New Archeology? Ettore Sottsass reloaded

The Italian Cultural Institute in Cologne is taking part in the 35th Passagen Interior Design Week, which is taking place in Cologne from January 10 to 16, 2025. It is presenting the photo exhibition "New Archeology? Ettore Sottsass reloaded" by Jessica Soffiati, curated by Federica Sala. This exhibition will be on display at the institute from January 11 to May 9, 2025. There will also be guided tours of the room designed by Ettore Sottsass and discovered during renovations, which is located at the Wempe jewelry store in Cologne.

Photographed by Jessica Soffiati

Jessica Soffiati's photographs show the largely preserved original design by Ettore Sottsass Jr. for the Esprit flagship store in Cologne from 1986 at Hof 2 on the corner of Hohe Strasse. During the renovation for the new Wempe jewelry and watch store, this architecture was rediscovered and partially restored and reinterpreted by Anna Nicolas, resulting in a contemporary hybrid. The exhibition, curated by Federica Sala and organized by the Italian Cultural Institute Cologne in collaboration with the Italian Consulate General Cologne and Wempe, allows visitors to discover this hidden treasure.

About the curators and organizers

Federica Sala is an independent curator and design consultant. She has worked in the design department of the Centre Pompidou and has collaborated with brands such as Fabrica, miart, 5VIE Art+Design, Airbnb, Vogue Italia as well as Cassina, Buccellati and Dolce&Gabbana. She curates exhibitions for the Milan Triennale and the ADI Design Museum. As an art consultant she works for the hotel industry (Six Senses Roma) and with Rizzoli International (Gianluca Pacchioni, Minimal Baroque, 2021; Venini, La Magia del Vetro, 2023; Echoes, Cassina, 2023; Gregory Gatserelia, The Art of Interiors, 2024). She has been Italian Design Ambassador for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2021 and Editor-in-Chief of The Good Life Italia, a business & lifestyle magazine, since July 2022.

Guided tours on site

During the Passagen Interior Design Week 2025, which will take place from January 10 to 16, 2025, guided tours in Italian and English are planned in addition to the photo exhibition at Wempe in the business premises "Am Hof 2" in downtown Cologne, not far from Cologne Cathedral, in the former confectionery store of the Stollwerck chocolate factory.

Photo: Jessica Soffiati / Image source: Italian Cultural Institute Cologne