Dezeen promotion: the organisers of the Ventura Lambrate exhibition district during Milan design week have announced plans for an extra venue next year – a series of abandoned warehouses at Milan Central Station.
Ventura Centrale will accompany next year's Ventura Lambrate Milan, which is set to take place from 4 to 9 April 2017, coinciding with the Salone de Mobile.
Margriet Vollenberg – founder of Ventura Projects, and director of Organisation in Design – spent two years trying to find a new unique location for international designers to present work.
She chose Milan Central Station because of its iconic status as one of the most prominent railway stations of Europe, which sees over 300,000 passengers pass through every day.
The landmark building features warehouses that have been closed off for 30 years, but were once used as laboratories, studios and depots.
"Ventura Centrale has the magic of a busy environment, being located in the warehouses of Milan's Central Station, combined with the ambience of a place of abandoned beauty," said Vollenberg.
Dezeen is the main media partner for Ventura Lambrate and Ventura Centrale, which will showcase work from designers, studios, brands, academies and institutions.
Italian designer Luca Nichetto, who will be displaying his work at the venue, described the warehouses as a "blank canvas waiting to be transformed by the delicate touch and imagination of a designer".
Nichetto will be collaborating with Ben Gorham for Italian glassmakers Salviati, while other exhibitors for 2017 include Lee Broom, Maarten Baas for Lensvelt and Baars & Bloemhoff.
Ventura Centrale runs from 4 to 9 April 2017 at via Ferrante Aporti, coinciding with the Salone del Mobile trade fair.
Photography is by Claudio Grassi.