Architectural project: AR.CH.IT Luca Cipelletti
Furniture: smarin
Partners: Scalo Milano (Education Partner), Dedar (Textile Partner), Deloitte and Fondazione Deloitte, Lavazza Group, Salone del Mobile.Milano
Photo: Gianluca Di Ioia, Lorenza Daverio, smarin, Triennale Milano
Stepping into Gioco means entering a space that shifts before your eyes. Not a classroom, not a playroom, but a place that transforms every time it is inhabited. Inside the renovated Piano Parco of Triennale Milano, the project by AR.CH.IT Luca Cipelletti, enriched by the modular furniture designed by French studio smarin, welcomes children into an environment where architecture, design, and pedagogy meet.
At its heart are cork blocks and fir wood panels, light and tactile elements assembled without nails or screws. Chairs, desks, small play structures, or resting areas: everything can be built and rebuilt in minutes. The very act of composing and recomposing becomes part of the experience, an invitation to think with one’s hands and design freely.
Flexibility here is not only about form, but also about function. Gioco can open for a workshop, turn into a dance studio or screening room, or become a quiet corner for reading and contemplation. Its ever-changing dimension encourages spontaneity and welcomes children’s energy without restraint.
Alongside activities curated by Triennale’s Education Department, the space thrives on the daily presence of families: illustrated books in Italian and English, silent books – wordless picture books, volumes in AAC, and titles introducing Italian Sign Language make the library inclusive and diverse.
Practical needs are not forgotten: stroller parking, lockers, a changing table, and a water station complete the environment, while the Cucina Triennale restaurant offers a dedicated menu for kids.
With Gioco, Triennale reinforces its vision of the museum as an open, accessible, and family-friendly place. Here, design is not a backdrop but a living tool: a language that nurtures encounter, discovery, and shared creativity.
