By Rui Hu, iChongqing News

On Mar. 11, Italian Design Day was held by Italy Consul General in Chongqing, Chongqing foreign and overseas Affairs Office and Liangjiang New Area Government. Aldo Cibic, the keynote speaker and Italian design ambassador, brought his speech About cities: Maybe more human than Smart.

“Design is one of a specific areas where China-Italian cooperation can implement effectively”, said Davide Castellani, Italy’s Deputy Consul General in Chongqing. China is the largest importer of furniture, with exports reaching 500 million euros in 2018. "We want to focus on the fast-growing cities like Chongqing and share the concept of Italian design to Chongqing", said Castellani. 

Davide Castellani, Italy’s Deputy Consul General in Chongqing

Human is better than Smart (technologies)

During Aldo Cibic’s presentation, he introduced his studio and works on architecture and interior design from around the world. As a design pioneer, he found that in contemporary society, we are all engaged with new technologies and incredible applications. People living with smart technology is a trend in interior and architecture design.  However, as Cibic demonstrated, these can be ingredients for projects that generate new qualities and a sense of belonging for life in city. Nevertheless, he suggested, people need a sense of belonging and community building to live better. According to his questionnaire about architecture, 22.13% people chose sustainability while 42.55% chose relation with environment as the most important quality to make architecture better. 35.74% chose family as their source of belonging while 44.26% chose friends. This feedback on architecture triggered designers’ thinking.

Aldo Cibic (left)

Chongqing is a city that excites designers

Mr. Cibic indicated that he was really impressed by Chongqing's city skyline and unique landscape. He also suggested that he has a studio in a rural area in China, and he is interested in exploring countryside in China. “We should consider what the countryside could bring to us, the friendly people, the simple lifestyle, rather than what we could bring to them. We are the bridge and the connection between countryside and the city”when questioned about why he is interested in exploring the countryside and the border of urban area and countryside, he answered to iChongqing’s journalist.

Besides, Cibic also suggested that Chongqing is a outstanding city with features. When asked about the public space and architecture in Chongqing, he indicated that Chongqing needs a building or architecture with its own cultural symbol. Due to time constraints, he had not enough time to get to know Chongqing comprehensively. He only walked around in Jiefangbei and had a cup of coffee, but it was enough to make him excited. He is going to know more about the city in following days, and he is conscious about the city’s cyberpunk style in landscape.

Italian Design Day

About the event

Italian Design Day is organized by Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities. It unites all activities initiated by the public and private institutions representing Italian design. Every year, seminars and other events are held in more than 100 cities around the world. Italian architects, designers, scholars, entrepreneurs, and critics will play the role as Italian design ambassador.

2019 is the 3^rd year of Italian Design Day, and the theme is Design and Future City. This year’s annual event will focus on how lifestyles provide an effective way to make people engaged and look forward to the future with new cognitive and sensory abilities.

Italian Design Day

About Aldo Cibic

Aldo Cibic

In 1989 he founded the practice Cibic & Partners and, in 2010, the Cibic Workshop -not only a design studio, but also a multidisciplinary research center. Cibic Workshop strongly focuses on alternative sustainable project types aimed at enhancing local areas and defining new cultural, emotional and experimental awareness of public space. Aldo Cibic teaches at Politecnico Milano, the IUAV, Venice, and the Domus Academy, and is a professor of practice at the Tongji University College of Design & Innovation in Shanghai.