60 YEARS OF COLLA ARREDI
A story of family, design, and Alessandria
We had the honor of celebrating an exceptional milestone: Colla Arredi’s 60 years in business. For me, as an architect and part of this family history, it was much more than an anniversary: it was an opportunity to honor the past, design, and our city.
Colla Arredi has always had a clear mission: to bring not only quality furniture and the best brands to Alessandria, but above all to spread the culture of design. Sixty years of exhibitions, conferences, and careful selection are testimony to this ongoing commitment.
The choice of location: the former Cinema Galleria
For such a significant event, I wanted a venue that spoke of memory and the future. The choice fell on the former Cinema Galleria in Galleria Guerci, a space that holds great sentimental value for the people of Alessandria and which has been waiting for a new lease of life for years.
Opening the doors of this place, even if only for one evening, was a symbolic gesture. The foyer hosted an exhibition dedicated to Venanzio Guerci, the engineer who designed it, offering a glimpse into the city’s architectural culture between the two world wars. Seeing it animated by light and people, with the hope of a future reuse for institutional or private events, was a dream come true.
Design icons take center stage
In the center of the room, design reaffirmed its leading role. Together with Patrizia Scarzella, we set up the exhibition “20 and more icons of Italian design”. Not just a simple exhibition, but a narrative of products that, thanks to their aesthetic and functional strength, have entered the collective imagination, transcending the dimension of the individual piece of furniture to become true cultural symbols.
A tribute to our roots
The excitement reached its peak when Confcommercio Alessandria, represented by Dr. A. Pedrazzi and Dr. Vittorio Alberto Ferrari, paid tribute to the founders. The commemorative plaque presented to Luigi and Vittoria Colla is not only a recognition of 60 years of business, but also confirmation of the lasting value that their vision has had for the economic and cultural fabric of the territory.
This evening, made possible thanks to the patronage of the Municipality of Alessandria and the Order of Architects, and the fundamental contribution of all our friends, partners, and professionals (from graphics to videos, music, and lighting), marks a chapter that encourages us to continue with the same passion, carrying on the legacy of Colla Arredi into the future of design.
