Architecture Studios as Cultural Activators: Film, Podcasts, and Hubs in Milan and Rome

The article explores how architecture studios in Italy are expanding beyond traditional practice to act as 'cultural activators,' commissioning films, hosting talks, and opening their spaces to the public. In Milan, Lombardini22 commissioned director Gianluca Vassallo to create the fiction film 'Il Posto,' premiering April 3, 2025, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its business unit DEGW. The film will be discussed at a panel on March 8, 2024, during the Milano Design Film Festival, directed by Cristiana Perrella. Also in Milan, architecture firm Il Prisma has opened a new 1,100 sqm office at Via Adige, featuring the 'Il Prisma Live' space for talks and cultural events, including a series on '(In)Voluntary Migrations' launched February 22, 2024. In Rome, the firm It's has transformed its headquarters into a creative hub near Tiburtina station, hosting startups and artists, with underground spaces used for performances. It's produces the podcast 'LIVEonHUB' and the video 'Il fiume che non c'è' about the Tiber River. Lombardini22 CEO Franco Guidi stated the film aims to reach a broad audience and is part of a multi-year research project on workplace evolution.