The ninth edition of Alcova is set to open in just a few months, from April 7–13, 2025, during Milan Design Week, expanding its reach to four extraordinary locations in Varedo.
Alongside the historic residences of Villa Borsani and Villa Bagatti Valsecchi, which will once again be activated this year, Alcova introduces two new sites: the former SNIA Factory and the Pasino Glasshouses. These additions bring a raw, layered backdrop, where nature has begun to reclaim its space. Each location will offer a distinct atmosphere to guide visitors through one explorative and eclectic path, highlighting both prominent and emerging designers through site-specific installations and curated exhibtions that reflect the character and spatial qualities of each setting.
VILLA BORSANI
Villa Borsani will once again host cutting-edge collectible design pieces in dialogue with its 1945 modernist architecture. Designed by Osvaldo Borsani as a family home next to his furniture atelier, the villa stands as a rare and impeccably preserved example of his layered style, complete with distinctive artistic features, including a fireplace by Lucio Fontana.
→ BOOK YOUR VISIT TO VILLA BORSANI: https://shop.alcova.xyz/products/ticket-alcova-2025-villa-borsani
VILLA BAGATTI
Villa Bagatti Valsecchi, a 19th-century architectural gem built for the noble Milanese Bagatti Valsecchi family as a summer retreat to escape the city's heat and entertain guests, will once again be reactivated this year. The venue invites spatial exploration—from grand halls and intimate rooms to expansive formal Italian and English-style gardens with hidden grottos.
PASINO GLASSHOUSES
The Pasino Glasshouses, nestled within the greenery of the outdoor gallop track adjacent to Villa Bagatti Valsecchi, were once home to one of Europe’s largest white orchid cultivations. Today, they offer a stunning natural backdrop, creating a space where vegetation interacts with the exhibited pieces.
FORMER SNIA FACTORY
The former SNIA factory is a remarkable example of rationalist architecture — a sprawling industrial relic dating back to World War I, now abandoned for over 20 years. Overgrown with ivy and softened by moss, the site reveals an interplay of industrial decay and nature’s quiet reclamation, offering a glimpse into its layered history as a major global hub for synthetic fiber production.
Alcova is a platform for designers, companies, institutions and researchers investigating the future of living and making. Each year during the world's largest design event, Milan Design Week, Alcova brings together the people defining design culture today through groundbreaking work on living environments, products, systems, materials and technological innovation. Founded in 2018 by Valentina Ciuffi (Studio Vedèt) and Joseph Grima (Space Caviar), Alcova has become one of the most widely followed projects in the Fuorisalone, regularly attracting over 90.000 visitors.
