La Rinascente launches online archive

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Jun 16, 2016

Upscale Italian department store La Rinascente is launching an archive portal to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its name.

The 150-year old retailer was purchased in 1865 by industrialist entrepreneur Senatore Borletti, who commissioned Italian poet Gabriele d'Annunzio to suggest a new name for the store. 

The archive project was started in 2015 with the aim of digitally reconstructing the house’s archive collection. The interactive platform is designed to showcase La Rinascente’s longstanding history of achievements and awards, including the most recent nomination of La Rinascente in Milan as Best Department Store in the World by the Global Department Store Summit (GDSS).

Historical images and documents will be drawn from archives, libraries and private collections, and the platform will also feature content that will be constantly updated.

Additionally, the portal will be split into three sections: Archive and Library containing results of research, images and documents; Themes comprising a selection of the most significant archive images; and Itineraries, with in-depth single-subject exhibitions.

The project has been curated and produced by the cultural association Memoria & Progetto, coordinated by Maria Canella and Elena Puccinelli of the Milan University, with scientific consultancy by Franco Amatori of the Bocconi University and Raimonda Riccini of the IUAV University.