On view from April 8th to 12th at Biblioteca Ostinata in Milan, The Last Pot is a contemplative exhibition exploring the urn as an overlooked object of design. Conceived by Il Tornitore Matto, a brand founded by Alberto Alessi and Giulio Iacchetti, the project brings together 10 international architects and designers—including David Chipperfield, Daniel Libeskind, Philippe Starck, and Audrey Large. The urns on display are far from traditional: they range from solemn to playful, offering new ways to think about memory, presence, and ritual.
Naoto Fukasawa’s piece resembles a house, a metaphorical “final home” rendered in unglazed earthenware, with cutouts revealing a personal metal container inside. Philippe Starck presents The Last Spot, a glass-and-metal cube devoid of symbolism, alongside Bone to Bone, a whimsical metallic bone resting on a luminous pillow. Michele De Lucchi created two urns—one for humans and one for pets—shaped from natural woods to evoke a quiet emotional refuge.
Designed as a reflective, almost weightless space by Studio Giulio Iacchetti, the exhibition invites visitors to rethink what it means to design the last container. A companion book, curated by Federica Sala, deepens the conversation, subtly challenging the notion of finality. As Alberto Alessi notes, this is not The Last Pot, but rather a vessel that continues to exist—quietly present in the everyday lives of those who remain.
Be sure to read our interview with Daniel Libeskind, where we delve into the dynamics of architecture, the balance between construction and deconstruction, and the role of emotion.
Photography by CLAUDIA ZALLA