Design in Villa Festival

Design in Villa is a festival taking place over the weekends of March 15/16, 22/23, 29/30, and April 5/6 in seven stunning historic residences in Veneto: Castello di Thiene, Villa Angarano, Villa Sagramoso Sacchetti, Parco Frassanelle, Villa Valmarana ai Nani, Villa da Schio, and Villa Rosa.

The Design in Villa festival, organized by Dimore Amiche del Veneto, intertwines the stories of noble families—rich in art, culture, and tradition—with the excellence of Italian design, creating a bridge between the past and the future. Seven historic residences—six villas and a castle—will open their doors to offer visitors the exclusive hospitality of those who have lived there for generations. Each residence will host a designer who will showcase their creative journey and design process through their works and creations.

The connection between these two worlds lies in their shared commitment to supporting and promoting Italian craftsmanship. Ancient techniques, part of our country's heritage, risk being lost but remain alive through contemporary design, which reinterprets them with a surprising variety of innovative methods and approaches.

Visiting the Dimore Amiche del Veneto allows you to immerse yourself in a unique lifestyle story that has lasted over 600 years. Centuries-old parks, ancient halls, medieval tales, traditional recipes, and forgotten anecdotes. These historic residences share their stories while mingling with designers eager to present their journeys and works. There will also be opportunities to meet the artists during the special “Meet the Designers” events.

The entrance to each villa will grant the right to 1 Continuing Education Credit for architects.

At the following link the information brochure

https://www.calameo.com/read/00785593037f6d7829d80

Event Schedule:

March 15-16:
Castello di Thiene
Time: 10 AM - 6 PM
Featuring works by Massimo Barbierato (www.massimobarbierato.com)
Meet the Designer: Saturday at 11 AM

March 15-16:
Villa da Schio
Time: 10 AM - 6 PM
General Admission: €10.00
With a ticket from the first villa, entry to the second villa is reduced to €8.00
Free for children under 12
Featuring ZP Studio (www.zpstudio.it)
Meet the Designer: Sunday at 11 AM

March 22-23: Frassanelle Park
Hours: 10 AM - 6 PM
Ticket: 8 euros
Free for children under 3
ivdesign (www.ivdesign.it)
Meet the designer on Saturday morning at 11 AM

March 22-23:
Villa Rosa
Time: 10 AM - 6 PM
General Admission: €10.00
With a ticket from the first villa, entry to the second villa is reduced to €8.00
Free for children under 12
Featuring Kanz Architetti (www.kanzarchitetti.com)
Meet the Designer: Sunday at 11 AM

March 29-30:
Villa Angarano Bianchi Michiel
Time: 10 AM - 6 PM
General Admission: €10.00
With a ticket from the first villa, entry to the second villa is reduced to €8.00
Free for children under 12
Featuring Giulio Gianturco (www.giuliogianturco.com)
Meet the Designer: Saturday at 3 PM

March 29-30:
Villa Sagramoso Sacchetti
Time: 10 AM - 12:30 PM & 2:30 PM - 6 PM
General Admission: €10.00
With a ticket from the first villa, entry to the second villa is reduced to €8.00
Free for children under 12
Featuring Gaetano di Gregorio (www.gaetanodigregorio.com)
Meet the Designer: Sunday at 11 AM

April 5-6:
Villa Valmarana ai Nani – The Forest
Time: 10 AM - 6 PM
General Admission: €6.00 (for the forest visit)
Featuring Nicola Tessari (www.nicolatessari.it)
Meet the Designer: Saturday at 11 AM

Designers:

Massimo Barbierato
His design work ranges from urban scale projects to industrial products, balancing between architecture and design. He has achieved numerous successes in national and international competitions, leading to exhibitions of his work and the realization of architectural projects and objects in Italy and abroad. Alongside his design activities, he teaches at the Iuav University of Venice, Unirsm Design in San Marino, and Isai Design Academy in Vicenza. He has conducted design workshops in France, Finland, and Italy. His research focuses on achieving the essential and revealing the inherent truth of each material, regardless of the project field or scale.

