Pininfarina design celebrated in London exhibition

The work of Italian design house Pininfarina will be celebrated in a dedicated exhibition as part of the International Architecture and Design Showcase, set to take place during the 2012 London Olympics.

From 22 June to 15 July the ‘Pininfarina in London' exhibition will display the most prestigious products made in Italy including a Ferrari FF and a Maserati GranTurismo during the inauguration. Four sculptures in cedar wood – made by Riva 1920 – represent four Pininfarina design icons: the Cisitalia of 1947, the Dino of 1967, the Birdcage 75th of 2005 and the Cambiano, the concept car launched by Pininfarina in Geneva this year. A limited edition scale model of the 2uettottanta, Pininfarina's Alfa Romeo concept car launched to celebrate the company's 80th anniversary in 2010 will be available to visitors.

'Pininfarina in London' also marks the world debut of the Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) urban public transport concept, developed in collaboration with Korean company Vectus. The Vectus concept is a system of small, light and driverless vehicles that travel along a network of interconnecting tracks. A 1:18 scale model of the vehicle will be on display at the exhibition.

Pininfarina Extra – a subsiduary of the company that designs products for a wide range of industries – is set to be the real star of the show. Some of its most iconic projects will feature in the showcase, starting with the Torch of the Turin 2006 Winter Olympics. The Free Style beverage dispenser that can be found across America will also be on display alongside the Lavazza Firma coffee machine – soon to be seen all over the world – and innovative concepts such as the Pininfarina helmet, Calligaris Orbital table, Lange Fluid ski boots, the Ares Line Xten chair and Premiere conferences chairs, the Gorenje-Pininfarina fridge, the range of Bric's by Pininfarina suitcases and the bike from the range of Panatta Sport Pininfarina cardio fitness machines.

The exhibition will also showcase the company's design for the Juventus stadium, the Keating Hotel in San Diego, the luxury apartments for the Millecento project in Miami, aircrafts, trains and photovoltaic stations to charge electric cars.

A selection of images of the Pininfarina-designed products to be displayed will be hung in the gallery above.

'Pininfarina in London' will be inaugurated on 21 June at the London headquarters of the Italian Cultural Institute in Belgrave Square, staying open from 22 June to 15 July with free admission. For more information visit the Italian Cultural Institute's website.

By Rufus Thompson