prada frames by formafantasma explores home beyond architecture at milan design week

Prada Frames 2024: being home

At Milan Design Week 2024, Prada unveiled the latest edition of Prada Frames, an annual multidisciplinary symposium crafted to delve into the intricate interplay between the natural world and design. Curated by design and research studio Formafantasma, the event, housed at the historic Museo Bagatti Valsecchi, served as a platform for scholars and professionals across various fields to convene and engage in dialogue. The focal point of discussion centered around the theme of Being Home, exploring the nuanced perception of living spaces and private environments amidst the contemporary challenges of our time.

‘The first objective (of Prada Frames) is doing something that we feel is relevant and interesting. The second is to relate to the context that we are in — I don’t mean only the building, but the specific moment. This year, we thought it was relevant to address the house and the home, not just as a set of objects, but as a feeling of belonging and all the complex subjects that surround it,’ Formafantasma tells designboom.

all images courtesy of Prada Frames

Room-by-Room Conversations curated by formafantasma

This year, Prada Frames (find more here) orchestrated a rich discourse with the collaboration of architects, designers, artists, scientists, and more. Delving into pressing global issues, discussions pivoted around housing affordability, displacement, gender dynamics, and the urgency of the climatic crisis. Yet, the symposium went beyond mere architectural considerations, viewing home as a nexus of relationships and politics. ‘It is our way to say that whatever we design is never only about the object but is also about how objects and things shape the world,’ Formafantasma explains.

The whole symposium and its sessions were structured around the rooms of the Museo, with each respective discussion matching its surroundings. Design critic and author Alice Rawsthorn initiated each conversation by offering a historical context about each room, and then different professionals from unique backgrounds took the floor, to reflect on the setting in their own way.

‘All the rooms allow you to talk about very interesting subjects. The bathroom is about privacy but also bodily functions. Somehow, we think of this to address the infrastructure of delivering resources such as water. In the living room, we went beyond just understanding the home as architecture. We looked at planet Earth as a home for all of us and talked about how, in this moment, we are struggling because of the climate crisis. We try to address subjects that make sense for the different typologies of spaces,’ Fromafantasma shares.

the event was housed at the historic Museo Bagatti Valsecchi

Past and Present: The Significance of Museo Bagatti Valsecchi

Formafantasma (find more here) deliberately selected the 18th-century Museo Bagatti Valsecchi as the venue for the talks due to its historical significance and expansive scale. Notably, it was among the first residences in Milan to boast electricity and a shower, marking a pivotal moment in history. This juxtaposition between past and present serves to contextualize contemporary challenges within a historical framework, stimulating deeper reflection. ‘Since we are talking about the challenges of today, we thought it was interesting to relate it to the past and its challenges,’ the Milanese practice says. ‘It is a contradictory choice. But sometimes that contrast can stimulate thinking.’ As Formafantasma tells us, the main aim of the talks is to enrich design culture by emphasizing its role beyond aesthetics. The event seeks to underscore design’s capacity to shape our reality and highlight the responsibilities it entails.

For those who were unable to attend in person, Prada Frames talks will be released as a podcast series, ensuring accessibility to a wider audience and furthering the discourse on these crucial topics.

Prada Frames is curated by Formafantasma