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AFRICA – INTERNI AND ICE JOIN FORCES FOR ITALIAN SMART LIVING 2026 IN ADDIS ABABA: A STRATEGIC SHOWCASE FOR ARCHITECTURE AND MADE IN ITALY IN AFRICA
The event, focused on innovation and excellence in furnishing, aims to connect institutions and businesses with the eastern macro-region of the continent, promoting Italian know-how and urban development in a booming market through debates, exhibitions, and B2B meetings.
Building on the success of the initiatives organized in New York for Italy on Madison and in London during Clerkenwell Design Week, INTERNI renews its collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and lands in Ethiopia, in Addis Ababa, for Italian Smart Living 2026, scheduled from July 7th to 9th at the Ethiopian Science Museum.
The event, dedicated to Italian design, architecture, and innovation, will bring together institutions, businesses, architects, designers, investors, and stakeholders from Ethiopia and East African countries. The goal is to promote Made in Italy and create new opportunities for dialogue and partnership in a rapidly growing market, where the construction, hospitality, and real estate sectors are undergoing a profound transformation.
“After New York and London, Addis Ababa represents a new milestone in our international journey,” states Gilda Bojardi, Editor-in-Chief of INTERNI. “Being the communication partner for Italian Smart Living 2026 means contributing to the dissemination of Italian design culture within a highly dynamic context, where architecture and design can make a concrete contribution to urban development and quality of living. The exchange between different professionalisms, cultures, and skills has always been one of the founding values of our magazine, and it is a precious opportunity to foster new relationships and add value to Italian know-how in global markets.”
Among the pivotal moments of the event, on Tuesday, July 7th, INTERNI will curate a talk focused on the role of design as a driver for economic, social, and cultural development. The debate will feature architect Duccio Grassi, a leading figure in numerous residential, retail, and hospitality projects; Professor Fasil Giorghis, lecturer and chair of Conservation of Urban & Architectural Heritage at the Ethiopian Institute of Architecture; entrepreneur Kanessa Muluneh, head of Coerman-Muluneh; and Debay Million, General Manager of Dar Al-Handasah (Shair and Partners) and Special Ambassador for East Africa at UNASDG. The meeting, moderated by Carlo Biasia, will gather Italian and Ethiopian experts to share experiences and visions on the future of cities, sustainable design, and technological development, fostering dialogue between the Italian production system and East African stakeholders.
The Italian Smart Living schedule also features an exhibition area dedicated to Italian design, furniture, and finishes companies, institutional meetings, B2B matchmaking sessions with Ethiopian buyers and decision-makers, and in-depth discussions on urban sustainability, smart cities, technologies for contemporary building, energy efficiency, and real estate investment opportunities.
On Wednesday, July 8th, architect Duccio Grassi will hold a masterclass on Italian design targeted at students, professionals, and companies. Additionally, an international urban regeneration competition focused on Merkato—Africa’s largest open-air market—will be launched, aiming to promote sustainable urban development and involve the younger generations in the city’s transformation processes.
As part of the activities aimed at promoting Made in Italy, the historic Residence of the Italian Embassy in Addis Ababa will host the Italian Brand Museum exhibition. This exhibition narrates the evolution of the brands that have helped build the Italian identity worldwide, set within a venue of great historical and symbolic value for the relations between Italy and Ethiopia.