After celebrating the milestone of its first 70 years (1954-2024), INTERNI continues to reflect on the project, on its deepest meanings and on how Architecture, Design and Art are disciplines increasingly connected and in constant dialogue with Ecology, Economics, Botany, Climate Change and Philosophy.

All this is the basis of CRE-ACTION, the highly anticipated INTERNI Exhibition-Event, which will enliven the next edition of the FuoriSalone with an engaging and innovative program thanks to the participation of international designers, architects and artists, united to design a better future.

40 creative proposals - including installations, micro-architectures, maxi objects and exhibitions - created by a group of more than 50 designers of 10 different nationalities in 6 iconic locations in Milan for 10 days of appointments, meetings, debates and more. These are the numbers of INTERNI CRE-ACTION, the exhibition conceived by the interiors and contemporary design magazine directed by Gilda Bojardi, which will be held from 7 to 17 April in the Courtyards of the University of Milan, at the Botanical Garden of Brera, in the Strettone della Pinacoteca and at Portrait Milano, home of Audi House of Progress. Furthermore, INTERNI, renewing its role as an “activator” of design energies, will support Eataly Milano Smeraldo and De Castillia 23 by Urban Up | Unipol for the third consecutive year.

Also in this edition, INTERNI intends to explore and deepen, with an interdisciplinary approach, the complexity of the Project, outlining its prospects in a vision oriented towards a “possible future”. During the FuoriSalone in April, Milan is transformed into a cultural and productive hub. Professionals from all over the world, who find here the opportunity to compare their visions and to create projects that anticipate scenarios.

INTERNI CRE-ACTION is one of the main initiatives that the Municipality of Milan proposes for the Design Week and for the FuoriSalone 2025, the latter born in 1990 on the initiative of Gilda Bojardi and internationally recognized as the reference event for international design and architecture.

The press conference at the University of Milan

INTERNI CRE-ACTION will be officially presented on Monday 7 April at 2:00 pm in the Aula Magna of the University of Milan (via Festa del Perdono, 7). In addition to the designers, the press conference will be attended by: Giuseppe Sala, Mayor of Milan, Alessia Cappello, Councilor for Economic Development and Labor Policies of the Municipality of Milan, Marina Brambilla, Rector of the University of Milan, Antonio Porro, CEO of the Mondadori Group, Rodolfo Ziberna, Mayor of Gorizia, and Gilda Bojardi, Director of INTERNI. The meeting will be moderated by the journalist Monica Maggioni.

Installations at the University of Milan

In the spaces of the University of Milan, a series of impressive immersive and experimental installations will come to life, designed by renowned architecture and design studios in collaboration with prestigious companies, which, through sensory journeys, offer food for thought on themes such as sustainability, innovation and interaction between man and the environment.

Located in the Hall of the Aula Magna and created by designer Celia Centonze for Plateam, the installation Kalos The Kaleidoscope of Culture. A work that not only enchants with its golden metal structure, colored methacrylates and luminous poetic verses but is also a tribute to the artistic project Go! Pharus, was created for Gorizia Capital of Culture 2025. The symbolic value is amplified by the twinning between Gorizia and Milan, a dialogue between art, design and history that overcomes geographical and mental boundaries. Crossing the portal, you enter a kaleidoscope of evocative images projected onto glass windows, which tell the story of the richness of Friuli-Venezia Giulia thanks to a multisensory experience that emphasizes cultural identity and regional excellence. At the center of the kaleidoscope, a golden line symbolizes the ancient borders between Gorizia and Nova Gorica, located beyond the Italian border, crossed by a beam of light that celebrates cultural openness. A work that invites you to reflect on the past and imagine a future of harmony and growth.

In the evocative Cortile del Settecento is Wind Labyrinth, an immersive work, designed by Piero Lissoni for Sanlorenzo, which translates the essence of navigation into an enveloping, poetic and contemplative experience. A labyrinth of suspended sails, a metaphor for the infinite sea and the interaction between wind and movement, creates a dreamlike atmosphere in which lights and shadows dance. An emotional journey that expresses the relationship between man, nature and technology, through an aesthetic and design language increasingly oriented towards sustainability.

We continue in the Cortile della Farmacia with The Amazing Plaza, designed by the international studio MAD for Amazon, which reinterprets the Italian square, the historic beating heart of social and commercial life, in a contemporary key. As in traditional squares, where a central monument full of wonders to discover becomes the hub of community life, the installation develops around a central mirrored pavilion that contains elements of extraordinary value, creating a harmonious dialogue between classical architectural forms and cutting-edge technology. The spaces are enriched by a soundscape curated by the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of Milan and the Laboratory of Musical Informatics of the University of Milan, and completed by an augmented reality experience developed by StudioAira, where ribbons and trails of color move dynamically creating a dialogue between real and virtual space. A distinctive feature is the spectacular covering made with colored ETFE strips, which amplify the light and the entire experience.