Gaetano Di Gregorio
Originally from Caltagirone, he moved to Venice to study architecture. He currently lives and works in Venice, blending his work as an architect with that of a ceramist and designer. His work pays close attention to the production process and materials. He creates small series and unique pieces, personally producing them in his Venice workshop, which also serves as an exhibition space—Spiazzi—or in collaboration with artisanal companies. His work has been exhibited in fairs and shows in Italy and abroad and published in specialized magazines. After teaching at the IED (Istituto Europeo di Design), he now teaches Modeling and Materials in the Product Design course at the IUAV University of Venice.

Giulio Gianturco
Born in 1953, he graduated in Medicine and Surgery and later discovered a passion for design, particularly appreciating the qualities of stainless steel. In the early 1990s, he began designing and creating his first pieces using technical materials like 316 stainless steel and Bakelite fiber in a mechanical construction workshop. His notable designs include "Minimal" for Boffi (1995), "Matilde" (1997), and "Air" for Boffi (2002). He has collaborated with several brands, such as KWC, Foscarini, Agape, and Techimpex. His works have won multiple awards, including the Elle Deco International Design Award and the Wallpaper Design Award. In 2008, after a sabbatical in the US, he left his medical career to focus solely on design projects. His more recent works include bathroom furniture for REXA DESIGN, a foldable bicycle (G-BICYCLE), and the "THERMAE" faucet line for Fantini.

Ivdesign
Founded in Vicenza in 2007, Ivdesign focuses on human needs, serving as an experimental space that offers simple solutions to societal changes. Ivdesign began as a craft workshop for unique and design pieces, addressing themes related to daily life, work, and play. The studio’s aesthetic is defined by subtraction and simplicity. Francesca Braga Rosa and Ivano Vianello, both graduates in architecture from IUAV Venice, have been working under the Ivdesign brand since 2005. They specialize in interior architecture, landscape, and design in both historical and contemporary contexts. They have collaborated with brands like Nitoarredamenti, Antonio Lupi, and DeCastelli, and have participated in various international design exhibitions. Ivano Vianello has held teaching positions at ISAI Design Academy, University of Ferrara, and the University of San Marino.

KANZ Architetti
Founded in Venice in 2014 by Antonella Maione and Mauro Cazzaro, KANZ Architetti is a multidisciplinary design studio that covers everything from residential architecture and restoration to interior and product design. They believe the designer's role is central to creating complex objects, whether buildings or products, and approach every scale with experimental techniques and attention to detail. Their product design work includes collaborations with local artisans to produce independent collections. Their objects combine traditional techniques with contemporary forms, blending aesthetics with functionality. In 2016, they launched the KANZ brand to further expand their design philosophy.

Nicola Tessari
Nicola Tessari specializes in unique and limited-edition pieces crafted from solid wood, including furniture and artistic turnings. Central to his work is the raw material—wood—which he views as a canvas already rich with natural history, from knots and cracks to fungal growths and water stains. This inherent uniqueness of each wood piece leads him to adopt a dialogic approach, treating the material as a creative partner. His artistic woodturning focuses on revealing the unexpected details within the wood, making each creation a blend of idea and matter. Tessari uses locally and sustainably sourced wood, often from private tree removals, and ages it himself to enhance its unique features.

ZPSTUDIO
Founded in Florence in 2003 by Matteo Zetti and Eva Parigi, ZPSTUDIO is an atelier of design and architecture. Both founders, architects and designers, trained at the Faculty of Architecture in Florence, where they also engaged in teaching and research. The studio offers creative solutions for interior architecture, including temporary installations, commercial spaces, and integrated brand structures. Alongside their design work, ZPSTUDIO produces high-quality, small-edition design pieces through ZPSTUDIO DESIGN EDITIONS, blending Mediterranean cultural heritage with contemporary innovation. Their products, crafted in Tuscany with local artisans, strike a balance between tradition and avant-garde. They have collaborated with brands like Lumen Center Italia and Wallpaper, and their works have received international recognition and awards.