Urban art and Logistics: regenerative synergy
Art and logistics may not seem a very good match when you first think about it. However, at Prologis, combining art and logistics is an essential component of our PARKlife™ approach in Italy.
At MAMbo, the Museum of Modern Art in Bologna, a city known as the cradle of urban art in Italy, we recently celebrated an encounter between these two activities. With the Bologna local authority and Metropolitan City authority as our sponsors, we reflected on the immense capacity of urban art to regenerate and transform different areas, including in the logistics space.
The event was held to mark the presentation of four exceptional works of urban art commissioned by Prologis and created by the well-known artists Joys, Moneyless, Etnik and Zed1 at the Bologna Interporto, under the artistic direction of Enrico Sironi, better known as HEMO. One of the works, "Panorama Vibrante” by Joys, majestically adorns the façade of one of our buildings, extending over a surface area of 2,000 square metres - making it the largest work of urban art ever created in Italy.
Elena Di Gioia, the culture representative for Bologna and the Metropolitan City authority, highlighted this endeavour as a tangible sign of the commitment made by Prologis to culture and urban regeneration. Next up, Sandro Innocenti, Senior Vice President of Prologis Italia, talked about how we are innovating at our logistics parks and our emphasis on the well-being of the people who work there.
The PARKlife™ concept has evolved significantly, from its initial ambitious application at the Lodi park, with recreational areas and impressive art installations, to the changes we have made at Romentino and the Bologna Interporto.
A round table discussion then took place with the participation of eminent figures from the Italian art scene. Among the speakers, Lorenzo Balbi (Director of MAMbo), Ilaria Bonacossa (art historian), Pierluigi Sacco (Professor of Economics) and Lucrezia Calabrò Visconti (Chief Curator at Pinacoteca Agnelli) discussed the transformative impact of urban art, highlighting the innovative approach of Prologis with PARKlife™. The discussion also touched on the future of digital in urban art, offering stimulating talking points.
As Sandro Innocenti closed the event, he underlined the importance of these discussions for Prologis: "Our aim is to go beyond just the aesthetic aspects, looking at the integration of our logistics parks with the surrounding communities, focusing on the importance of our economic and environmental impact, but above all, our capacity to create value for society.”
At Prologis, we are strong believers in the power of urban art as an instrument of regeneration and transformation. And, as ever, we are looking to the future with enthusiasm and commitment.
