Francesco Fresa Piuarch

Francesco Fresa was born in Rome in 1963, where he attended the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Rome. In the frame of his university experience, he collaborates with the firm Gwathmey&Siegel of New York, working on the extension project of the Guggenheim Museum. After several international collaborations, in 1996 he founded, together with Germán Fuenmayor, Gino Garbellini and Monica Tricario, the studio Piuarch based in Milan.

What does the Fuorisalone represent for you?

Many things in one: great opportunity to get involved in the creative stimuli, in the observation of news and trends, samples of innovation and languages of our industry. It is the best time to meet with colleagues, customers, experts who are in town for the occasion. New projects are often created at a dinner or at the edge of an event to which we participated. An atmosphere that has no analogies with any other event in the world.

What does Milan mean to you?

Milan finds in Fuorisalone its most cosmopolitan and competitive dimension. It is recipient and message at the same time. Beyond the obvious business considerations on the economic benefits brought by the events, it renews every time the centrality of the city and the legitimacy of its ambitions to be a capital of creativity.

Inside or outside the Salone del Mobile?

Inside and outside, these are two sides of the same coin. There could be no Fuorisalone without the heart of the fair and, after many years, the fair without Fuorisalone would be like a body in itself, incomplete. There are mutual benefits.

The key thing you discovered or learned at the Salone.

The communication processes are now a fundamental part of the project, and at the same time one must not lose sight of the essence of the project blinded by the lights of the communication. In this case, it is also a necessary balance, where the two components will have to balance for the best outcome.

Your favourite place during Design Week.

The cloisters of San Simpliciano (Brera Design District)

What and where to eat during that week?

Everywhere and nowhere. From finger food of the thousand vernissages to the high cuisine of the most important professional dinners.

I would like that Fuorisalone…

Could leave as a legacy to the city permanent benefits in terms of works, urban furniture, and signs of project intelligence that will not run out after the course of the week.

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