Why Silos?
The Armani Center building, originally constructed in 1950 as a grain storage facility, is aptly named "Silos," reflecting its initial purpose as a repository for bulk materials. "It used to store grain – a raw material for life. And just like food, clothing is also essential for life," Giorgio Armani explains. In 2015, on the 40th anniversary of his career, this space was transformed into a temple of fashion, art, architecture, and design.
The museum spans 4,500 square meters. Exhibits date from 1980 to the present, occupying all four floors of the building and showcasing over 6,000 garments and accessories created over the past 40 years. The exhibition includes both classic pieces and new collections, along with thematic installations that explore the history of fashion and its cultural impact. The permanent exhibition is arranged thematically rather than chronologically.
The Armani Center building, originally constructed in 1950 as a grain storage facility, is aptly named "Silos," reflecting its initial purpose as a repository for bulk materials. "It used to store grain – a raw material for life. And just like food, clothing is also essential for life," Giorgio Armani explains. In 2015, on the 40th anniversary of his career, this space was transformed into a temple of fashion, art, architecture, and design.
The museum spans 4,500 square meters. Exhibits date from 1980 to the present, occupying all four floors of the building and showcasing over 6,000 garments and accessories created over the past 40 years. The exhibition includes both classic pieces and new collections, along with thematic installations that explore the history of fashion and its cultural impact. The permanent exhibition is arranged thematically rather than chronologically.
The first floor features everyday wear, including the brand’s iconic suits. The second floor is dedicated to exotic styles, featuring unique pieces reminiscent of African kaftans, Indian skirts, and Pakistani tunics. My favorite is the third floor, which proves that Armani’s palette extends beyond neutral shades despite his reputation as Mr. Giorgio "50 Shades of Grey." The fourth floor focuses on evening collections and houses a cinema that screens films related to the world of fashion and art, as well as an archive of the designer's collections.
The temporary exhibition on the first floor highlights the works of Guy Bourdin, a French artist and fashion photographer. Giorgio Armani and the Guy Bourdin Estate selected around a hundred photographs for the exhibition, including both iconic and lesser-known images.
For me, the perfect interior for an exhibition space features no complex architecture, only open spaces used to their fullest potential: a black suspended ceiling, concrete floors, and walls. Surprisingly, one of the main elements of the exhibition space is not the exhibits themselves, but the lighting. It serves as the crucial link between the viewer and the art. The museum excels in this aspect, with designers employing both local lighting on exhibits (narrow beams that create dramatic effects) and general diffuse lighting around the room perimeters. The interplay of light with the garments is particularly remarkable.
Moreover, the music, while a subtle component of the exhibit design, is so delicately integrated that it often goes unnoticed.
In short, this space is an absolute must-visit.
Moreover, the music, while a subtle component of the exhibit design, is so delicately integrated that it often goes unnoticed.
In short, this space is an absolute must-visit.
