2084

Once upon a time in 2084, the prophecy that had been foretold for almost a century ago finally came crashing down on our world. Venice, the jewel of the lagoons, sank beneath the merciless waters, engulfed by voracious waves. Milan, Paris, and London, once proud citadels, were forced to bow to the ocean, becoming ports subject to its implacable will. While some kingdoms found themselves amputated of half their territory, others were gripped by an increasingly scorching sun and ensnared in the clutches of stagnant pollution. The souls of these submerged lands, like castaways in distress, fled. Some found refuge among the majestic mountain peaks, while others sought asylum in lands that were less exposed to the fury of the elements.

But the impassable gates of Norway, Scotland, and many African kingdoms, closed before these migratory waves. An armada of coast guards, like fearless warriors, was mobilised, repelling distressed navigators with increasing ferocity, sending their boats and trawlers back to their homelands, in accordance with ancestral customs. These climate refugees, often grouped together in small tribes, found no mercy in the eyes of the laws established during the Geneva Convention in 1951. Thus, condemned to a bygone form of nomadism, they were forced to ingeniously cobble together the meagre resources at their disposal, fashioning rudimentary artefacts to protect themselves from the raging, evil waves, and the scorching torpor that relentlessly descended upon them.

2084: A DIORAMA OF THE FUTURE

2084, Diorama of the Future is an architectural speculation on the challenges of the post-Anthropocene era. The scenario deals with the reconstruction of a near future in which some cities are submerged, while others endure extreme conditions, direct consequences of the climate emergency. Amidst this turbulence, a diverse group of human and non-human explorers parachutes into 2084, facing the challenge of survival and reconstruction.

Designed by MAIA students, the project transforms part of the historic annexes of Villa Bagatti Valsecchi into a dynamic and performative diorama inviting visitors to reflect on contemporary environmental and societal dilemmas. While 19th-century dioramas presented romanticized visions of exotic natures behind glass screens that detached visitors from their complexities, Diorama of the Future inserts visitors right at the center of damaged environments, calling for new ecosystemic actions. In this large device, both students and visitors will take on the role of inhabitants of a changing vivarium, whose evolution will problematize the relation between representation, agency, and climate change.

A show/performance by MAIA, Master of Arts in Interior Architecture, HEAD – Genève at Alcova, Milan Design Week 2024.

The project is run by Youri Kravtchenko & Javier Fernandez-Contreras along with Cécile-Diama Samb, Shizuka Saito and Dany Champion

MAIA MASTER OF ART INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS OF HEAD – GENÈVE: Ségolène Davister Andreas Laskaris Natalia Krymskaya Alexandra Miskufova Valentina Pantalena Marie Schild Marie Torrione