Ex Cristallerie Livellara reopen as cultural hub in Milan

The former Cristallerie Livellara in Milan, an industrial archaeology site dating to 1921, will reopen on June 1, 2016, as a multifunctional space for dance, theater, music, and dining under the name Spirit de Milan. The site originally housed an oil mill owned by the Balestrini family before being purchased in 1963 by the grandparents of current owner Gianluigi Livellara, who relocated glass production from Murano to Milan. Hand-blown crystal production ceased in July 2004. The front building now serves as a showroom and shop, while the freed warehouse spaces host events. Recent events include a Vans activation during Salone del Mobile. The Livellara family resisted bureaucratic pressure to modernize the structure, instead preserving its original aesthetic while upgrading safety systems. Future plans include artist residencies and themed nights such as Argentine tango on Wednesdays and Milanese evenings on Thursdays. A membership club has been established to allow interior use. The project reflects a trend of private-led peripheral urban renewal in Milan.