Drawing Better Connections is the kitchen manifesto of Arclinea’s ethical design approach. The project is a tribute and call to Drawing Better Connections with food, family and nature, as a way to evolve in a more symbiotic and responsible way. A concept which sits at the core of the company purpose since Arclinea itself rose out of the connection between a ‘trattoria’, epitome of Italian food legacy, and a traditional wood-shop, the essence of the company’s project culture.
In order to preserve and regenerate life, it is vitally important to re-connect with the food we eat, the communities we build and the environment we inhabit.
The first key connection point is food, as establishing a more conscious bond with what we eat is essential to sustain life on Earth. With a commitment to preserve the diverse food heritage of the world Arclinea, in collaboration with Giovanni Marabese of Milano Food Project, curated five private dinners staged as a ‘Relay of Precious Ingredients’ among chefs Luca Marchini, Stefania Bergonzi from Fieno, Norbert Niederkofler, Mimosa Misasi and Gisli Matt.
For their menus, the chefs were asked to use endangered ingredients in combination with products from their local region and other participants’ areas. Each dinner is connected to the following one: each chef will deliver two ingredients from his region to the next, kicking off a relay where these precious elements, at risk of extinction, are the baton. A project that regenerates culinary traditions from around the world into unexpected experiences and recipes, with the aim of raising awareness about the importance of understanding the foods we eat, preserving the legacy they bring and discovering the value of craftsmanship in food production.
The bond with family and nature is instead manifested in the two new installations at display in a dedicated area of the via Durini flagship. Each project is a celebration of the family of Italian production partners which make Arclinea’s products possible everyday – the workers and craftsmen who hold the expertise to preserve the company’s legacy and regenerate it through time. An ever evolving network which is valued, traced and transparently communicated as part of Arclinea’s promise to balance its own needs with those of the communities it involves.