Milano during the Design Week 12 -18 April 2011: some tips and some paths.

=> Click here for the printable version of this guide
A la demande générale, bientôt une version française…
Contents:
1/ Description of areas & headquarters of Milan design week
2/ Suggestion of programme
3/ Links to some of the official guides
4/ About transportation
5/ Maps : Rho Fiera – Milano City – Subway

These tips are willing to help you to approach easily this hectic design week, when Milano changes its face. Milan Design week has this specificity that the « off » events worth interest as much as the fair, on both business and trends spotting side.
It must be seen as a list of suggestions divided per each area, that could be done in 4-6 hours.
This week is also the occasion to meet old and new friends and to discover this design community on the move. You might also want to take a rest from design, like visiting some artistic monuments or listening music in a park.
We really don’t know « how to survive to Fuorisalone », for sure it’s impossible to do everything: so take it quietly, well… not too slowly!

We suggest you to follow us on Twitter (@go2prod) for the latests news and live advises. You might also tweet us your findings, recommendations, events, photos, etc. using the hashtag #milandesignweek so that we broadcast your suggestions.

1/ Description of areas & headquarters of Milan design week
Normally the morning is dedicated to the trade fair – here the link to the « Rho Fiera Salone » – that will this year comprise: Euroluce (lightings), Salone Ufficio (office furnitures) and Salone Satellite, the area dedicated to young designers that will celebrate its 50 years.

In the afternoon you could discover the different design areas of the city:

• EAST / Zona Ventura Lambrate (« F » on the map): it opened last year and international design is there, from Dutch design to Australian. Here the website: http://www.venturalambrate.com/
• CENTRE / Brera Design District (« A » on the map): in the historic town centre you could follow the white and red logo of http://www.breradesigndistrict.it
• SOUTH-EAST / Porta Romana design (« C » on the map): starting from Porta Romana metro stop you’ll find a selection of shops and showrooms: http://portaromanadesign.it/
• SOUTH- WEST / Zona Tortona (« D » on the map): from Porta Genova metro stop, this year, you’ll find a new brand and a new logo to follow: http://www.tortonadesignweek.com/

In addition there are some « headquarters » with interesting exhibitions and events:

• Triennale (« E » on the map : Viale Alemagna) http://www.triennale.org/ with the 4th edition of the Design Museum, « Le fabbriche dei sogni »
• Fabbrica del Vapore (« B » Via Procaccini) http://www.fdvlab.org with a lot of workshops and conferences named « Posti di Vista » and related to sensible design;
• Università Statale, with the exhibition Interni Mutant Architecture
• for music addicted, we recommend Elita Design Event, http://www.elitamilano.org/ with his dj set in various location of the city ;
• a visit in Milano couldn’t miss a stop at Spazio Rossana Orlandi ,http://www.rossanaorlandi.com.

2/ Suggestion of programme for the week, after morning on the trade fair…
* 12nd of April, Tuesday
Fabbrica del Vapore, via Procaccini
Aperitivo at Frida or dinner in the nearby, inside the Isola area.
Not too late. It’s the first day!!

* 13th of April, Wednesday
Porta Romana area and Spazio Botta opening.
Then Jannelli e Volpi Store, for Marimekko birthday.
Rest at Polpetta bar or Le ombre rosse for a good glass of wine.
Afterwards Ventura Lambrate, that will be open until 23.

* 14th of April, Thursday
A tour in the town centre and Brera Design District.
Meet go2prod team in front an ice cream at Rivareno or an aperitivo at Pescheria da Claudio.
Visit of Pinacoteca di Brera, for Belgium is Design exhibition.

* 15th of April, Friday
Triennale and town centre to visit some exhibition like Designer + Artisans.
At 19 for designers: Bambù lounge bar, for Domaine de Boisbuchet party.

* 16th of April, Saturday
Visit at Rossana Orlandi Shop.
Coffe or drink at navigli area in order to jump at Tortona Design Week.
In the evening visit of Poldi Pezzoli Museum in the town centre and Università Statale for Interni exhibition.

* 17th April, Sunday
Take a rest in the park..
Closing Party organized by Elita at Teatro Neri Parenti.

3/ Links to some of the guides:

• Fuori salone site (without Cosmit info)
• guide of Interni Magazine
• guide of DDN Magazine
• guide of ATCasa web magazine
• guide for the « off » by Intramuros magazine

4/ ABOUT TRANSPORTATION
Here a useful website for transport

You could buy a daily, a 2 days (valid for 48 hours) or a weekly ticket. Please note that a special ticket is necessary to reach Rho Fiera, the round trip costs 4 €.

IS IT YOUR FIRST TIME IN MILANO?
In this case we recommend you:
to take an old tram ( antique nr 1 and 2, just notice its lights and the seats);
to eat a panzerotto at Luini, to drink a Negroni sbagliato at Bar Basso and to eat an ice cream at Grom, Rivareno or Chocolat;
to visit a museum like Pinacoteca di Brera.

Enjoy your design week, stay tuned so that we can keep you updated, and don’t forget to tell us about your discovers !!!