danilo Trogu
“The building invites you to look and look at yourself. To see and to see you. Like a distorting mirror by Orson Wells, or a pure volume reflecting reality by Daniel Buren.” AF
There is a Klee painting named Angelus Novus, it shows an angel looking as though he is about to move away from something he is fixedly contemplating. His eyes are staring, his mouth is open, his wings are spread. This is how one perceives the angel of history. His face is towards the past. Where we perceive a chain of events, he sees one catastrophe, which keeps piling wreckage upon wreckage and hurls it in front of his feet.