Museo delle Culture (Museum of Cultures) - MUDEC, Southwest Milan

Located in the old Ansaldo industrial plant, a disused factory redesigned by celebrated architect David Chipperfield, this museum is a meeting place for cultures and communities. The permanent collection is displayed in a way that shows not only the individual objects but also clarifies why they came to Milan.

Thus, the exhibition showcases how people have reacted when encountered with the 'other'. Seven different sections display the ever-changing way of viewing unknown cultures from the 17th century: the wonder inspired by the exotic, the need to evangelise and towards scientific discovery, the desire for conquest, and the pressing trade motivations. The two final sections show how much of the collection was destroyed during the II World War, and the change in regard during the 20th century.

The ground floor includes a bistro, design store, ticket office, cloakroom, a conference hall, educational facilities, restoration workshop and repositories open to small groups for guided visits. Mudec Junior is a space specially designed for kids, where children can come into contact with the world’s different cultures through games, multimedia equipment and manual workshops.