Prada Foundation, Milan contemporary art center

Prada Foundation: discovering a complex collection

The Milan headquarters of Fondazione Prada rises beyond the railway yard of Porta Romana, in an original, multifunctional and surprising space that mirrors the multifaceted nature of the contemporary art collections, temporary exhibitions and numerous cultural initiatives that it houses inside. Designed by the OMA studio of archistar Rem Koolhaas, the articulated structure composed of pre-existing buildings and new constructions revitalizes the area occupied by a distillery dating back to the early twentieth century-one of the most successful experiments in industrial archaeology in the entire city of Milan. Dynamic, innovative, constantly evolving… But how to move in such a complex place of integration between architectural spaces and art forms that are different from each other and sometimes almost conflicting?
The guided tour led by our licensed guides will help you interpret the spaces of Fondazione Prada and the works housed there, an excellent selection of international contemporary art from the 20th century to the present.

The precious spaces of Fondazione Prada

Upon entering this cultural citadel, it is impossible not to be immediately dazzled by perhaps the most unique architectural structure: the Haunted House, a building formerly belonging to the old distillery, has not changed in its original volumes, but its surface has been entirely covered with a precious layer of gold leaf! In a stringent interaction with the surrounding urban landscape that can be glimpsed from the windows, between old disused buildings and attempts at redevelopment, the interior spaces house permanent installations by Robert Gober and Louise Bourgeois. In search of the new buildings that have sprung up within the pre-existing industrial complex, we move from the Podium to the Cinema, home to a film festival that is also very experimental and often linked to the temporary exhibitions in the exhibition spaces.
Finally, we come to the Tower, the heart of the Fondazione Prada’s collections. Spread over five floors of the building (the sixth is dedicated to a futuristic restaurant, again signed by Koolhaas and enriched by numerous art pieces), are some of the masterpieces collected by Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli in dialogue with critic Germano Celant. The project, entitled Atlas, serves as a veritable map to navigate among the most revolutionary trends in contemporary art, with works by world-renowned artists, such as Carla Accardi‘s abstract paintings, Jeff Koons ‘ colorful balloons or Damien Hirst‘s provocative creations. As you ascend, the Tower offers ever spectacular views of the urban landscape surrounding the Foundation, creating a profound and sometimes alienating integration between the works on display and the horizon visible beyond the large windows of the exhibition rooms.

Wes Anderson’s retro touch

The exploration of Fondazione Prada is coming to an end: the last stop, unmissable for our guides, is to pass by Bar Luce, the retro-flavored café that completes our guided tour. Designed by American film director Wes Anderson, it combines the memories of a movie set with the atmosphere of old Milan: look at the ceiling and you will see, albeit in miniature, the same decorations as in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the Milanese symbol par excellence!