The Best of Formafantasma: Top Design Projects to Discover
The Best of Formafantasma: Top Design Projects to Discover
The Best of Formafantasma: Top Design Projects to Discover
Formafantasma is a renowned Italian design duo consisting of Andrea Trimarchi (born 1983) and Simone Farresin (born 1980). They met during their undergraduate studies in communication design at ISIA in Florence and later pursued a master’s degree in Industrial Design at the Design Academy Eindhoven in the Netherlands, graduating in 2009 with a shared thesis project.
Initially based in Amsterdam, the duo returned to Italy in 2021, establishing their studio in Milan’s semi-industrial northeast, where they continue to operate alongside their team.
Their design philosophy emphasizes a research-based approach that delves into the ecological, historical, political and social contexts of materials and production processes. This perspective has led them to explore unconventional materials such as volcanic rock, electronic waste and plant-based polymers.
Formafantasma’s work has been exhibited in prestigious institutions worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
In recognition of their innovative contributions to design, the duo was awarded Wallpaper* Designer of the Year in 2021.
Join Malabar on a tour of Formafantasma’s top 5 projects.
Cohabitare
Cohabitare is an ecological installation created by the design studio Formafantasma in collaboration with Maison Perrier-Jouët, unveiled in September 2024 at the House’s vineyard in Champagne, France. This project marks Formafantasma’s first permanent outdoor installation and serves as a living architecture intervention aimed at promoting biodiversity and regenerative viticulture. At the heart of Cohabitare is the Îlot de Biodiversité, a 285-square-meter area featuring 74 handcrafted terracotta posts, some with cavities designed to provide habitats for various species, including insects and birds. Cohabitare represents a fusion of design, nature and sustainability, transforming the vineyard into an interactive platform for dialogue and education about biodiversity practices.
Bvlgari Eternally Reborn
Formafantasma’s Bvlgari Eternally Reborn exhibition, presented at the historic DOMVS boutique on Via Condotti in Rome, offers a profound exploration of Bvlgari’s 140-year legacy. The exhibition is meticulously curated into eight thematic chapters, each highlighting the maison’s enduring relationship with the Eternal City. Collaborating with 2050+ and orchestrated by the creative studio Courtesy of., Formafantasma crafted bespoke display cases that transform traditional jewelry boxes into precious protective armors, elevating the presentation of Bvlgari’s rare jewels and precious objects.
This innovative approach to exhibition design reflects a novel methodology in research, artistic direction, and spatial storytelling. The thematic chapters guide visitors through a visual narrative, offering an intimate glimpse into Bvlgari’s rich heritage and its continuous reinvention over the decades. By intertwining design with heritage, Eternally Reborn not only showcases the maison’s masterpieces but also celebrates the timeless essence of transformation and renewal.
“Prada Frames In Transit”
“Prada Frames: In Transit” is the fourth edition of the annual symposium curated by the design research studio Formafantasma, held during Milan Design Week 2025. This year’s event took place at Milan’s iconic Centrale train station, utilizing the historic Arlecchino train and the station’s Royal Pavilion as venues.
The symposium focused on the infrastructures that underpin daily life, both visible and invisible, such as mobility, global policy and climate justice. By hosting talks aboard a moving train and in a space once reserved for royalty, the event emphasized the theme of motion and structure.
Speakers from diverse disciplines – including astrophysics, architecture, and activism – engaged in dialogues about pressing issues like space travel, artificial intelligence and geopolitics. The program prioritized conversation over visual presentations to foster deeper engagement.
“Prada Frames: In Transit” continues Formafantasma’s tradition of exploring complex societal and ecological themes through design, aiming to provoke critical awareness and responsibility. The event underscores the duo’s interest in how objects, systems and people intersect within larger cultural and environmental contexts.
Still during Milan Design Week 2025, Formafantasma unveiled two significant collaborations with Cassina: the launch of the FF.Spine bookshelf and the immersive installation-performance “Staging Modernity” at the Teatro Lirico Giorgio Gaber.
FF.Spine Bookshelf for Cassina
Formafantasma introduced the FF.Spine bookshelf, a versatile system available in self-standing and wall-mounted versions. This design is an evolution of earlier concepts presented in London, now refined for commercial production. The FF.Spine reflects Formafantasma’s commitment to functional elegance and thoughtful materiality, aligning with Cassina’s legacy of modern craftsmanship.
“Staging Modernity” at Teatro Lirico Giorgio Gaber
To commemorate the 60th anniversary of Cassina’s production of the iconic LC collection by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand, Formafantasma curated “Staging Modernity”, a theatrical installation and performance directed by Fabio Cherstich.
The installation reimagines the modernist ideals of domesticity and design, challenging traditional narratives by integrating animal reproductions and fragmented furniture elements. This approach critiques the binary oppositions of modernist discourse, such as the mechanized versus the natural, inviting viewers to reconsider the legacy of modernism in today’s ecological and cultural context.
Performances featured professional actors interacting with the space and objects, dissolving hierarchies between humans, objects and nature. The project also involved contributions from philosopher Emanuele Coccia, architect Andrés Jaque and artist Feifei Zhou, further enriching the discourse on modernity and its implications.
And you? What’s your favorite design project by Formafantasma? Share your thoughts with us!
See also: Exploring the Soulful Interiors of Lenny Kravitz’s Home in Paris
