World Design
As part of the International Design Casa, 15 countries and areas of the world organised 10 exhibitions: Austria, Belgium, Central and Eastern Europe, France, Japan, Norway, the Netherlands, Seoul, Singapore and Spain. The architects of Torino 2008 – World Design Capital asked Nord Zinc to use the Sistema Triplex treatment on all exhibitions signs in all the countries involved in the event. So, after the partnership which began with Torino 011 – Biography of a City, the collaboration continues with the avant-garde elements of the city in this year of design that is coming to an end. International Design Casa was conceived with the intention of debating on new ways of understanding, implementing and developing design, and therefore: to open a debate between the culture of the Project of Turin and Italy, with that of other cities and nations of the world. Some of the most prestigious international organisations in the design sector temporarily take up “home” in Turin and open their doors to the public to:
- introduce themselves
- present their national design
- present the policies in place to promote their own national design
- reflect on future prospects
International Design Casa is a series of exhibitions scattered all over the city centre, which bring a fresh and simultaneous look to Turin, which proposes to think about how the culture of the Project can be expressed in other parts of the world, ranging from the vibrant European scene, to the countries in rapid development in the Far East. The sign system consists of a series of environmental placemarks, whose design is the result of a shared planning between the designer, the Client and the manufacturer of the material. These subjects pooled their expertise in the creation of objects that would meet the criteria of effectiveness, sustainability and reciprocal consistency. The placemarks will temporarily become an integral part of the urban furniture. In addition to the signposting and identifying the network of the houses, there are also seating, benches and stopping points along the route that connects the various exhibition areas. The eco-sustainability can be seen in the choice of using materials on the market which are able to contain the manufacturing costs and minimise waste of material. Sistema Triplex, the Nord Zinc process par excellence, was chosen as the corrosion protection and finishing process for steel, as it allows usability of the structures throughout their life cycle. Given its environmental specifications documented by the Environmental Product Declaration EPD, it also makes it possible to evaluate the environmental impact of the equivalent greenhouse gas emissions in kg of CO2 and to compare them with those emitted by other systems on the same life cycle. It is important to highlight how, with the Sistema Triplex, the greater initial emission generates considerable savings during the life cycle of the product. Nord Zinc actively participates in the special dialogue between companies that promote the use of eco-friendly materials and support the concept of shared planning. These companies pursue important objectives, such as promoting research and experimenting of increasingly environmentally friendly solutions and communicate the importance of the durability of manufactured products, along with attention paid to achieve an aesthetic finish in tune with the evolution of contemporary cities. International Design Casa was scheduled to coincide with the conference on the International Design Policy “Shaping the Global Design Agenda”. The event shows the different ways in which the culture of design can also be expressed in other latitudes of the world. It is an appointment to enhance the understanding of design as an instrument for communicating identity and values, and as a strategy to design new routes for economic development. Rather unusual domiciles want to reveal perspectives and engage new influences in the urban fabric of Turin. Enhancing their own home with events and social gatherings that can further stimulate and inspire visitors. Moving along and beyond the object, the different experiences of other cities and countries allow Turin to highlight the flexibility of design as a tool, a strategy and an approach to a sustainable lifestyle. Programme Director: Michael Thomson; Assistant Director: Christine Losecaat
