Development of Italian design in multicultural South Africa:
a double opportunity

Under the patronage of the Italian Embassy in South Africa and as a visiting architect at the Cape Town World Design Capital 2014 event and ‘The New Italian Design’ exhibition, curated by the Triennale Design Museum, Maurizio Molini held the conference ‘Italian design in multicultural South Africa: a double opportunity’. As a supplementary activity held during the conference, organized by the Italian Trade Agency and the FederlegnoArredo industrial association, the architect also participated in various television and radio interviews, explaining his strategic vision concerning development and an interaction between Italian Design and the expectations of the local market. In South Africa, Maurizio Molini initiated an on-site research project focusing on changes occurring in the post-apartheid city. In the period 1995-2000, under the supervision of UCT (University of Cape Town) and IUAV (University of Architecture in Venice), Molini analyzed the consequences of the forced removal and destruction of the District Six urban area, and examining the dynamics occurring in the townships of Hanover Park, Menemberg and Guguletu.