In the Resourceful Intelligence project, Fantoni took part in a broad and shared reflection on what it means today to build — and produce — responsibly. Their support helped make the installation a reality, but above all, it allowed us to include a typically invisible part of the story: the places where materials take shape. The footage shot at their production site, projected within the installation, revealed a manufacturing model that addresses environmental challenges with rigor and a spirit of inquiry.

Visiting their facility gave us the opportunity to explore an approach that sees sustainability as a daily practice rather than a label.

In a sector where many supply chains still operate linearly, Fantoni has implemented circular economy strategies that engage with the full lifecycle of materials: from MDF made with secondary raw materials to closed-loop production systems and attention to environmental certifications. These are choices that require investment, time, and determination — and that raise important questions for the design world as well.

Sharing this story at the Biennale felt necessary. But our collaboration with Fantoni began earlier. In 2025, during Milan Design Week, we launched Alis together: an office furniture system that brings together formal rigor, versatile use, and careful material selection. A family of discreet and refined objects, designed to integrate naturally into spaces without overwhelming them. Even in that context, engagement with production processes was central to the project: industrialization guided specific design decisions, shaping both identity and function.

Today, we believe it’s essential to examine the role of production in architecture’s ecological transition. It’s not just about selecting virtuous materials, but about understanding processes — how things are made, with what resources, and through what relationships between companies, designers, and local communities. From this perspective, Fantoni offered us a valuable space for dialogue.

We discussed these themes with Alessandro Fantoni, exploring some questions that increasingly intersect with our design approach:

Park: How does Fantoni’s commitment to the circular economy translate into tangible choices throughout the production cycle?
Alessandro Fantoni: For Fantoni, the circular economy is a natural outcome of a vision that places innovation at the heart of every process. To innovate a product means first of all to innovate how it’s made. Constant technological upgrades not only ensure our competitiveness in developing new solutions for furniture and construction, but also enable more efficient, data-driven production models that anticipate international market trends.
Our concrete actions across the production cycle include rigorous certification of materials, processes, and finished products; adoption of low-impact technologies; and close monitoring of emissions. We invest in renewable resources, promote material reuse, and design products and packaging with recyclability in mind.
Our environmental policy also extends to people’s well-being, starting with workspaces and manufacturing environments — because we believe sustainability also means quality of life. Every choice we make — from sourcing raw materials to designing and producing the final product — is guided by this integrated, responsible vision.

P: What challenges have you encountered when adapting industrial processes toward sustainability, and how have you addressed them?
AF: In the wood-based semi-finished product sector, many industrial processes have long been developed with sustainability in mind — it’s a natural consequence of the material we work with. In our case, the transition has been supported by the fact that we produce both semi-finished goods and finished products — such as office furniture and acoustic systems — allowing us to manage the entire supply chain with a comprehensive, integrated view.
Rather than reconversion, we speak of a continuous evolution in our processes, which has helped us stay ahead of many challenges. Beyond the demands of technological innovation, we’ve faced issues like responsible sourcing of raw materials and managing industrial waste. We address these through ongoing investment in research, automation, and monitoring — but also through a strong internal cultural commitment, because sustainability is not just about technology, it’s about shared vision.

P: Looking ahead, what kind of design sensibility do you think is needed for effective collaboration with companies that are transforming their supply chains? Are there aspects designers should strengthen or be more mindful of?
AF: We believe it’s essential for designers to deeply understand the production process — not only to grasp its limitations but to recognize its potential. When there’s open, informed, and ongoing dialogue between designers and manufacturers, truly innovative solutions can emerge.
What we value most is a design sensibility that sees the project not as an isolated act, but as a complex system — one made of materials, timing, methods, and shared responsibility.

P: To what extent can experiences like Resourceful Intelligence help raise awareness within the manufacturing world as well?
AF: At a time when ecological transition risks being reduced to a set of protocols, observing evolving industrial practices up close can provide real tools to help guide design processes.
Resourceful Intelligence is also this: an opportunity to break ground for change and bring into the conversation those who work every day to build what’s possible.

Resourceful Intelligence is a project by Park, Accurat, Prof. Gabriele Masera, Prof. Francesco Pittau, Michele Versaci - Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano Technical Collaborators: 6:AM, BUROMILAN, celexon, Fornace S.Anselmo, WICONA by Hydro Supporters: DeA Capital Real Estate SGR S.p.A., Medit S.r.l., Atlas Concorde, Fantoni, FRANZEN ITALIA srl, KALDEWEI, Rimadesio, Saint-Gobain Thanks: Despe S.p.A., Gruppo Finleonardo S.p.A.

Photo by Nicola Colella