Design Festival in Villa 2026 at Thiene Castle: A Dialogue Between Eras
On the two weekends of March 21–22 and 28–29, 2026, the Veneto region hosted an event dedicated to design that, year after year, is carving out its own identity within the Venetian villas: Design in Villa.
The event involved seven historic residences within the Dimore Amiche del Veneto network, under the patronage of the Associazione Dimore Storiche Italiane.
It was not a traditional fair or a simple exhibition. Rather, it was a dispersed journey across villas, castles, and historic residences, transforming them into experimental spaces. Here, contemporary design does not simply get displayed; it interacts with the environments, interprets them, and sometimes even challenges them.
Thiene Castle: A Setting that Amplifies the Project
Among the most significant stops of the first weekend of the festival, Thiene Castle stood out for the strength of its context.
Unlike other venues, the exhibition here was more focused: a single space, carefully curated to create a direct dialogue between space and project.
These were not merely objects on display; some installations seemed to almost “inhabit” the space, interacting with frescoes, architectural proportions, and natural light. The result? Not always harmonious in a classical sense, but precisely for that reason, highly intriguing.
Step inside Thiene Castle and experience firsthand a place where history and contemporary design meet.
A Dispersed Festival that Highlights the Territory
Certain common threads emerged across the installations, even if never rigidly defined. The relationship between past and present was the most evident. In some cases, the design sought almost respectful integration; in others, it deliberately disrupted the balance.
Alongside this, there was a strong focus on materials: surfaces, resins, handcrafted work, slow processes. Not just aesthetics, but a real reflection on the act of designing and on the heritage of craftsmanship.
And then, the territory. Not in a folkloric sense, but as a starting point for design. Some works seemed to emerge directly from their surroundings.
Discover all the details about the festival, the locations involved, and the event concept in the dedicated feature.
Themes of the 2026 Edition: Between Research and Contamination
Across the various installations, some common threads emerged, even if never rigidly defined. The interplay between past and present was the most evident. In some cases, design sought a respectful integration; in others, it intentionally disrupted the balance.
Alongside this, a strong attention to materials was apparent: surfaces, transparencies, resins, hybrid techniques. Not just aesthetics, but research.
And then the territory. Not in a folkloric sense, but as a design starting point. Some works seemed to be born directly from it.
International Presence and Cross-Pollination
The festival hosted designers and artists with very diverse approaches.
Specifically, at Thiene Castle, the spotlight was on Robi Renzi, a designer and ceramist born in the Marche region near Urbino, trained in architecture in Florence, who “combines design research and craftsmanship, creating objects in which material becomes a story” (source: Vicenza Today).
His work centers on the idea of the object as narrative, “where there is no strict separation between function and artistic dimension, and where the slow pace of the workshop aligns with the discoveries of the material.”
An Experience Beyond a Simple Visit
Visitors to the Design in Villa festival did not merely “attend” exhibitions. The path was designed to alternate more contemplative moments with dynamic ones: moving through rooms, glimpsing gardens, experiencing changes in light. All of this contributed to the interpretation of the works.
In some locations, outdoor spaces became an integral part of the experience, almost expanding the very concept of the exhibition.
Thiene Castle as a Contemporary Space
Events like Design in Villa clearly show that the value of a historic place lies not only in its preservation but also in its ability to welcome new languages.
Thiene Castle, in this sense, works. Not as a mere container, but as an active element of the project.
And here, the dialogue between eras becomes tangible.
The Design in Villa 2026 Festival confirms an interesting direction: taking design out of its usual contexts and placing it in locations that already have a strong identity.
Thiene Castle fits perfectly within this vision, offering a space where the contemporary does not replace history, but intersects with it.