Formafantasma on Designing the 2022 Venice Biennale with Sustainable Materials

Formafantasma, the design duo of Andrea Trimarchi (1980) and Simone Farresin (1983), designed the exhibition architecture for the 2022 Venice Biennale, titled "Il latte dei sogni" (The Milk of Dreams), curated by Cecilia Alemani. Their work spanned the Arsenale and Giardini venues. The layout features five "time capsules"—thematic sections that anchor the visitor experience, each with distinct color schemes and atmospheres. For the surrealism capsule, paintings are arranged salon-style; for "The Seduction of the Cyborg," a cold, clinical environment with cool lighting was created. The designers collaborated with Danish textile company Kvadrat on fabric elements, which will be upcycled by three local social institutions after the Biennale. A significant structural change was introduced: bidding for construction contracts now includes a sustainability criterion alongside quality and price. The gypsum board supplier, chosen for its ability to recycle 95% of material, exemplifies this shift. Formafantasma also continues their ongoing research with Finnish furniture company Artek on wood supply chain management under the project Cambio, and designed a bookshelf for Swedish brand Hem combining recycled scrap and primary aluminum.