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The Triennale of Milan was founded in Monza in 1923 as the First Biennial of decorative arts, under the aegis of a consortium formed by Milan, Monza and the Società Umanitaria. Since 1933 it has been based in Milan, in the Palazzo dell'Arte, designed by Giovanni Muzio and built in eighteen months from the autumn of 1931 to the spring of 1933. Conceived by the architect as an extremely flexible container, this multifunctional structure was highly innovative at the time it was built. The building, which is the property of the Municipality of Milan, was permanently assigned to the Triennale by Law 137/1990 and following the Convention with the Municipality of 16/6/1993. The utilization and management of the building and the relative expenses are governed by a recently revised Convention which has, among other things, restored the original direct access of the complex to the Sempione Park. Part of the monumental "quadrilateral" comprising the Sforzesco Castle, the Arch of Peace and the Arena, the main entrance of the building faces the Viale Alemagna, an important road that connects the center, Corso Sempione and the thoroughfares of the city towards north-west. To the east the building faces the Sempione Park. The total area is 12,000 m2, while exhibition areas measure about 8,000 m2. The fascinating and inspiring exhibition rooms are flanked by spaces housing permanent facilities. The ground floor features the "Triennale Gallery" for temporary exhibitions - 1,500 square meters of exhibition area - designed by Gae Aulenti. This venue features the latest technical installations and safety devices, inspired by museology standards aimed at enhancing the original architectural physiognomy of the interiors designed by Muzio. The interior consists of a permanent division of the exhibition rooms conceived to meet the particular requirements of the various exhibitions and the large number of materials, objects and documents which will be installed. The architect Michele de Lucchi is in charge of the project for restructuring and restoring the communal areas of the Triennale, giving the ground floor a radiant new look. A solution that not only aims to restore the spaces originally designed by Giovanni Muzio, but that also becomes a part of a strategic plan to improve the areas dedicated to the public. The new book shop has been moved to the Impluvium room and has been given an architectural face lift. Specialising in architecture and design, it offers a selection of Italian and international books and a wide range of magazines and rare books. It also offers the possibility to find books which are out of print. An exclusive collection of objects created by great artists and designers is on display and for sale at the Art Book; this range of limited edition collectibles has been made exclusively for the Triennial. Next to the bookshop is the Coffee Design, a cafeteria that is actually an extension of the exhibition space itself, with a long display counter featuring a selection of objects chosen each month by personalities from the world of culture. The decor includes more than fifty different types of chairs: not just to be admired but to be tried out as you sip an aperitif or sample one of the popular Triennial dishes. The "Biblioteca del Progetto" Design Library, which opened to the public in 2005, is not just a library but also a historical archive and documentation centre. This alluring building contains almost a century of art, design and architecture in the form of thousands of books, photographs, prints, sound recordings and films, available for consultation on the premises. These recent additions will soon be joined by others, such as the prestigious Design Museum, an innovative collection whose role is to showcase Italian design, giving maximum visibility to all the players involved in the creative process, from conception to production, in an interactive and enthralling exhibition space. The multitude of activities and events staged means that now, more than ever before, the Triennial plays a pivotal role in the cultural and economic life of Milan, at the very heart of the intense interplay between society, art and business. |
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