Founded in 1704, the Garden of Arcadia was the meeting place of the Arcadia Academy, a significant literary institution in Milan. Here, intellectuals and poets gathered to share their works, making the garden a space dedicated to meditation and culture.

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Over time, the garden has been enhanced by elegant residences designed in the 1950s by renowned architects such as Minoletti, Gardella, Castelli Ferrieri, and Menghi, creating a harmonious balance between lush nature and modern architecture.

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During Milan Art Week 2025, the Garden hosted a participatory installation by artists Lorenzo and Simona Perrone, of LibriBianchi, promoted by Galleria Federica Ghizzoni.

The project, titled “Libraries as Granaries”, was inspired by a quote from Marguerite Yourcenar and invited visitors to build a large stack of LibriBianchi, a symbolic act of resistance against ignorance and a metaphor for culture as nourishment for the mind.

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Each book placed generated a sound, giving life to an improvised musical performance by Paolo Peruzzi, Lorenzo Breda, and Andrea Dionisi, using vibraphone, guitar, and drums to create a dynamic dialogue between visual art, public participation, and music.

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Ottanio Design curated the site-specific installation with the dual intent of honoring the soul of the architecture and crafting an immersive journey through art, sound, and nature; inviting guests to lose themselves in a moment of beauty and escape from the grey rhythms of Milan.