Students at the prestigious Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) have unveiled a remarkable collection of interior design projects that address contemporary challenges in urban living, environmental sustainability, and community connection. Among the standout works is a groundbreaking multifunctional space specifically designed to adapt to the varying needs of modern families, alongside an innovative alpine cultural observatory and modular living units that seamlessly integrate with natural environments.
The showcased projects emerge from IED's comprehensive BA in Interior Design program, spanning 11 campuses across Italy, Spain, and Brazil. Under the guidance of distinguished tutors including Ignasi Bonjoch from IED Barcelona, Adelaide Testa from IED Torino, and Federica Bosoni from IED Milano, students have embraced a revolutionary approach that shifts from traditional human-centered design to an ecosystem-based methodology where people, nature, and technology coexist harmoniously.
One of the most celebrated projects, "The Trail of Curiosities" by Bianca Giacomini, earned the prestigious IED Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue Award for Best Interior Design Thesis at IED Barcelona 2025. This innovative concept seeks to restore walking as an aesthetic experience by creating four distinct spaces named The Sculptor, The Dreamer, The Talker, and The Writer along a scenic path in Barcelona's Collserola Natural Park. The project encourages visitors to collect objects during their journey, depositing them in various structures to contribute to their completion, thereby creating a poetic reminder of human presence in the environment.
"Etra," developed by Sofia Varlaro and Greta Tornesello from IED Roma in collaboration with major Italian organizations including Coldiretti and Legambiente, presents a revolutionary approach to sustainable hospitality. The project features mobile and modular living units equipped with sliding roofs and walls made of wood and fabric that can completely open to dissolve boundaries between interior and exterior spaces. These structures accommodate up to four guests, including those with mobility challenges, and incorporate advanced water recovery systems and natural materials to minimize environmental impact.
Addressing rural revitalization, Nora Urquijo's "Iandiola" project proposes a network of community facilities based on traditional Basque farmhouse architecture called 'Caseríos.' The initiative maps abandoned farmhouses in the Enkarterri region, transforming them into vibrant public and private spaces that preserve historical memory while creating new stories for current generations. This innovative model demonstrates potential for replication across other rural regions facing similar challenges.
The humanitarian aspect of design takes center stage in "VIVO," a collaborative project by four IED Milano students: Tommaso Cavalli, Sofia Lipoli, Andrea Lombardi, and Chiara Gorni Silvestrini. Recognizing that earthquakes destroy not only buildings but also identities and communities, VIVO creates temporary spaces that prioritize psychological and physical well-being, offering dignity and hope to disaster victims. The system goes beyond emergency shelter logic to initiate genuine processes of rebirth and community reconstruction.
Juan Bueno Pérez from IED Madrid presents "La Talquía," an ambitious ecosystem for cultural and productive regeneration that transforms an old sugar factory in Alagón into an innovative "neighborhood of knowledge." The project directly responds to contemporary societal fractures including the loss of traditional crafts, social disconnection, and unsustainable mass consumerism. Through shared workshops, open knowledge archives, and material labs that convert local waste into valuable resources, La Talquía actively promotes circular economy principles and ethical production culture.
Health and wellness intersect with architectural innovation in Alicia Sirera's "The Invisible Impact," which earned an Honorable Mention at IED Barcelona. This skin regeneration center employs a holistic approach, combining air filtration systems, natural materials, and carefully selected plant species with therapeutic programs that activate the senses and promote dermal healing. The project creates layered pathways guiding users through processes of cleansing, breathing, and reconnection with essential elements.
"Co-NoLo," developed by three IED Milano students, addresses urban family needs in Milan's NoLo district by transforming a former industrial water house into a multifunctional, inclusive environment. The restored building features a central modular climbing structure built with tubes and safety nets, complemented by parent lounges, co-working spaces, and a symbolic skate park that offers teenagers autonomous meeting spaces.
The agricultural and hospitality sectors converge in "Agrilabor" by Sofia Mariano and Alessia Piscitello from IED Torino, which creates spaces where territorial care becomes a form of hospitality and sharing. The project brings together individuals maintaining vegetable gardens, forests, and trails across valleys, operating on land provided by municipalities and utilizing vacant properties in a sustainable community-driven model.
Completing the impressive collection, "Locus Amoenus" by three IED Firenze students transforms the 'La Regina' building in Acquaviva village into a multi-purpose arts center featuring exhibition spaces, bistro facilities, and individual artist residences. The project explores relationships between architecture, landscape, and interiority, with a central hearth serving as both literal fireplace and metaphorical gravitational center that unites different levels and defines room identities. Meanwhile, "Immanenza d'altura" by Christian Conovalu and Giulia Martini proposes converting the Carlo Emanuele III Shelter in Alta Val Varaita into an alpine cultural observatory, creating an active shared space dedicated to documentation, research, and dialogue about landscape transformation in close connection with local mountain communities.
