CULTURE
Montreal and Arna: a lesson in design
25 March, 2018
Also the Fratelli Cozzi Museum ONE BY ONE: The Lombard Circuit Design Museums at the "Fuorisalone" 2018, from Monday 16th to Saturday 21st April 2018, during the Milan Design Week, at the Archivio Giovanni Sacchi/Spazio MIL located in the "Carroponte" area in Sesto San Giovanni.

We know, we're a little wicked, but we can't resist temptation. When we received the invitation from the Giovanni Sacchi Archive to take part in "ONE BY ONE", as part of the "Fuorisalone" events dedicated to design, we had no doubts: we exhibited Montreal, an icon of style, capable of interpreting "man's greatest aspiration".

It was at that point that the Hamletian doubt arose: what are we exhibiting here at the museum during the absence of Montreal? An accomplice look, a mocking smile and a name on everyone: ARNA!

Let's face it, lessons are learned by applying oneself... and sometimes by making mistakes. That's why when we talked about design we wanted to compare two different "schools of thought". What do you say? Have we learned our lesson?

"Man's highest aspiration when it comes to automobiles'. was the slogan that presented the Alfa Romeo prototype in 1967 at the Universal Exhibition in Montreal, which was held that year and to which the car owes its name. The design was by Marcello Gandini for Bertone, one of the most prestigious names in Italian automotive design. The car, presented in 1970, only began to be marketed in 1972; fewer than 4,000 examples were built. Alfa Romeo Montreal designed by Marcello Gandini for Bertone, 1967.
"And you're alfista now," that's the slogan that presented the Arna to the public. At the end of the 1970s, Alfa Romeo, still owned by IRI, decided to produce a car that could respond to the push of the competition, creating a C-sector car capable of competing with the Volkswager Golf, Fiat Ritmo and Lancia Delta. Unable to sustain the costs of a new design, they preferred to use bodies of cars already in production. Thanks to an agreement with NISSAN, Alfa Romeo Nissan Automobili S.p.A. was born and the production of the Arna was started: the body of the Nissan Cherry married to the mechanics derived from Alfasud. The design? For posterity the difficult sentence.
From Monday 16 to Saturday 21 April 2018, during Milano Design Week, at the Archivio Giovanni Sacchi/Spazio MIL located in the "Carroponte" area in Sesto San Giovanni (easily reached from Milan by the M1 and M5 subways), eleven Lombard design museums will present an exhibition in which the identity of each collection will be represented by an iconic object. (easily reached from Milan via the M1 and M5 subways), eleven Lombard design museums will present an exhibition in which the identity of each collection will be represented by an iconic object. This is the first showcase exhibition of business museums and private collections that bear witness to the fruitful encounter between designers and industries, through which "made in Lombardy" is known worldwide. The collections are of a high cultural level and international standing in terms of quality and completeness. They are made up directly by the manufacturers or by intelligent and enthusiastic private collectors who have dedicated years of research, making important acquisitions to create museum collections that are now open to the public. In addition to the quality of the collections, exceptional care is taken over the museum displays, which are often the work of famous architects who make these places a true testament not only to design but also to contemporary architecture, without neglecting to use the most up-to-date museographic techniques. In the buildings that house the museums, there are often historical archives, consisting of thousands of documents including design drawings, photographs, publications, advertising posters, as well as digital archives that help trace the history of the company.
"Montreal: Man's highest attainable aspiration when it comes to cars."
On show are "iconic" objects from the Fisogni Petrol Pump Museum, the Fratelli Cozzi - Alfa Romeo Museum, the ISEC Foundation, the Kartell Museum, the Molteni Museum, the MUMAC - Gruppo Cimbali Museum, the Riva1920 Center, the SAME Museum, the Giovanni Sacchi Archive and the Aiap Cdpg - Graphic Design Documentation Centre / Museum. of Graphics. Also on show is a project by architect Michele De Lucchi for Zambon, exhibited in the company museum of the same name. The exhibition is sponsored by Museimpresa, the Associazione Italiana Archivi e Musei d'Impresa (Italian Association of Business Archives and Museums) promoted by Assolombarda and Confindustria, which aims to promote the cultural policy of business through the enhancement of museums and business archives. and business archives. Radio Popolare is collaborating with the tour operator Viaggi e Miraggi, an important element in the project aimed at promoting museums. The exhibition will be open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Monday 16 April to Saturday 21 April. On Wednesday 18 from 6.00 p.m., the public will have access to a special event promoted by the Giovanni Sacchi Archive/Spazio MIL. MILAN METROPOLITAN CITY via Granelli 1, Sesto San Giovanni M1 Marelli, M5 Bignami Parco Nord media@spaziomil.org | +39 02 36682271 | www.spaziomil.org