“Glass. The Great Unexpected”. Endlessly amazing glass on display in Milan.

Date: 7 July 2015

For the forthcoming edition of Vitrum, slated to take place at Fiera Milano Rho October 6th to 9th, the trade show specialized in machinery, equipment and special glass processing products will host a major show featuring the past, present and future of a material that has influenced the history of humanity. More than two thousand years of history of a material that has always fascinated humankind and stimulated its creativity.

Between past and future, ancient and modern, glass is ultimately the star player in a themed exhibit designed to offer a vast panorama of the use of glass in outstanding products. The event was conceived by Vitrum in partnership with ICE, the agency for overseas promotion and internationalization of Italian businesses.

The exhibit unfolds through three primary themed sections: glass in history and design, glass as a key player in architecture, and glass and the new technologies.

An essential, initial reference point within the history and design section is a piece of great historical importance: an amphora depicting a gladiator scene dating back to the second century A.D. and exhibited only once before in Milan, in 1964. Visitors to Vitrum will also have the opportunity to admire an extremely rare exemplar of a glass radiator dated 1941 and, along with it, one of the most famous chairs in the recent history of design: the acclaimed Ghost chair by Cini Boeri, in the unique 2007 edition in silvered glass (mirror) produced by Fiam.

A vast section dedicated to glass in architecture is subdivided into two major themed areas:

Design research - Technological and experimental research, to highlight the complexities of the use of glass in architecture. Of the many projects on display are, to mention just a few: the Shard of Glass by Renzo Piano, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia in Tbilisi by De Lucchi, and the Nardini Research Center and Auditorium by Fuksas, in a journey that moves from the theories of light and color in the urban landscape, passes through studies of the control of light and shadow, and moves on to the renovation of existing sites with contributions by Mario Bellini and Norman Foster.

Technological research will shine the spotlight on the most interesting representations of residential comfort that, precisely as a function of the use of glass, have achieved results unheard of until just a few years ago. Included in the strictly experimental section are the most recent studies in chemistry applied to glass with the presentation of the most cutting-edge research in the area of photovoltaic glass, chromogenic glass, OLED glass and solar mirrors.

Finally, Vitrum will be the place to explore the innovations in store for the future from the world of glass processing, with the presentation of some design prototypes created by students at Politecnico di Milano (the Milan-based Polytechnic University) in partnership with the Freiburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Developed with the goal of experimenting with new combinations of glass and electronic and IT technologies, the initial concepts and some operating product prototypes will be presented at Vitrum 2015.

With Glass. The Great Unexpected, once again Vitrum proves how it is possible to deftly balance history and tradition with high technology and the innovative abilities of Italy and the world.

www.vitrum-milano.com