The historical past of the Arlecchino practice of Gio Ponti, Casa Prada Frames to Milan Design Week

Prada Frames 2025 takes place on board the legendary Arlecchino practice

Throughout Milano 2025 design week, Formfantasma He offered the fourth version of the Prada Frames symposium, bringing collectively voices from all disciplines to discover the intersection of mobility, design and setting below the title in transit. Reflecting the theme in content material and context, the Milan Design Duo selected an unconventional stage for a few of the discussions: Arlecchino Practice -an electrical practice from the center of the century initially conceived by Gio Ponti and Giulio Minoletti within the 1950s.

With an exterior within the type of naval and inside aerodynamics adorned with glass partitions, inclined armchairs and panoramic salons, the “Harlequin” practice was meticulously restored by Fondazione FS Italian. Arlecchino has been reintroduced each as a restored historic practice, not solely as a spot for the symposium, however an operational a part of the railway community in Italy, sustaining its unique 1950 design options. Learn additional to find the story behind this coloring icon.

Arlecchino practice | IMABILITY IMAGE OF FS Fondazione Italian

Gio Ponti’s imaginative and prescient for the railway: a “complete design” method

The architect and multidisciplinary designer Gio Ponti introduced the architectural sensitivity to every side of Arlecchino. In partnership with Giulio Minoletti, Italian imaginative and prescient He conceived the practice as a type of cell inside structure, designing its carriages with the identical intention and precision as an inner or exhibition area. On the middle of this imaginative and prescient have been the panoramic salons on each ends, integrated into wrapped glass, putting the passengers immediately on the axis of the journey and reworking the journey right into a cinematic expertise. Above them, the lifted and recessed driver’s cabin saved the view and strengthened the sculptural profile of the practice.

Inside, Ponti’s method has balanced spatial readability with expressive particulars. The chairs inclined within the residing velvet, translucent glass partitions and a refined bar space mirrored a submit -war optimism. The practice identify, Arlecchino, was a direct knot to his vibrant colour palette and theatrical presence.

The outside is modeled by naval aerodynamics | Picture sort of Fondazione FS Italian

From Settebello to Arlecchino

Etr.250 Arlecchino was a simplified evolution of Etr.300 Settlebello, additionally designed by Ponti and Minoletti. Inbuilt 1960 by the engineer Ernesto Breda, Arlecchino maintained the identical language of refined aerodynamic and inside curves, however condensed the format in 4 carts, reasonably than seven, which makes extra agile and financial to work. His inaugural journey – in the course of the Rome Olympic Video games – was from Bologna to Venice, reaching speeds of 187 km/h, a outstanding factor at the moment. Ponti’s aesthetic improvements didn’t compromise efficiency; The design was as technically bold because it was a visible hanging.

Arlecchino on the Central Station in Milan | Picture © Designboom

Conservation and Restoration of Fondazione FS Italian

Since their introduction within the 1960s, 4 Arlecchino items have been in transit. By the tip of the 1990s, all, except for one in every of them, had been disassembled. In 2013, Fscezione fs Italian He recovered the final instance of survival, Etr.252, and commenced a ten -year restoration. The work was not solely mechanical, however deeply delicate to design, aiming to keep up Ponti’s unique imaginative and prescient, whereas integrating trendy security programs. The interiors have been rebuilt, with the unique look of the chairs and the replicated upholstery fashions utilizing up to date supplies. Panoramic lounge, bar transport and colour schemes have been restored loyal to the 1960 design, whereas hidden upgrades, equivalent to air-con, new lighting and practice management system (SCMT) introduced the practice to up to date operational requirements.

Even the structural restoration – mandated by the Ancona plant in Trenitalia – elevating the lifting of the carriages, resuming programs and restoring the help body earlier than reassembling the practice with its unique spatial logic.

The practice was initially conceived by Gio Ponti and Giulio Minoletti within the 1950s | Picture © Designboom

a design and structure design object in transit

Though it’s not categorized as a high-speed practice, Arlecchino continues to maneuver each actually and culturally. Its return to the railway community in Italy marks a uncommon case by which a design object from the center of the century isn’t restricted to the archive or museum, however reintroduced into the general public circulation.

By organizing part of the Prada Frames symposium on board the practice, Formfantasma emphasised a wider concept: that the mobility itself may be architectural. As a lot as Arlecchino is a product of the 20th century innovation, its lasting relevance consists in the best way the panorama, motion and design as a unified expertise. Used at present for cultural occasions and heritage routes, Arlecchino remembers a interval when the design, velocity and nationwide id converged. From his vibrant upholstery to his silhouette just like the plane, he stays one of the dynamic buildings of Gio Ponti-one who nonetheless affords, actually, the promise of shifting design.