PALIMPSEST talks at Milan Design Week: exploring the synergies between artistic practice and urban studies

From April 7–11, 2025, during Milan Design Week, PALIMPSEST hosted a series of public talks and artistic events at Politecnico di Milano, offering audiences the opportunity to explore the intersections between artistic actions and urban studies.

The program opened on April 7 with the public presentation of the Acqua Lambro project, conceived by the British-Irish artist duo gethan&myles. The event featured a rich panel of speakers, including Massimo Bricocoli (Head of DAStU), Grazia Concilio (Politecnico di Milano), Dario Kian (ERSAF), gethan&myles, Stefano Beghi (KARAKORUM), and Elena Grandi, Councillor for the Environment and Green Spaces, Comune di Milano.

On April 9 and 10, the dialogue continued with two thought-provoking roundtables led by Stefano Beghi (KARAKORUM), addressing core research questions at the heart of the PALIMPSEST project:

• Why is a dialogue between art and research necessary?
  With contributions from Nicolò Abbattista (LostMovement), Fabio Zulli (OYES), and Maurice Pefoura (ReverseLab)
  
• What artistic perspectives for antifragile territories?
  With insights from Anna Moro, Antonio Longo, and Gabriele Pasqui (Politecnico di Milano)

The week concluded on April 11 with the presentation of the IMMACCHINARIUM project—an upcoming collaborative initiative inspired by Acqua Lambro and developed in partnership with four local associations: Artedamangiare MangiareArte, Osservatorio Lambro Lucente, Comunità Brianza, and Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente.

Adding to the depth of the experience was a site-specific performance by LostMovement, whose choreography—evoking the flow and energy of river dynamics—guided the audience through the campus in a symbolic and poetic journey toward the Acqua Lambro installation.

Now that Design Week has concluded, Acqua Lambro embarks on a new phase, traveling along the Lambro River to engage with local communities and spark further reflection. Follow the journey on Instagram: @acqualambro

PALIMPSEST is part of the New European Bauhaus initiative and investigates the transformative potential of creative-artistic practices in real-world contexts, with a focus on environmental sustainability. The project operates across three pilot cities: Jerez de la Frontera (Spain), Łódź (Poland), and Milan (Italy), where it works to reimagine and restore the relationship between the Lambro River and the city.

Special thanks to all partners, collaborators, visitors, and supporters who helped make this program possible!