Inclusiveness, sharing, reuse, transformation, transparency, natural light, organic forms, innovative materials. These are some of the concepts investigated for The WOW House project, promoted by the Macerata Academy of Fine Arts and conceived by international curator, creative director and British design consultant Tony Chambers.

Over the last three months, the students of the Interior, Light, Graphic and Fashion Design courses, supervised by the lecturers of the Department of Design of the Macerata Academy of Fine Arts, (Mascia Ignazi, Simone Pirro, Simona Castellani, Francesca Cecarini, Daniela Leoni and Gloria Biribei), have been reflecting on the concept of the sustainability of Design, the House of the Future and the evolution of domestic spaces to meet the changing needs of man. 

This project is part of the "Accademia in Gioco" programme, designed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Macerata Academy of Fine Arts. The House of the Future thus becomes 'The WOW House', a surprising and energetic place where sharing and collaboration create the ideal context for creativity and fun. With this vision, Chambers guided the students in conceiving the House of the Future as a hub of shared experiences and creative collaboration, an aggregating space that puts sustainability first and is strongly connected to its territory and community.

The workshop started on 30 March 2023 with the introduction of the brief by Chambers and consisted of various moments both online and offline. A particularly significant step was the two days spent in Urbino at the house designed by Giancarlo De Carlo, home of the Ca' Romanino Foundation. A full immersion in design in a unique context of great architectural value during which students and teachers explored, shared, experimented and, finally, gave shape to ideas. The final presentation was held on 14 July at the Orto dei Pensatori in Macerata, in the presence of institutions, companies, professionals and designers.

For the House of the Future project, a key element was identified, which defined the various furnishings designed by the students: the rope. Ropes make it possible to adapt the space to every circumstance, breaking down the barriers imposed by the internal and external dimensions of living. To the modular supporting structure conceived on the basis of a triangular module, the ropes are attached, acting now as a supporting element (thanks to an aluminium core), now as a flexible decoration, and unexpectedly also as light (thanks to a luminous core). Inside the space one discovers 'wow' elements: suspended tables, futon beds, ergonomic chaises longues, all integrated into the structure thanks to ropes.

The materials selected for the project are all low environmental impact, in particular i-MeshFeelo, from the words "thread" and the English "to feel" is, finally, the chosen name of this innovative housing structure, easy to assemble in any location thanks to the dedicated do-it-yourself kit.