Milan's housing authority proposes using art to redevelop public housing
During the inauguration of 'Vetra Passage' at Milan's Vetra Building on October 6, 2022, Franco Zinna, head of the Housing and Social Housing Directorate of Palazzo Marino, challenged the audience to rethink public housing with the same cultural and artistic approach used at Vetra. The event, curated by Helga Marsala for Artribune and AXA IM Alts, featured a new wallpaper installation by Cabaret Typographie titled 'Invece di stelle ogni sera si accendono parole', created with NABA students. The project transforms a covered pedestrian passage connecting Piazza Vetra to via Wittgens. Zinna's proposal aims to extend the successful public-private partnership model to Milan's public housing, emphasizing community participation, cultural production, and social cohesion, while avoiding clichés of fashion advertising or degraded street art.
Key facts
- Franco Zinna, head of Housing and Social Housing at Palazzo Marino, proposed using art to redevelop Milan's public housing.
- The proposal was made on October 6, 2022, during the presentation of 'Vetra Passage' at Vetra Building.
- 'Vetra Passage' is a project curated by Helga Marsala for Artribune and AXA IM Alts.
- The installation features a wallpaper by Cabaret Typographie titled 'Invece di stelle ogni sera si accendono parole'.
- NABA students participated in a workshop led by Cabaret Typographie to create the artwork.
- The Vetra Building was redesigned by architecture firm Il Prisma.
- A neon sculpture 'X' by Patrick Tuttofuoco was installed at the building in November 2021.
- Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala attended the 2021 inauguration, emphasizing public-private cooperation.
Entities
Artists
- Patrick Tuttofuoco
- Cabaret Typographie
- Gabriele Carrera
- Priscilla Pinto
- Valeria Fiorello
- Alice Giannini
- Sofia Gasaproli
- Mario Uliassi
- Umberto Saba
Institutions
- AXA IM Alts
- Artribune
- NABA (Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti)
- Il Prisma
- Palazzo Marino
- Comune di Milano
- Bonvini 1909
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Vetra Building
- Piazza Vetra
- Parco delle Basiliche
- via Wittgens