Novelis is one of the companies participating in the “Materials & Architecture” conference, jointly promoted by DEMETRA, Design Agency – Communication in Architecture – and the magazine Ottagono and patronized by the Architects Association and Local Institutions. The review - one of the activities promoted by Novelis for the year 2005 – was split into four meetings, from April to June. Four Italian cities have adorned the events with their beautiful and charming places : Turin, at the “Centro Congressi Lingotto” - Florence, in the historical cloister called “Convitto della Calza” – Milan, in the cloister of the “Palazzo delle Stelline” - and finally - Brescia, at the “Auditorium di Santa Giulia”.

The meetings gave the opportunity to architects and designers to confront their expertise in the field of technique and science with the knowledge of materials manufacturers and suppliers. The review focused on the current and future tendencies of architectural design, with the main topic on the materials used for internal and outdoor design, their technical specifications and processing, keeping the greatest attention on the best ecological products.

The participation of expert designers - such us Mario Botta, guest at the meeting in Brescia, Michele De Lucchi, present in Milan, Luca Scacchetti in Turin and Mario Bellini in Florence – authoritatively contributed to the high-grade tenor of the debate.

The review was successful and the numerous public paid great attention toward the subjects discussed. The discussion between the well known architects and the audience, moderated by Aldo Colonetti, Scientific Director of IED - Istituto Europeo di Design in Milan – contributed to create interest for the conferences and gave prestige to the review.