Precious contributions

Sponsors and Collaborators

The Michelangelo Foundation and its partners are extremely grateful for the support of all the sponsors and collaborators who have helped make Homo Faber possible. By contributing to this unprecedented showcase of the finest European craftsmanship, these companies and institutions are demonstrating their dedication and commitment to Homo Faber’s valuable mission: to promote craftsmanship and its link to design, to celebrate human talent and to help ensure a bright future for European master artisans.

• IGUZZINI

  Established in 1959, iGUZZINI illuminazione is a leading international group that operates in the architectural lighting sector, being active in over 20 countries and employing approximately 1,500 employees. Manufacturing indoor and outdoor intelligent lighting systems, the company’s main focus is to use light in cultural, work, retail, urban, infrastructure, and hospitality & living contexts, to improve the relationship between people and the environment.

• EMU (ITALY)

  With its strong Italian roots over its 65 years of history, EMU has developed an international awareness and interest that make its outside furniture collections suitable for every situation, in both the business and the private sector, in settings with different styles, from Northern Europe to Australia, from European Mediterranean countries to North America, from South America to Asia. The country is present throughout the world, enjoying growing success, thanks to the comfort and elegance of its products, with their strong design, expressed in harmony with the recognisable shapes and identity of its collections made in steel and aluminium, combined with innovative technological materials.

• RUBELLI

  Established in Venice in 1889, the family-run company now in its fifth generation, designs, creates, and produces high quality furnishing products, in particular fabrics. Rubelli is emblematic of the extraordinary expertise of Italian fabric designers and textile artisans, using traditional techniques to produce hand-made fabrics as well as innovative technology for more sophisticated textiles. Their stunning collections include luxury fabrics such as damask, velvet, brocade, and silk. Rubelli fabrics are found in the most exclusive private homes, international hotels, private yachts and cruise ships, world-renowned theatres, castles and museums in the world.

• De Castelli

  De Castelli, founded in 2003 by Albino Celato, specialises in artisanal metal manufacturing, and works closely with leading designers all around the world. The company is renowned for its experimental approach to combining craftsmanship, design and advanced technologies. De Castelli’s headquarters are located in the North-East of Italy, next to Treviso, and they host the production site and a rich materials area. Together with the new showroom, designed by Cino Zucchi and based in via Uberto Visconti di Modrone, 20 in Milan, they clearly show the high importance given to design, manufacturing and customer care.

• Atelier B

  Atelier B is a traditional yet contemporary framing shop in Geneva, run by Spanish-born Belén Ferrier, who specialises in framing old masters and modern art, and French master artisan Mohamed Kahlia. The atelier has a collection of antique frames which can be restored and adapted to artworks as required, while new frames are made and gilded using techniques employed since ancient times. Despite using age-old techniques and materials, Atelier B’s frames are contemporary in design, often inspired by historical or regional influences. A bespoke frame, whether made in wood, leather or metal, gilded or decorated using traditional or modern techniques, is always made to enhance the artwork it is intended for, whether that be a photograph or an old master.

• Association De Mains De Maîtres

  The Association De Mains De Maîtres Luxembourg is a non-profit organisation aiming to support and promote craftsmanship in Luxembourg. One of its missions is to establish a fine contemporary craft biennial, which was initiated in 2016 by HRH Princess Stephanie of Luxembourg. The biennial exhibits works of selected Luxembourg creators together with international artists,and builds bridges with other European countries. Aside from the biennial, the association develops a cross-border programme of exhibitions to help export the fine craftsmanship of the Grand- Duchy and spread its spirit internationally. It also delivers scholarships for excellence, reflecting its commitment to encouraging, preserving and passing on artisanal know-how.

• Cassina

  The Cassina Custom Interiors division has extensive experience in offering turnkey solutions to design and produce tailor made furnishings worldwide. Founded in Meda in 1927, Cassina launched industrial design in Italy during the 1950s by taking a completely new approach which saw a shift from handcraftsmanship to serial production. The company has always had a pioneering attitude thanks to its commitment to research and innovation, combining technological skill with traditional craftsmanship and involving important architects and designers to envision new forms and transform them into projects. Today, Cassina’s vision is represented by The Cassina Perspective, expressing the company’s values through an eclectic collection where innovative products and Modern icons come together to create welcoming environments, dialoguing according to a unique design code based on excellence.

• Visionnaire

  Founded by the company IPE and based in Bologna since 1959, Visionnaire is a meta-luxury brand of reference in interior design, renowned for its one-of-a-kind design solutions tailored to its clients. The brand bases its activity on the value of knowledge and continuing research into the concept of contemporary beauty, creating design projects and products of outstanding craftsmanship that value the skills of local artisans located across Italy. Operating in more than 55 countries, the company collaborates with eclectic and visionary Italian and foreign designers to create bespoke proposals for the residential, luxury hotel, yachting and aviation sectors. A Benefit company since 2021, it aims to pursue positive effects – or reduce negative effects – towards people, communities, territories and the environment.

• Gruppo Cordenons

  Gruppo Cordenons is a leading Italian paper mill producing fine and technical papers. It offers over 2,500 special products to target specific applications in the international market. Continuing to innovate and invest in research and development, Gruppo Cordenons provides excellent technological quality within its original papers, giving immediate feedback to customer requirements and always keeping up with trends. Furthermore, besides the most advanced technologies, the company vocation to create precious papers evoking handmade elegance and charm remains intact. Through an increasingly flexible production process, Gruppo Cordenons has developed a wide portfolio of cutting-edge papers that combine aesthetic and tactile effects. Besides the extensive catalogue range, Gruppo Cordenons supplies customised papers according to specific customer requirements of colour, weight and finish.

• Neo Tech

  Neo Tech was founded in Monza in 2004. The company created the first communication solution using professional monitors with innovative portrait positioning and GPRS/UMTS remote communication, designed to be installed at railway stations, national airports and advertising circuits. In 2009 the company expanded its business by entering the field of interactive multimedia museum installations with exhibitions in Rome and in the Vatican Museums. Since then the company has collaborated with important brands in the AV sector including NEC, Sanyo, Canon and Panasonic, as well as with multimedia creative groups and universities including Ca’Foscari in Venice.

• Ricehouse

  Founded in 2016 by architect Tiziana Monterisi and geologist Alessio Colombo, both passionate about promoting responsible change in society, Ricehouse proposes new housing models using the natural by-products of rice processing. The company creates construction products such as insulation, cladding and bricks using rice husks and other by-products. 100 percent natural, and with high thermal and acoustic efficiency, these products can be used in customised architectural projects or to sell to experts in the field. Ricehouse also offers consultancy services for the design and construction of buildings according to the principals of bio-architecture, and collaborates with companies in other sectors who wish to use the by-products of rice processing as raw materials.