Alcova has redefined how contemporary design engages with historical and unconventional spaces, transforming abandoned and historical buildings into immersive exhibitions. It has activated diverse locations to showcase emerging talents, experimental projects, and research-driven design. Each edition fosters a global dialogue on sustainability, material innovation, and new production methods, creating a dynamic intersection of past and future.

The ninth edition of Alcova, from April 7th to 13th 2025, returns to Varedo, further reinforcing the idea of Milan’s position as a city in perpetual growth, expansion, and change.

Building on last year’s success, Alcova broadens its presence by featuring four distinct venues: the former SNIA factory and the Pasino glasshouses, alongside Villa Bagatti Valsecchi and Villa Borsani from the previous edition. These additional sites expand the design conversation beyond domestic environments, focusing on the interplay between materials, industrial processes, and nature’s reclamation of abandoned architectural spaces.

The Pasino glasshouses, once home to one of the largest cultivation of white orchids in Europe, present
 a spectacular natural backdrop. These expansive, luminous glass structures will create a symbiosis with Alcova’s curated design selection, inviting visitors into a realm where nature interacts with the exhibited pieces. A dialogue between the organic and the man-made remnants of Milan’s suburban expansion.


The former SNIA factory, a key site in Italy’s industrial history, stands out as a forgotten gem of Milanese rationalism. The factory’s chimney, the clean, geometric lines of its glass façades, tell the story of a different time. The wide spaces of this venue will house installations that explore materiality and innovative production techniques, all while nodding to Italy’s industrial history. Alongside these newly activated venues, Villa Bagatti Valsecchi, with its extraordinary historical domestic context, and Villa Borsani, an immaculately preserved architectural jewel, will continue to serve as key locations.