FESTIVAL TALK : Around the FAREAST UDINE event

TOURISM AT THE DISCOVERY OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY of UDINE



What lies beyond the hallowed halls of the 12th Fareast Film Festival in Udine, Northern Italy ?

In an attempt to introduce the Friuli Venezia Giulia region to foreigners visiting from far away and  open the doors of their factories and show rooms  to learn about the culture and tradition of the region, CONFINDUSTRIA UDINE organised a trip to 3 flagship sites on the outskirts of the city. The purpose was to allow enterpreuneurs and mangers to

  personally tell the story and secrets of their products, explain how the raw materials are transformed into finished products underlining their intrinsic value and tell the story of the great families and generations of hard workers, the challenges of the past and present posed by the intemperance of a harsh land with great values, the challenge of the outside world and the success of becoming "Made in Italy" companies of excellence.

 Our 20-mile coach tour first went to OSOPPO, to visit the FANTONI work space and design factory in the heart of a beautiful natural environment  cohabitting with the industrial zone in a relationship based on mutual respect. Here, wood is manufactured as primary and secondary raw material.

Designed by major 20th  century architect GINO VALLE in 1960's, set against the Alps, the building harmonizes the landscape as a major theme. A landscape that "presents on one side, the light of the sea and on the other, the mountains so there are frequent changes of  in climate and in the colour  of the territory and the sky", and where dark blue is a prominant colour.

Its layout was designed by the architect Gino Valli with a view to sustainable development: inspired by the “feng shui” concept, the architect created a space where plants and concrete, industrial spaces and family atmosphere coexists in harmony; this example of industrial architecture correctly interprets the spirit of Fantoni, leader in the production of mdf and chipboard panels and office furniture. Fantoni was established in 1882 and has been a protagonist of the culture, technological innovation, architecture and design of the 20th century. Fantoni products have been the protagonists of the evolution of work spaces which over the years have gone from being a-technological and a-functional to featuring a synthesis of technology, nature and well-being in modern times; these changes have been part of the progressive, at times traumatic, evolution of society.