Local Bizzarro Captures Terraformæ’s Story at Milan Design Week 2025
The Evolving Identity of Terracotta in Contemporary Design Culture
As Milan Design Week 2025 draws to a close, one collaboration has captured attention for its thoughtful blend of design, material research, and cinematic storytelling. Local Bizzarro, a production company based in the Conero Natural Park along Italy’s Adriatic coast, partnered with Terraformæ, an experimental design hub and contemporary offshoot of the historic Fornace Sant’Anselmo, to produce a short film that brings their vision of terracotta innovation to life.
The video premiered during Milan Design Week as part of Terraformæ’s presence at Alcova - playing a central role in communicating the studio’s evolving narrative.
Terraformæ
Directed by: Mattia Fiumani
Local Bizzarro, founded by a collective of internationally experienced cinema and audiovisual professionals, has built its reputation around sustainable, decentralised production. With recognition from the Italian Ministry of Economic Development & Culture through the Creative Enterprise Fund, the studio has become a champion of sustainable storytelling, aligning perfectly with Terraformæ’s ethos.
Together, they created more than just a promotional video. They captured the tradition and experimentation at the heart of Terraformæ’s mission, exploring the generative tension between heritage and forward-thinking research.
Directed by Mattia Fiumani, with cinematography by Giacomo La Monaca and Fiumani, and sound design by Andrea Gobbi, the video immerses viewers in Terraformæ’s unique approach which bridges design, architecture, and material experimentation.
“The idea behind Terraformæ is to be an independent research lab, independent, connected to a company with enormous production capabilities, capable of creating both large-scale series and much more tailored pieces.”
Terraformæ, known for redefining the role of terracotta in contemporary design, showcased its innovative use of terracotta through striking installations and video.
Highlights included DRY, a mortar-free drywall system; WEAVE, 3D-printed terracotta with textile patterns; and ARIDA, a new line of lime-and-earth plasters. Set design by Bongiana Architetture and art direction by Sveva Bizzotto amplify the project's sensorial depth.
In a design week that spans everything from luxury showrooms in Montenapoleone to radical experimentation in Tortona and Isola, this collaboration between Local Bizzarro and Terraformæ was not just a showcase.
The project is a story about what happens when creativity, craft, and cinematic language come together to shape new futures from one of the world’s oldest materials.
Credits:
Client: Terrafomæ (@terraformae)
Directed by: Mattia Fiumani (@mattia_fiumani)
Cinematography: Giacomo la Monaca (@giacomonacadp) e Mattia fiumani (@mattia_fiumani)
sound design: Andrea Gobbi (@andreagobbi_music)
Production assistant : Lida Zvereva
produced by Local Bizzarro (@local.bizzarro)