The Cortile d’Onore hosts numerous installations that express the theme of CRE-ACTION in an equally extraordinary way.

The Gift, born from the collaboration between Chen Yaoguang / Light Mix and KUKA HOME, a Chinese manufacturer of furniture distributed throughout the world. A 250-square-meter flower meadow, in the center of the Cortile d’Onore, becomes the centerpiece of an immersive experience in which nature itself is the protagonist. Over 1,400 seedlings of rapeseed, broom, forsythia and Texas privet make up an ephemeral landscape, destined to transform over time, a symbol of the bond between man and the environment. The installation takes the form of a circle, a powerful symbol in Chinese culture that represents the infinite cycles of life and the connection between past and future. The design of the work aims to be a bridge between cultures, blending Eastern and Western elements in a harmonious dialogue. The project is enriched with a poetic illumination: the word “gift” appears brightly along the entire circular structure, written in Latin, Italian and ancient Chinese characters, emphasizing the message of inclusion and sharing. The reference to the ‘mooncake’, the traditional Chinese dessert associated with gratitude and conviviality, further reinforces the concept of gift and human connection. Here too, one of the central elements of the Cre-Action theme recurs: the mirror, intended as a medium capable of transforming itself, in the reflected image, into a place of questioning identity, difference and illusion. The polished stainless steel structure actually reflects the historic architecture of the Courtyard, creating an effect of fusion between natural and built space. The entire project is designed to have zero carbon emissions: the flooring is made with recycled materials and the lighting is powered by solar panels. At the end of the exhibition, the flowers will be donated, while all the other components of the installation will be reused, ensuring a sustainable and responsible life cycle.

Alvisi Kirimoto's work for Corepla - TAM TAM. Temple, Action, Movement - reinterprets the classical temple as a living and constantly evolving organism, allowing people to interact and redefine the space in real time. The installation recalls the classical principles of firmitas, utilitas and venustas, combining them with the concepts of flexibility and participation, transforming the columns, traditionally a symbol of stability, into a metaphor for the mutability of human relationships. In line with a design vision attentive to the life cycle of materials, TAM TAM is made of recycled plastic thanks to the collaboration with Corepla (National Consortium for the Collection, Recycling and Recovery of Plastic Packaging), guaranteeing the project a second life.

“A pile is not a construction with a specific function, but is worth what it evokes. Stacking wood is an art, you have to choose pieces that are homogeneous in shape and size, and then compose them meticulously. Otherwise the result is unstable and dangerous and its presence chaotic and disturbing in the fabric of the landscape. This reminds us of the value of being designers”, says Michele De Lucchi. Made by Rubner Haus, the Catasta that AMDL CIRCLE brings to the Cortile della Ca’ Granda is a small house with a large sloping roof that recalls that of an ancient temple. A structure of wooden planks (of fir) overlapped, in one direction and the other, and assembled dry, builds an orderly composition, marked by relationships of distance and emptiness, which is permeable to light and sight. A hole in the roof of the pile allows the zenithal light to split the internal space, symbolizing, with an optical cone, a metaphorical divine light that creates everything. A nest of birds inhabits the internal void: their chirping inspires light and poetic feelings of intimacy.

The A Beat of Water project by BIG- Bjarke Ingels Group for Roca Connect highlights the preciousness of water and the need for responsible consumption. The intelligent technology of Roca Connect revolutionizes the management of water in public and private environments with the help of instant information. The installation, developed with 300 meters of galvanized steel pipes and 56 valves, reveals the functioning of water networks, which are usually hidden underground. A closed circuit allows 1,000 liters of water to be recirculated every 20 minutes, simulating the journey of water without waste. The work is developed in two distinct areas where visitors can come into contact with the system, understanding the importance of a conscious use of water resources. Benches, stools and tables enrich the space, encouraging moments of meeting and reflection on sustainability and technological innovation.

Simone Micheli’s installation offers a virtual experience as part of the Be Up project - where architecture meets infinity - Luxury mountain resort in Valbona, Albania, which extends over an area of ​​12 hectares. The monolithic and curvilinear volume that characterizes the work acts as a portal for a sensory journey, where the dialogue between different cultures translates into a three-dimensional architectural expression. The installation reflects Micheli’s design philosophy, made of simplicity, expressive uniqueness and coherence, stimulating the perception of space and its infinite possibilities for transformation. 

One Works for Atlas Concorde and Mapei brings to the stage a consideration of the continuous evolution of nature and the need for man to adapt to change. MAGMA. The origins of creativity takes inspiration from plate tectonics and the flow of magma, concepts that are translated into an immersive spatial experience. The vertical walls, decorated with a bright red paint by Mapei and covered with Atlas Concorde ceramic surfaces, emerge from the ground like tectonic cracks, creating a fragmented path that symbolizes the precariousness and strength of nature. Crossing this space, one is invited to reflect on one’s role in the cycle of creation and change.

