From Trains to Homes, the Power of Thoughtful Restoration

Our imagination can shape how we see the future, for ourselves and for others.

And sometimes, it helps us make history.

So let me take you on a journey through a slice of design history. Aboard a train.

Yes, a train. Because in my world, Beauty, Function, Design, and Dreams don’t stop at houses.

Designed in the 1950s by Gio Ponti (one of the greatest architects, industrial and furniture designers, artists, teachers, writers, and publishers of Italian history - how some people manage to fit so much excellence into one lifetime is beyond me) the Arlecchino was created for the Ferrovie dello Stato (yes, for commuters!) and built by Breda.

But this wasn’t just a train. It was a manifesto.

Originally launched for the 1960 Rome Olympics, the Arlecchino captured the optimism of Italy’s post-war boom and became a showcase for the country’s industrial and artistic brilliance.

Sleek like a jet, with panoramic windows, coloured seats, timber details and bold geometric interiors, it represented the dream of democratic elegance - modernity in motion.

It was beautiful then. And today, the Arlecchino is an icon.

In 1986, it was retired from regular service (mainly due to newer models offering higher speeds and greater capacity), and was left to gather dust in a warehouse for over two decades.

Until 2009, when engineer Luigi Cantamessa, then at Ferrovie dello Stato, began its rediscovery and restoration. To him, the Arlecchino was more than just a train. It was a symbol of Italian excellence: engineering and design at its finest.

Fully restored by Fondazione FS, it runs once more and is used for private events, special journeys… but, even by commuters. Still!

During Milan Design Week 2025, the Arlecchino hosted Broadview’s on-board experience, and became the setting for Prada Frames, the symposium (curated by Formafantasma) exploring the relationship between design, mobility, and the environment.

This isn’t nostalgia.

It’s vision.

To me, the Arlecchino proves that great design, even when in motion, can shape the future. Just the same as our renovations can shape the course of someone else’s life, creating not just homes, but opportunities for beauty, dignity, forward momentum and personal memories to unfold.

So, next time you transform a house into someone’s home, remember the impact your choices will have on their future, and on the future of those who come after them.

P.S. The train currently runs on selected routes across Italy, from Milan to Venice, Rome and other cultural destinations. If you find yourself nearby, go and see it. It’s a rare, immersive experience inside a moving piece of Italian design history.

Photos: Chiara Esposito © Broadview Materials

Photos: courtesy of Prada