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THE JOURNEY
From past to present and future, the exhibition takes us through the history of a brand that is still a symbol of the avant-garde, in both technology and the arts
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Research and experimentation, from track to road
Pirelli has always been a symbol of innovation and experimentation in the world of racing, whether of cars, motorcycles or bicycles. Throughout its long history, the company has constantly developed cutting-edge technologies for high-performance products. “From track to road” is the concept on which the Pirelli spirit is based – testing its tyres on the toughest tracks and most challenging circuits. From the first Peking to Paris international motorcar race in 1907 through to today’s Formula 1, from rally racing to MotoGP, to the Giro d’Italia and beyond. By pushing tyres to their limits and analysing how they respond in extreme conditions, Pirelli’s Research and Development department achieves products, processes and levels of performance that are increasingly at the forefront in terms of technological innovation, safety and sustainability. With the certainty that the future is what is built today.
The Pirelli Racing Service, 1952
The drivers Alberto Ascari and Nino Farina in their Ferraris, 1952
The laboratories in Milano Bicocca, machine room, 1960s. Photo: Aldo Ballo
Pirelli returns to F1, 2011
Piero Taruffi's record on the Brescia-Bergamo autostrada, 1937
Bruno Munari and Silvio Maiga's Lancia Stratos at the Monte-Carlo Rally, 1977
A tyre change, today
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“Andemm a guardagh denter” (“let’s go and look inside”)
An archive. A century and a half of history in over three and a half kilometres of documents and technical materials, sketches and advertising posters, drawings and illustrations by internationally renowned artists and designers. Innovation runs through the company’s entire history, the latest technologies through its processes, products, and scientific research, and the avant-garde in its communication. And this constant drive towards the future can be seen in the documents and papers now in the Historical Archive.
Drawing of the P7 Corsa tyre, 1970s
Interior of the Pirelli factory in Settimo Torinese. Photo: Arno Hammacher, 1962
Advertisement for the Pirelli CN54 tyre, 1971
Michael Pavel Engelmann, advertisement for the Pirelli Stelvio tyre, 1952
Technical specifications of the Tripoli tyre, 1943
Pirelli organisations on the company's 50th anniversary, 1922
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Industrial humanism and corporate culture
The history of Pirelli is one of a corporate culture that has always combined technology and liberal culture, scientific research and artistic experimentation, the promotion of talent and an international worldview. Thanks to its long-standing partnerships with artists, designers, intellectuals, writers and journalists, Pirelli has always helped bring about a multidisciplinary, all-embracing culture, which has been part of the Group’s core values since its foundation. Art and culture are also prominent in its house magazines and in the global advertising campaigns that have made the history of visual communication.
The illustration by the artist Stephan Glerum for the Pirelli Annual Report, 2012
The Cycl-e Around experience as part of Archivi Aperti ("Open Archives"), 2019. Photo: Ippi Studio
The installation by Armando Testa during the construction of the Pirelli Tower, 1955
Advertising installation designed by Roberto Menghi during construction of the Pirelli Tower, 1956
The Pirelli factory in Settimo Torinese, 1976
The canteen by Guido Minoletti, built in 1957
Presentation of the Industrial Humanism publishing project at the Teatro Franco Parenti, 2019. Photo: Don't Movie
Illustration by Renato Guttuso for the cover of Pirelli magazine no. 1, 1959
Presentation of the Industrial Humanism publishing project at the Teatro Franco Parenti, June 2019. Photo: Don't Movie
A Muse in the Wheels, the publishing project devoted to visual communication, 2015. Photo: Ippi Studio
The cooling tower, now inside the HQ building, in a photo by Gabriele Basilico, 1985
Illustration by Ernesto Treccani for the article "Un'esperienza in fabbrica" ("An experience in the factory") in Pirelli magazine no. 3, 1969
The Pirelli Foundation takes part in events to promote the historical industrial heritage with guided tours, 2018. Photo: Ippi Studio
The event to promote reading during #ioleggoperché, 2019. Photo: Ippi Studio
Activities with students during the opening of the Skyscraper Stories exhibition, 2021. Photo: Ippi Studio
World Magazine Cover, Issue 1/2018
Illustration of the production process of Pirelli bicycle tyres, by Severino Guidi, published in the article "Una gomma da bicicletta" ("A bicycle tyre") in Pirelli magazine no. 3, 1960
The company library inside the Pirelli Headquarters, 2019
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Transformations
A large exhibition space illustrates the story of Pirelli’s 150 years, with multimedia installations alongside archive materials. The story of a company and of great innovations that have influenced and been part of Italian and world history. Artistic visions of the journey of rubber from raw material to finished product. A “round black object” that looks as though it never changes and yet that contains a whole world in constant transformation.
The Pirelli factory in Yanzhou, China, 2020
Pirelli R&D laboratories in Milano Bicocca, indoor testing, 2021. Photo: Carlo Furgeri Gilbert
Tyre design using CAD, 1989
The new P Zero road tyre, 1999
Pirelli R&D laboratories in Milano Bicocca, 2008. Photo: Carlo Furgeri Gilbert
Pirelli R&D laboratories in Milano Bicocca, indoor testing, 2021. Photo: Carlo Furgeri Gilbert
Pirelli R&D laboratories in Milano Bicocca, 2008. Photo: Carlo Furgeri Gilbert
Pirelli R&D laboratories in Milano Bicocca, semi-anechoic chamber, 2021. Photo: Carlo Furgeri Gilbert
Patent for Pirelli velocipede tyre, early 20th century
Laboratory tests at the Pirelli factory in Milano Bicocca, 1950s
Pirelli R&D laboratories in Milano Bicocca, the chemical laboratories, 2021. Photo: Carlo Furgeri Gilbert
R&D laboratories, the sgorbiatore (chiseller), 2008. Photo: Carlo Furgeri Gilbert
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A virtual exploration of the Pirelli Foundation, its spaces and the exhibition devoted to the company’s 150th anniversary. When History Builds the Future retraces Pirelli’s century-and-a-half-long history, looking at its past and present but above all at its future, which is already here today
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THROUGH TIME
THE EXHIBITION
THE BOOK
VISIONS