Oasis of Happiness by Pangea for Fidenza Village, part of The Bicester Collection, is conceived as a place of transition between physical and emotional reality, which encourages a positive projection, “a dream place”. Symbolic fabric doors allow one to cross thresholds that separate different spaces, while the dance of the fabric in the wind and the embroidered and painted decorations create a magical atmosphere. Three modular totems, composed of stackable elements that can be reassembled as seats, allow the public to recreate the space as they wish.The patchwork technique, embroidery and painting reinforce the artisanal value of the work, transforming it into an ode to creativity and the joy of sharing.

Once upon a time, the Golden Age evoked prosperity and beauty. Today, the future is built with sustainable materials, capable of changing and lasting over time. This is the concept behind BEYOND the GOLDEN AGE?, the installation created by Studio Marco Piva for Saint-Gobain. An experimental architecture that invites you to explore the possibilities of innovative materials. The dynamic surfaces in steel, plaster and corten evoke memory and transformation while the bright environment is made silent thanks to sound-absorbing solutions, ready to be filled with meaning. A mirror, a LED wall and beams of light merge into a pulsating surface, symbolizing the continuous cycle of construction and dissolution of architecture. The entire structure was in fact designed to be dismantled and reassembled several times, even remodeling the spaces, thanks to the support of technology.

With Echoes by Francesco Librizzi for Dàmeda, the bond between architecture and nature is evoked, reintroducing the ancestral concept of the pavilion in the garden. Inspired by the spiritual poetics of Emilio Ambasz, the secret of Francesco Venezia’s gardens, the metaphorical power of Sottsass and the symbolism of Henri Rousseau, the 12-meter-high installation replicates the geometry of the portico of the Cortile d’Onore, giving life to a light and ethereal work, where the metal arches and luminous lines amplify the interaction between architecture and landscape. In the heart of the garden, the pavilion welcomes the sofa designed by Francesco Librizzi and Arian Brajkovic for Dameda which, with its sinuous shapes, represents the awakening of the senses in the embrace of nature.

Wu Bin of W.DESIGN for Empire creates a minimalist work entitled Drifting Yǎo, designed to encourage the dialogue between light, shadow and sound. The installation is structured in two parts: a dark wooden tunnel, where light filters through openings in the ceiling and prisms, and a semi-circular seating area dedicated to meditation. A space to reconnect people to the delicate beauty of nature and encourage reflection on their relationship with the world.

Aevum, from the Latin “eternity”, explores the connection between matter, time and innovation through the celebration of the timeless beauty of marble and the integration of new technologies in the stone processing of Zaha Hadid Architects. The installation establishes a visual dialogue with the historic colonnade of the University of Milan, reinterpreting the three arches, of different heights, in a futuristic key to create a dynamic and fluid effect. The lowest arch is sculpted in Bianco Merano Gold marble from the Alps, produced by A.A.T.C. and Co., while the other two are 3D printed using an innovative concrete mix developed by Sika and Vertico. The lighting, designed by Griven, enhances the sculptural forms of the work, creating a play of light and shadow that amplifies the sense of movement and depth. The project was developed with the support of the engineering firm Eckersley O’Callaghan, which reinforces the concept of Aevum as an architecture that transcends time, projecting itself into a future in which innovation and tradition coexist harmoniously.

Cashew Rain and Tetras are the two installations located respectively in the West and East Loggias of the University of Milan. The first, Cashew Rain, curated by Bruno Simoes for ApexBrasil, revolves around the Brazilian natural phenomenon of “chuva do caju” (cashew rain), when the scarce rains, during the dry season, precede the flowering of the cashew trees, indicating a good harvest to come. The meaning of transformation and hope that the exhibition proposes is one that in design is reflected in a vigorous attitude towards the challenges of the present, capable of solving and enchanting. Also this year, Brazilian taste, from the North to the South of the country, presents itself with a review of products and prototypes to enhance memory and knowledge as an unexpected shower of inspiration. In the East Loggia, the installation designed by SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill) and Artemide, entitled Tetras, is imagined as a constellation of lights that could continue beyond the University. A refined lighting fixture in a simple cruciform shape conceives light as an architectural element, an ideal module to provide optimized brightness in a variety of environments. An ideal synthesis between the contemporary approach to sustainable engineering and industrial character.

In the Portal of the Hall of the Aula Magna, Annabel Karim Kassar Architects for Annaka presents Portico. The fragmented and multidimensional installation, composed of wooden panels, is animated by dancing figures painted by the French-Lebanese artist herself. A contemporary reinterpretation of the concept of threshold, as an architectural element that acts as a boundary, connection and protection, as well as a reflection on the symbolic power of the door as a transition between worlds. Located in the western gallery of the Cortile d’Onore, the work reinterprets the Portal of the Hall of the Aula Magna with a new, monumental, faceted portico. Crossing the Portico, one passes from the world of action and metaphorically enters creation.