04/14/2008

PUBLIC WEEK DESIGN: A CONSTRUCTION SITE TO TALK ABOUT THE CITY

Meetings, workshops and entertainment events organised by Esterni

Exchanging ideas and building connections: these are the main ideas of the 'public design week' organised by the cultural association Esterni. This year the topic of the construction site has been chosen as the symbol of a metropolis that grows, expands and evolves. From today to the 21st of April, three projects epitomize the event's aims.

First of all 'The Construction site' set up in the parking of via Mario Pagano: until next Sunday its structure, which looks like a real one, is a place of debate on the issues of being a citizen. Tomorrow's big inauguration party involves acrobats, jugglers, musicians and dancers, together with workshops and international performers (lead by New York Graffiti Research Lab). Every day designers and architects, DJs and musicians entertain visitors and citizens: for them all, the Construction site is due to become a meeting point.

Within the 'Fuorisalone in Bovisa', Milano's Politecnico and Esterni created the fourth edition of 'The designers' House': inside the Bovisa Campus, a temporary hostel will provide 130 beds, a big kitchen, wi-fi connection, Internet positions and an international newspaper kiosk. The novelty is the outdoor space conceived by Lago Studio and French collective EXYZT, which set up the French Pavillon at the last Biennale in Venezia. Here famous designers and professors from all over the world gave a talk on 'public design' and explain their activities to the audience.

As the beds' requests were too many, 'public design' launches for the second year in a row a plan of alternative hospitality, 'bed sharing', which brings into contact who is looking for a place where to stay and who is offering it through a website. Finally, on Thursday the 17th from 7 p.m. on, the designers' House and its inhabitants welcome with a dinner all the citizens who want to meet the international hosts, relax in the living zone and have fun with DJ sets. The 'public design week' closure will be celebrated on Saturday from 9 p.m. at the Mercati Generali, in the Flower Market's pavilion.