Exhibition Preview: Cultivating the Future: Agriculture, Energy, Community
he exhibition Cultivating the Future: Agriculture, Energy, Community originates from the work of Research Module 1 of the flagship project FORMIDABILÆ, within Spoke 6.
Curated by Carlo Berizzi and Nadia Bertolino (Architecture and Urban Design Research Lab, University of Pavia), the exhibition presents drawings and models that explore the role of the contemporary farmstead as a laboratory of innovation, sustainability and energy, bridging tradition and the future of the Po Valley rural landscape. The project, the result of the joint work of the research teams in Architectural Design and Electrical Engineering, proposes a reflection on the reactivation of Cascina Vialone, a traditional Lombard farmstead reinterpreted as an experimental model of the farm of the future—capable of combining environmental sustainability, energy autonomy, and community relations.
The preview will take place at the former rice mill of Tenuta Vialone, during the 2025 Rice Festival, and will be accompanied by a roundtable discussion and a guided tour with the curators.
Programme
At 3:00 pm, before the guided tour, the roundtable “The Sustainability of the Farm” will open with institutional greetings by Ivana Maria Cartanì, Mayor of Sant’Alessio con Vialone.
This will be followed by contributions from Stefano Lamberti (Tenuta Vialone) and Daniele Campari (Pro Loco Sant’Alessio con Vialone), who will illustrate the transformation of the former rice mill into a space returned to the community thanks to the PNRR.
Carlo Berizzi and Nadia Bertolino will discuss architectural strategies and design scenarios for rethinking the farmstead as a community hub, while Norma Anglani (Laboratory of Electrical Energy, University of Pavia) will present an experimental approach to the use of clean energy in rural contexts.
The roundtable will conclude with Marta Sempio, President of Confagricoltura Pavia, who will introduce the Spighe Verdi programme, promoted by Confagricoltura and FEE Italia, which recognises rural municipalities committed to sustainable land management policies. On this occasion, the Municipality of Sant’Alessio con Vialone will receive the Spighe Verdi 2025 Award, a recognition of the good practices implemented in the territory.
At 4:30 pm, the guided tour of the exhibition will follow, led by the curators.
Next dates
After the preview in Sant’Alessio con Vialone, the exhibition will be open from 23 to 27 September 2025 at the Palazzo del Broletto in Pavia. The event is part of the Sharper Night Pavia programme and will be accompanied by a week of initiatives promoted by the research team, including meetings and public discussions on sustainability, agro-industry, and new energies.
