An exhibition at the ADI Design Museum recounts ideas, objects and society: from the electric house to the smart home

Eight decades is a long way for a company. They serve to understand how much has been achieved over time and how much remains to be done for the future. There are dates in the life of an enterprise that bring back memories of when it all began. The origin of every entrepreneurial venture has an element of myth, small or large. Each one deserves a celebration. Each one can become an opportunity for reflection and restart. Vimar does so with an exhibition at the ADI Design Museum, until 14 November: Altatensione Vimar made in Italy recounts the journey of the Vicenza-based company, protagonist of the evolution of systems and objects that from the post-war period to the present day have brought electricity and energy-related services into Italian homes.

2 – ©ADI Design Museum
In five sections, the evolution of the company's products, services and structure has been reinterpreted according to the culture of living and its transformations.

An Italian story

Creativity, expertise, innovation, tradition, dedication, courage, enterprise, rootedness in the territory: the history of Vimar began on May 1, 1945 in Marostica in the province of Vicenza, when Walter Viaro and Francesco Gusi converted an old hat factory into the companyʼs first headquarters and began manufacturing products for the civil use of electricity, based on elements obtained by moulding thermosetting resin. Initially production was limited to basic products (lamp holders, plugs, sockets, ironing pins), but by the end of the decade the pear-shaped switch was born, which was present in Italian homes for many years.

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Electricity objects from almost eighty years of company and household history are on display.

The link with the territory

Today Vimar is one of the main Italian players in the low-voltage electronic and electrical sector. In 2021, due to its presence on the market for over 50 years, it was awarded the recognition of Historical Trademark by the Ministry for Economic Development, a testimony to its Italian character and long tradition. The bond with the territory is strong: all company departments and production departments are located close to the medieval walls surrounding Marostica. Headquarters, warehouses, punching, turning, moulding and assembly, painting and packaging departments are located close to each other.

5 – ANTONIO BARRESE – Arte Cinetica – Sparkling Objects
The artistic installation Sparkling Objects by Antonio Barrese.

Culture of living...

In five sections, the evolution of the company's products, services and structure has been reinterpreted in relation to the culture of living and its transformations: from the simple supply of new services to existing homes to the integration of electrical services into the body of the home itself: an essential component of architectural design today.

... and industrial culture

In parallel, the evolution of an industrial culture that represents a series of values linked to the success of products: the courage to risk capital, time and labour in innovation, rootedness in the place of production, attention to the evolution of home culture, technology and social responsibility.

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A view of the exhibition.

Moral tension

Each product has its own raison d'être not only in the evolution of the market, but in the cultural motivations that have been the general thrust of the evolution of social customs, of the role of the home, and of its image: "Beyond the physical and technical phenomenon," explains Luciano Galimberti, who defined the concept and directed the exhibition together with Valentina Fisichella, who oversaw its scientific coordination and designed the layout, "high tension in our society has become synonymous with operational tension, with maximum concentration with respect to a goal. But in a complex society such as ours, physical or operational tension is not enough; more and more moral tension is needed, capable of guiding the rules of global competition. This is why the proposed path does not only address technical or economic or organisational issues."

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A view of the exhibition.

80 years of history

On show are the electrical objects of almost eighty years of company and home history: flying accessories, lamp holders, elements designed for wall-integrated systems; the modularity and modularity of electrical objects: frames, frames, integrated controls, home automation. The exhibition is completed by a catalogue published by DDW Design Diffusion World, with graphic design by Alessandro Colombo, Paola Garbuglio and Terra. Thanks to Antonio Barrese for the artistic installation Sparkling Objects.

Photo ©ADI Design Museum

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