i-Mesh plays a prominent role alongside Cristiano Toraldo di Francia’s Istogramma in the House of Italian Design located at the Italian Embassy in Tokyo.
This recognition is significant in a space dedicated to cultural diplomacy and the promotion of Italian excellence, embodying a mission of quality and curatorial prestige. The world’s admiration for Italy lies in the design industry, characterized by aesthetic functionality, technological innovation, original creative thinking, academic research, and a passion for beauty.
“The House of Italian Design” is the first permanent exhibition of Italian industrial design in an Embassy abroad. The initiative, led by Ambassador Gianluigi Benedetti, was realized in collaboration with the Association of Industrial Design (ADI) and with the valuable contributions of leading Italian design companies that have successfully integrated cultural and environmental challenges into the production of goods and services. Among them are Arper, Artemide, Brembo, Cassina, De Longhi, Ducati, Ferrari, Fiandre, FontanaArte, i-Mesh, Kartell, La Cividina, Lamborghini, Maserati, Molteni&C, OZ Racing, Piaggio, Pirelli, Poltrona Frau, Quadrifoglio Group, Shukoh, and Unifor.
The permanent exhibition covers approximately 150 meters in the rooms of the Chancellery, renovated in 2005 by Gae Aulenti). The exhibition showcases various objects, including icons that have been awarded the “Compasso d’Oro” prize. This prize has been awarded by ADI since 1954 to recognize the best Italian design products and designers. Each product is accompanied by technical sheets and scalable information, as well as QR codes that link to the manufacturing companies’ web pages. This creates an interactive experience that combines the pleasure of viewing with the digital dimension, fully enhancing the design genesis of each story.
The museum, exhibition, and related services intersect with the Embassy’s everyday life, hosting meetings, seminars, press conferences, and cultural events in a flexible and versatile setting. The building pays homage to the distinctive RAL3011 Brown-Red color, the shade of the façade of the Italian Cultural Institute in Tokyo, reminiscent of refined Japanese lacquer. The Design House in Tokyo aspires to be the world’s first example of an Italian-made museum housed in an Italian Embassy and represents a testament to the strong cultural ties between Italy and Japan.
The exhibition, which was curated by MB-AA Architects Matteo Belfiore and Valentina Cannava and inaugurated on March 12, 2024, by Ambassador Gianluigi Benedetti, is under the patronage of ADI - Industrial Design Association.
