From New Delhi to Borgo Priolo: Indian design school opens its first

Borgo Priolo hosts an Indian design school's first European campus at Villa Castello

A rural village in the Oltrepò Pavese becomes a hub for international design education: the first European campus of an Indian design school has been inaugurated in Borgo Priolo. The initiative aims to combine training opportunities with the revitalisation of the local area.

Project highlights

• Location: Villa Castello di Torrazzetta, Borgo Priolo (Pavia province).
• Planned investment: approximately €1.5–2 million over the next five years for restoration and adaptation of facilities.
• Student residencies: up to 50 students will complete a two-month funded creative residency during their fifth or sixth semester.
• Educational focus: mobility, sustainability and urban regeneration with practical local applications.
• Academic partners: strategic collaboration with Politecnico di Milano for faculty exchanges, joint research and internships.

Local impact

The initiative aims to safeguard the historic value of the villa while supporting social and economic renewal: planned works include classrooms, workshops and a library. The on-site presence of students is expected to stimulate cultural exchange and projects that connect traditional craftsmanship with international design education.

Why it matters

For those interested in the development and promotion of Italian borghi, this campus is a practical model of how international educational projects can help regenerate small historic centres, provide training pathways and build academic and community ties.

Event note: opening announced on 2026-04-13.