Wednesday 28 May marked the close of the fifth edition of Design per Tutti, a cultural lecture series organised by Level Office Landscape with the patronage of the Order of Architects of Monza and Brianza. This year’s theme, “From Above, It’s a Whole New World”, offered a valuable chance to reflect on architecture and the environment—from a distance that helps make sense of the transformations and patterns of an increasingly globalised world.
As always, the end of the series calls for reflection. “Once again this year, our speakers managed to offer a broad spectrum of perspectives based on the assigned topic, sparking great curiosity around the issues, data and ideas they presented,” says Massimo Gianquitto, ceo of Level Office Landscape and creator of the format. “And when I’m asked if our audience truly appreciated the talks, I can confidently and unequivocally say yes. The feedback gathered during the evenings confirmed not only their appreciation but a genuine engagement with a theme that’s far from obvious—one that calls for personal reflection.”
What Happened at Design per Tutti
Held every Wednesday in May, the programme brought together a diverse roster of speakers. Here’s a look back at the highlights.
Icarus Beyond the Clouds
In the opening session, philosopher Lorenzo Redaelli delved into mythology by recounting the tale of architecture’s first visionary: Daedalus, the designer of the Labyrinth of Knossos, and his son Icarus, destined for captivity. With wings fashioned from wax and feathers by his father, Icarus managed to escape—only to disregard Daedalus’ warnings and fly too close to the sun. His wings melted, and he fell to the sea. Redaelli wove this myth together with the ideas of Plato, Hegel, and Descartes, unfolding a captivating narrative structured around three phases: ascent, stable flight, and the fall.
The session continued with food and beverage editor Penelope Vaglini, who presented images of luxury restaurants perched atop skyscrapers, hot air balloons, and even suspended in mid-air. She concluded with a deep dive into the foods consumed by astronauts in space.
Exploring the Sky
In the second session, architect Massimo Gianquitto and art historian Isabella Maggioni guided the audience through a journey of artworks inspired by the sky and its representation. From the invention of perspective as a spatial tool, to Futurist aeropainting, to installations by contemporary artists like Tomás Saraceno, Studio Drift, and Cai Guo-Qiang. The session also explored utopian architecture and forward-looking projects such as Norman Foster’s Lunar Habitation.
Defying Gravity
The third event featured architect and pilot Carlo Rovelli, who won the Italian ballooning championship in 2005. Rovelli took the audience on a virtual flight, meticulously describing every phase of this high-altitude adventure—from take-off to ascent and landing—accompanied by stunning photographs from his travels.
From this exploratory angle, the tone shifted to a scientific one with geographer and researcher Alfio Sironi. Through evidence and data, he examined the concept of the Anthropocene, showing how humankind is both a major contributor to climate change and a potential force for its resolution.
Suspended Pathways
The final lecture welcomed Germán Fuenmayor, partner at Milan-based architecture firm Piuarch, and Cornelius Gavril, landscape architect and president of Verdisegni Association. “An inspiring evening devoted to architecture and landscape,” recalls Gianquitto. “Through Piuarch’s projects, Fuenmayor reignited in our audience—and the many architects present—a renewed faith in architecture as a social discipline, not one that imposes itself or seeks dominance, but one that heals human-caused wounds and restores harmony with nature.”
Cornelius Gavril, who charmingly refers to himself as “the flower boy,” enchanted the audience with a gentle narrative tracing the creation of a suspended vegetable garden. Installed on the bare rooftop of Piuarch’s studio, this ongoing research lab of plants and flowers represents a temporary, participatory solution—one that offers a space for relaxation and connection, opens up to the neighbourhood, and demonstrates how cities can evolve into more human-friendly, nature-embracing environments.
Closing the series was an address by Carlo Forcolini—designer, entrepreneur, and Compasso d’Oro lifetime achievement awardee—“whose contribution carried tremendous moral clarity in support of an ethical design approach. One that resists the fleeting appeal of trends, enduring with style and grace,” concludes Gianquitto.
See You in 2026
Design per Tutti will return in 2026, with a new theme to be revealed in the coming months and an even broader lineup of guests.