What is Alcova

Alcova is a groundbreaking platform dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge projects in contemporary design, architecture, and technology. Established in 2018 by curators and creative visionaries Valentina Ciuffi and Joseph Grima, Alcova has quickly become a key fixture in Milan Design Week, renowned for its ability to bring together emerging talents, established designers, and forward-thinking brands in unconventional and historically rich locations.
At its core, Alcova is an evolving exhibition concept that redefines how design is presented and experienced. Unlike traditional trade fairs, Alcova embraces raw, abandoned, and unique urban spaces, temporarily transforming them into immersive design hubs where innovation meets heritage. Past editions have taken place in locations such as disused factories, former military hospitals, and forgotten industrial sites, offering visitors a rich, layered experience that merges contemporary design with historical narratives.

The platform functions as a laboratory for experimentation, where designers, institutions, galleries, and research entities explore new materials, production techniques, and conceptual ideas that reflect the future of design and living. It fosters a cross-disciplinary dialogue, encouraging collaborations between designers, artists, scientists, and technologists.

Beyond Milan, Alcova has expanded internationally, responding to a growing global audience interested in its fresh and boundary-pushing approach. By stepping away from conventional exhibition formats and embracing adaptive reuse, site-specific installations, and alternative storytelling, Alcova has positioned itself at the forefront of contemporary design discourse.

Whether you are a designer, a researcher, a brand, or simply a lover of experimental design, Alcova offers a rare opportunity to engage with some of the most exciting and thought-provoking work in the field today. Through its bold curatorial vision, Alcova continues to redefine how we experience and interpret the intersection of design, space, and culture.

FOUNDERS

Valentina Ciuffi is former editor of Abitare, Valentina is the founder of Studio Vedèt, a multidisciplinary design studio. Her work focuses on curatorial projects that blend design, art, and architecture, aiming to create immersive and thought-provoking experiences. Joseph Grima is an architect, curator, and former editor-in-chief of Domus, Joseph leads Space Caviar, an architecture and research studio. His work explores the intersection of design, technology, and society, often through experimental and research-driven projects.  Together, Ciuffi and Grima have expanded Alcova’s reach beyond Milan, bringing the exhibition to international audiences and continually pushing the boundaries of design presentation.

How to contact us

• VIA MARCO AURELIO 21
  20127 MILANO, ITALY
• IG @ALCOVA.MILANO 
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• P.IVA 11062620965
  PRIVACY POLICY

Take part to our exhibitions

Want to showcase your work at Alcova? Apply to be an exhibitor by emailing us at the address below, including your company or project name and a brief description of the project you’d like to present. We look forward to discovering your vision!

• ALCOVA MILANO
  INFO@ALCOVAMILANO.COM
• ALCOVA MIAMI
  INFO@ALCOVAMIAMI.COM