APCOM

While living its very final stages the Fuorisalone, acclaimed satellite event of the international fair of home furnishing 'Salone del Mobile', is already planning the next edition. In 2009, the Tortona neighbourhood, epicentre of the event, will expand with two new exhibition spaces and some innovative rules might be launched in order to fight traffic and abusivism.

The hundreds of design-related happenings that enlivened for six days the area, which will be renamed 'Zona Tortona 2', have gathered over 60,000 people of all ages. Next year, tourists and design amateurs will have to respect a 'behaviour decalogue', foreign visitors (the 70% upon the whole) will be helped through a more specific communication and themed-setups will make the streets cleaner.

In order to face the problem of abusive dealers and artists who occupy sidewalks and courtyards without any authorization, Fuorisalone's organizers have asked the city council for collaboration. For example with the intervention of traffic officers, they are dreaming of turning the neighbourhood in a temporary pedestrian precinct. From a hope to two certainties: the old factories of 31, Tortona street and 5, Forcella street are ready to become part of the 'design citadel'.