Ex Dogana San Lorenzo to Become Smart Cultural Hub with MondoMostre Skira

MondoMostre Skira has taken over temporary management of the Ex Dogana San Lorenzo in Rome, transforming the 23,000 sqm former railway freight yard into the Ex Dogana Smart City Culturale until December 2018. The space, owned by Residenziale Immobiliare 2004 Spa (75% Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, 25% Finprema/Fingen), will feature offices, coworking, an exhibition area, planetarium, educational zones, a music venue (Scalo Ovest) with concerts from June 21 to July 15, and a food court. The first exhibition, "ArtFutura. Creature Digitali" (April 28 to September 10, curated by Montxo Algora), showcases six new media artists: Paul Friedlander (UK), Esteban Diácono (Argentina), Can Buyukberber (Turkey/USA), Sachiko Kodama (Japan), Chico MacMurtrie (USA), and collective Universal Everything (UK). The project aims to fill a gap for large post-industrial spaces near Termini and Tiburtina stations, targeting diverse audiences with experimental yet accessible programming. Meanwhile, a long-term plan for The Student Hotel (Dutch group) was announced in 2019 but remains uncertain due to bureaucracy and opposition.