A restored factory now houses an innovative museum dedicated to world cultures, with 7,000 objects spanning continents and disciplines alongside traveling exhibitions and fine dining.
At a glance
MUDEC opened in 2014 as a museum and exhibition center devoted to ethnographic and anthropological collections held by the Municipality of Milan. The permanent collection comprises 7,000 artworks, textiles, instruments and everyday objects from cultures across the world, complemented by rotating exhibitions and cultural events.
History
The museum’s creation brought together the Municipality of Milan’s existing ethnographic and anthropological holdings—materials accumulated through decades of collecting—into a unified, contemporary venue. The choice to house these collections in a repurposed industrial building reflects a broader trend of adaptive reuse in Milan’s cultural infrastructure.
What you see
British architect David Chipperfield designed the 17,000-square-meter facility, which occupies two floors. The ground level welcomes visitors with a Forum of Cultures, specialized library, conference spaces, restoration laboratory and Mudec Junior—a dedicated zone for children and young people.
The exhibition spaces unfold across the first floor around a distinctive quadrilobate covered square. From this central hub, rooms devoted to permanent and temporary displays branch outward. Chipperfield’s design plays contrasts: curved lines of the central transit space against the geometric, regular volumes of individual halls, reinforced by shifting light and color throughout the galleries.
Cultural significance
The museum demonstrates an interdisciplinary approach to understanding human diversity across time and geography. By presenting everyday objects, textiles and musical instruments alongside fine art, MUDEC positions material culture as essential to comprehending how people live and express meaning across the world.
Key facts
- Address: Via Tortona 56, 20144 Milan
- Designed by David Chipperfield
- Opened 2014
- 7,000 objects in permanent collection
- Phone: 02 54917
- Website: http://www.mudec.it
Practical information
The museum houses a restaurant and bistro by Chef Enrico Bartolini, as well as a design store. Last entry is one hour before closing. Check the official website for current hours, as schedules vary by day and season.
Getting there
Located in Milan’s Tortona neighborhood at Via Tortona 56. Public transport connections are available; consult local transit maps for routes serving this address. The website provides detailed directions and visitor information.
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See this place and what’s around it →Historical events at this place (13)
- Site-Specific omaggio a Vasilj Kandinskij
- 2018 Frida Kahlo | Oltre il mito
- 2018 Eravamo cacciatori di teste. Riti, vita e arte delle popolazioni Asmat
- 2018 IL SOGNO DEGLI ANTENATI. L'archeologia del Messico nell'immaginario di Frida Kahlo
- 2018 Alle origini dell'arte. Il moderno primitivismo di Paul Klee
- 2021 Disney. L’arte di raccontare storie senza tempo
- 2023 Mariana Castillo Deball – Luce dietro tracce incompiute
- 2024 Mostra: Martin Parr. Short & Sweet
- 2024 Picasso. La metamorfosi della Figura
- 2024 Mostra: Exposure. Arte, culture, moda, dentro e fuori la vetrina
- 2024 Mostra: Tatuaggio. Storie dal Mediterraneo
- 2024 Mostra al Mudec - Da Dubuffet all'Art Brut
- 2024 Mostra - Niki de Saint Phalle
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