The Fondazione Prada in Milano represents one of the most distinctive cultural spaces in Italy, uniting contemporary art, architecture, and conceptual design. Established by the fashion house Prada in the 1990s, the foundation’s permanent home was inaugurated in 2015 in Largo Isarco, a former gin distillery dating back to the early 20th century. The transformation of the industrial site was overseen by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and his firm OMA, who preserved the site’s factory character while introducing striking modern elements such as the so-called ‘Haunted House’, a structure clad in dazzling gold leaf. The result is a deliberate interplay between old and new, where Milano’s industrial past meets the avant-garde.
Within its various buildings and open-air courtyards, the foundation offers a rich and ever-changing programme of exhibitions. It often juxtaposes pieces from Prada’s own vast art collection with loans from international institutions and contemporary artists. Sculptures, photography, multimedia installations, and conceptual works occupy minimalist spaces that invite slow reflection rather than hurried consumption. The foundation’s curatorial approach is deeply intellectual – works are often grouped thematically to explore philosophical or societal issues rather than arranged chronologically.
One of the most remarkable components is the permanent installation ‘Atlas’, curated by Germano Celant, which reflects the foundation’s mission to collect and reinterpret contemporary art through dialogue and context. Surprisingly, it also includes a large-scale photo taken by Goshka Macuga in front of the Orangerie in Kassel. Alongside the exhibition spaces, visitors encounter architectural surprises: open platforms overlooking the Milano skyline, subterranean theatres, and mirrored rooms that play with perception. The cinema, with its transparent walls and flexible seating, hosts both retrospectives of classic films and experimental screenings, underlining the foundation’s engagement with moving image culture as well as visual arts.
Beyond its artistic appeal, the Fondazione Prada has also become a social and intellectual hub. The compound includes Bar Luce, designed by the filmmaker Wes Anderson, evoking the charm of 1950s Milanese cafés with formica tables and pastel tones. The combination of cultural engagement, architectural innovation, and aesthetic experience makes the site a perfect embodiment of Milano’s creative energy. It is a place where contemporary art is not simply displayed, but experienced as an active dialogue between history, design, and imagination.
Fondazione Prada
Milano
Italy
https://www.fondazioneprada.org
Loading map...
