The role of design and architecture in the transformation processes of cities was the focus of Italian Design Day 2026, organized by the Consulate General of Italy in Ho Chi Minh City in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency.
The initiative, promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the main stakeholders involved in the internationalization of the furniture and design sector, having now reached its tenth edition, is dedicated this year to the theme “Re-Design: regenerating spaces, objects, ideas, relationships.”
Architect Tiziano Vudafieri, Italian Design Ambassador in Vietnam for the 2026 edition, and architect and urban planner Ngo Viet Nam Son discussed the role of architecture and design in urban regeneration processes, focusing on innovation, sustainability, and the enhancement of existing heritage. The discussion, moderated by Nguyễn Phan Thùy Dương, Managing Editor of ELLE Decoration Vietnam, took place in the iconic historic building that was once the residence of Marie-Alfred Foulhoux, whose steel roof structure was built by Gustave Eiffel’s company and which today hosts Run Am d’Or.
Opening the event, Consul General Alessandra Tognonato emphasized how Italy itself represents a true laboratory of urban regeneration. She also referred to the upcoming Salone del Mobile in Milan as a global reference point for design and furniture, as well as an international platform for dialogue between creativity, industry, and design culture.
