Minamora is a sculptural public bench designed by EMBT (Benedetta Tagliabue and Makoto Fukuda) in collaboration with Italcementi for Expo Milano 2015. Created as both urban furniture and artistic gesture, the bench was conceived to reflect themes of sustainability, innovation, and harmony with nature-central concepts of the Milan Expo.
The name “Minamora” is a play on words in Italian-mi enamoro (“I fall in love”)-expressing the poetic intention behind the design. Crafted from i.design EFFIX, an ultra-high-performance concrete developed by Italcementi, the bench is both robust and delicately shaped, offering a sinuous surface that invites seating, rest, and interaction.
The organic form emerges from a process of material experimentation and design dialogue, rooted in the values of expressive form and environmental responsibility. The bench’s complex geometry and texture are a tribute to advanced technology used in balance with artisanal inspiration.
Unveiled as part of the Italian Pavilion at Expo Milano 2015, Minamora gained further recognition by winning the prestigious ADI-FAD Prize in 2016, honoring its originality and contribution to contemporary design.
Minamora is not just a place to sit-it is a meeting point between innovation and emotion, a reminder that public furniture can shape the character of space and the quality of everyday urban life.
