Mediterranee: Architecture and Design for Gianni Versace at the

Mediterranee: architecture and design for Gianni Versace

Where & When: National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria — from 1 April to 3 May 2026.

The exhibition Mediterranee was inaugurated at the National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria. Conceived and produced by the Department of Architecture and Design (dAeD) of the Università degli Studi Mediterranea, the installation engages with the museum’s collections and spaces to propose contemporary readings of the Mediterranean imagery linked to Gianni Versace.

Project and exhibition language

The installation is the result of interdisciplinary work by students from Architecture, Design and Design for Mediterranean Cultures programs. Key components include:

• a sequence of figurative totems placed in the Piazza Orsi courtyard, arranged according to a geometric decomposition inspired by the Greek key motif found in Versace’s designs;
• a videomapping on the main façade that activates the building and the urban space as part of the visual narrative;
• a design-led route that weaves together memory, contemporary creativity and the museum’s tangible heritage.

Educational aims and cultural value

The initiative aims to enhance Mediterranean roots visible in the museum’s holdings while providing students with hands-on experience in exhibition design and cultural collaboration. The work highlights multiple Mediterranean perspectives and demonstrates how architecture and design can reinterpret cultural references for present and future contexts.

Curators and contributors

Faculty coordinators, course directors and participating students from dAeD developed the project in close cooperation with the museum’s management. The installation complements a wider exhibition program dedicated to Gianni Versace and his connections to Magna Graecia roots.

Practical information

• Dates: 1 April – 3 May 2026
• Venue: National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria, Piazza Orsi
• Visiting: check the museum’s official opening hours and ticketing information for details