Courmayeur Design Week-End 2025: high altitude design

The fifth edition of Courmayeur Design Week-end once again transformed Courmayeur into a prestigious stage for Italian and international design from February 6 to 9, 2025. The event didn’t just use the region as a backdrop – it became an integral part of it, thanks to a unique format conceived by art director Paola Silva Coronel in collaboration with Courmayeur Mont Blanc. The Courmayeur Design Week-end received the patronage of ADI, Fondazione Altagamma, and the Order of Architects, along with support from Courmayeur Mont Blanc Funivie and Skyway Monte Bianco.

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The leading theme: Unforseen Directions

This edition revolved around the theme “Unforeseen Directions,” encouraging people facing the unexpected with courage – just like someone racing down a snowy slope on a sled. Different installations combined snow, ice, and creativity. A group of architects and designers designed new versions of the traditional wooden sled, including Alberto Meda, Calvi Brambilla, Cino Zucchi, Ferruccio Laviani, Giulio Cappellini, Giulio Iacchetti, Lorenz+Katz, Mario Trimarchi, Matteo Ragni, Michele De Lucchi, PalombaSerafini, Paola Navone, and Piero Lissoni. These unique sleds were auctioned off during the Dinner Party on Saturday, February 8, at Courmayeur’s Sports Center.

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A rich program of exhibitions and talks

The Courmayeur Design Week-end 2025 program featured insightful conversations with leading figures in the industry. Speakers included Mario Trimarchi and Giulio Cappellini, Giulio Iacchetti and Cino Zucchi, and finally Alberto Meda, the main guest of the “Talk on Top” at the Pavillon theater of Skyway Monte Bianco. The event also showcased the exhibition “We Keep Going White” at Courmayeur’s Sports Center, a curated selection of iconic white objects by Giulio Cappellini and Giulio Iacchetti.

The entire town of Courmayeur actively participated in the event. The Sliding Circle exhibition, curated by Michele Rossi (PARK Associati) and Gino Garbellini (PIUARCH), displayed the decorated sleds in Piazza Abbé Henry.

Meanwhile, Di lì e di là, an installation by aMDL Circle with Malesi, stood in Piazza Brocherel, visually embodying the theme “Unforeseen Directions.”

A magical experience awaited visitors inside Aritmia, a sensory journey created by Mario Trimarchi and Cristian Catania inside Courmayeur’s Chiesa Valdese. A flash of light in the dark illuminated a glass sculpture by Vetreria Re in Circle Glass, crafted from recycled glass waste. Black sound-absorbing fabric from Medit lined the walls, while EssenzaPura fragrances filled the air, engaging visitors’ senses.

Some images of the installations

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CourmaBeach: design and entertainment at the Courmayeur Design Week-End 2025

The snow-covered tennis courts hosted CourmaBeach, a “beach” with deckchairs inviting visitors to bask in the winter sun. Designer Matteo Ragni created a boule de neige-shaped dome, which served as a photo set for guests and a stage for video interviews throughout the weekend, furnished with Sedus’ Se:Café seating.

The high altitude design bistrot

The Skyway Monte Bianco cable car, a highlight of Courmayeur Design Week-end 2025, transported visitors to Punta Helbronner at 3,466 meters. Here, Kartell set up the Bistrò, a futuristic 4.0 mountain retreat with a bar and restaurant. The space also hosted the presentation of Alice’s Flowers – Save The Glacier, a special edition collection designed by fashion designer Tiziano Guardini and architect Luigi Ciuffreda. This capsule collection was crafted with materials from the Glacial Threads: From Forests to Future Textiles project, focusing on regenerated cellulose for glacier protection.
Courmayeur Design Week-end is the first in a series that includes Pietrasanta Design Weekend in Tuscany and Ostuni Design Weekend in Puglia—and possibly more destinations to come.

The Kartell Bistrò, at Pointe Helbroner

All pictures by Giacomo Buzio, courtesy Courmayeur Design Week-end