The ADI Design Museum is a new landmark for the world of Italian and international design, a new cultural center for the city of Milan. It tells the story of Italian design and promote it. The backbone of the museum is the historical collection of the Compasso d’Oro, the famous Italian design award formerly sponsored by department store „La Rinascente“.
A collection declared „of exceptional artistic and historical interest“ by the Italian Ministry of Culture and for this reason included in the National Heritage. The historical Compasso d’Oro collection represents a current snapshot of the world of contemporary design. Constantly enriched thanks to the new pieces selected every two years for the Compasso d’Oro award.
The creation of the museum is also a revitalization of a piece of the city. An area of great architectural and urban importance, located in a strategic area of Milan. The museum was created through the renovation and enhancement of an industrial archaeological site – a 1930’s building – that was used in the past as a horse-drawn tram depot and later as an electricity distribution plant.
