A new urban space by Matteo Ragni to narrate the role of wood and the forest heritage of Friuli Venezia Giulia
In the vibrant center of Trieste, a striking new space has sprung up: Foresta in Città. With just 30 square meters across three levels, it hosts a concentrated blend of nature, design, and sustainability. The project, conceived by internationally renowned designer Matteo Ragni, aims to serve as a permanent showcase for wood from Friuli Venezia Giulia and its sustainable supply chain.
Promoted by Cluster Legno Arredo Casa FVG – Società Benefit, the new venue combines exhibition, education, and participation, with the goal of bringing citizens and visitors closer to the region’s forest heritage and its responsible management.
A project merging aesthetics and functionality
At the heart of the space lies a “conceptual forest”: an installation made of wooden slats in various species, each engraved with its name. These “symbolic trees” rise vertically, evoking the natural structure of a woodland. The vertical dimension is the guiding principle of the design, which ascends across three floors, just as a forest ascends toward the sky.
A distinctive detail is the use of mirrored surfaces, which reflect visitors and make them an integral part of the installation. The external display window also contributes to the narrative, with a mirrored platform and trays at varying heights that suggest trunks and crowns: a visual interplay that blends nature and design.
A reference point for wood culture
“Foresta in Città” is much more than just an exhibition space. It is a living, multifunctional place, meant to host events, talks, educational workshops, and exhibitions. A genuine cultural square dedicated to forest sustainability, the regional wood supply chain, and territorial valorization.
As Matteo Ragni explained, the project was conceived “like the interior of a sailboat, naturally in wood.” The modular and flexible design allows the space to transform: from a gallery to a small conference room, an information point, or a hub for design and awareness.
“From Stone to Forest”: the opening exhibition
On October 9, 2025, “Foresta in Città” will inaugurate its first exhibition: “From Stone to Forest”, a photographic project by Manuela Schirra and Fabrizio Giraldi. The show draws inspiration from the major Carso reforestation plan, launched over 200 years ago and presented at the 1900 Paris Expo as a model of environmental regeneration.
Through evocative images and visual storytelling, the two artists depict the transformation of the territory: from rocky expanses to lush woodlands now inhabited by new tree species. The exhibition will be open to the public free of charge until November 2025, offering visitors a deep dive into a narrative that intertwines environment, history, and rebirth.
A symbolic forest looking to the future
With “Foresta in Città,” Trieste becomes a laboratory of ideas and awareness, a point of contact between city and nature, between urban culture and forest culture. This is a place representing the commitment of Cluster Legno Arredo Casa FVG to promote a cultural and economic model of sustainability, celebrating local wood, its applications, and the identity of a unique territory.
