Renowned Italian architects Michele de Lucchi, Carlo Ratti, and Mario Cucinella will speak at Hong Kong’s Business of Design Week this December, Italian consul general in Hong Kong and Macau Carmelo Ficarra told The Standard in an exclusive interview.
De Lucchi was a prominent figure in design movements that include Cavart, Alchimia, and Memphis. He designed lamps and furniture for the most well-known Italian and European companies and completed architectural projects in Italy and abroad.
Architect and engineer Ratti is ranked among the top ten most-cited scholars in the field of urban planning. Cucinella curated for the Italian Pavilion at the 16th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale with the exhibition Arcipelago Italia.
Organized by the Hong Kong Design Centre, BODW is billed as Asia's premier annual event on design, innovation and brands. Each year, the weeklong design event partners with a different country, inviting its designers to present in Hong Kong. Past speakers included global architecture icon Zaha Hadid, luxury shoe designer Jimmy Choo, and fashion designer Vivienne Tam.
This year sees Italy become the partner country for the upcoming event. It also marks the third year-round partnership between HKDC and Italy.
Preparations for BODW 2025 are ongoing, Ficarra said, with a series of themed sessions on interior design, jewelry, motion picture restoration, design education, and leather workshops lined up ahead of the main event.
Apart from the HKDC, Italy also collaborates with the city’s major design-related institutions, including Polytechnic University’s School of Design, the Hong Kong Design Institute, City University, the School of Architecture at the University of Hong Kong, and the Chinese University, according to Ficarra.
The Italian diplomat emphasized that maintaining strong ties with key stakeholders is essential not only for promoting Italian design in Hong Kong, but also for fostering broader exchanges between the two regions.
In addition to providing consular services to the city's Italian community, which counts more than 3,000 people, the Italian consulate aims to “create mutual understanding between Italy and Hong Kong and to promote as much Italian content as possible,” Ficarra said.
Among the upcoming cultural events is Aida, Opera Hong Kong’s next massive Italian opera production, which will run five performances from October 9 to 12 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre.
The four-act opera, written by Giuseppe Verdi, tells the tragic love story of Ethiopian princess Aida held captive in Egypt, who falls for Egyptian general Radames. Their love is tested when he is chosen to lead a war against her homeland.
Ficarra said the consulate is also happy to support Hong Kong's presence in Italy. The Hong Kong Museum of Arts will be responsible for the curatorial or artistic organization of the Hong Kong pavilion at the next Venice Art Biennale in 2026, he added.
The “Think Business, Think Hong Kong” symposium organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council will take place in Milan in November, bringing together business leaders from Hong Kong and Italy to discuss the latest developments and opportunities in Asia’s new economy.
Exchanges also extend to the sporting arena, as Italian giants AC Milan will join three Premier League clubs in visiting Hong Kong in July. Ficarra said Italy is placing greater emphasis on sports diplomacy ahead of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
The winter games will take place from February 6 to 22 next year, followed by the paralympics in March. The Italian envoy said these two events are of great importance to Italy, with over 3,500 athletes from 93 countries and regions expected to compete.
Ficarra noted that extensive preparations are underway, not only in infrastructure but also in hospitality, to ensure a smooth and memorable experience for the arriving athletes, national teams, and the many tourists expected to cheer on their nations.
(Jamie Liu)
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