Institutional portal - Municipality of Milan

Milan, 7 December 2020 – On the day of Sant'Ambrogio, patron saint of the city, the 21 trees of the “Christmas of Trees” are lit, the project conceived by Marco Balich and donated to the Municipality by the Bracco Foundation, which with their lights and their effects will illuminate the squares and the streets of Milan until January 6th. 
Added to these 21 are the 45 trees that the Green Department has distributed in the neighborhoods of the nine Municipalities and which, once the holidays are over, will be taken to the municipal nurseries. 
 
“Thanks to this project – declares Roberta Guaineri, Councilor for Tourism –, characterized by evocative installations and bearers of universal messages such as hope, sustainability and solidarity, Milan lights up for Christmas, an even more important festive dress in such a difficult year also to reiterate to the world the extraordinary attractiveness of our city, which will continue to be among the most sought-after metropolises as international tourist destinations". 
 
 “We are happy to have managed to complete this project - states Diana Bracco, President of the Bracco Foundation - and I sincerely thank the many companies who have decided to invest in the creation of artistic trees, which with their lights and effects will warm the squares of Milan until the epiphany. Respecting the many deaths we are experiencing, we must be able to make next Christmas also a moment of peaceful confidence in the future."  
 
“Milan will be looked at by the rest of the world this year also for how it chose to celebrate Christmas. "The Christmas of the Trees" is a demonstration of its ability to react with a sustainable, collective and participatory vision of the future. This new format brings creativity to rekindle the squares, from the center to the suburbs, without creating gatherings thanks to 21 Alberi d'Autore”, declares Marco Balich, Chairman and Creative Director Balich Worldwide Shows. 
"Creativity represents the soul and the future of the city, together with fashion and design, and in this particular moment it has the responsibility of creating moments of joy aimed in particular at the people who have chosen Milan as a city for life, even though they are not having been born there, and will find themselves staying away from their loved ones during the holidays without feeling alone. I thank Diana Bracco, Roberta Guaineri and Mayor Sala for immediately supporting the idea.” 

 
 
1. Piazza Duomo, Coca Cola with Food Bank 
GIFT TREE is an invitation to remember the importance of giving.  
Coca-Cola is alongside the Food Bank to help those most in need, to collect food products for at least 2 million meals. 
The trees will be replanted in the city, as a green legacy for the future.  
The lights point to the sky to communicate, even from a distance, the living energy of the heart of Milan. 
Creative and executive production: Balich Worldwide Shows 
Design: Studio Giò Forma 
Light design: Jordan Babev 
Music&Sound Design: Roberto Cacciapaglia, Michele Centonze, Maurizio D'Aniello, Marco Grasso, Domenica Cimarosa and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaichowsky 
 
2. Piazza XXV Aprile Accenture 
TREE OF CHANGE 
Giorgio Palù, a Lombard architect, has created an installation that is never the same in which the city and its citizens can be reflected. Inside, a transparent screen will transform, through the kaleidoscope effect, the beauties of Milan into a magnificent Christmas decoration. A tree that aims to be a symbol of change and rebirth and which represents a tribute to a constantly evolving city. 
 
3. Piazza Vigili del Fuoco, Bracco Group   
TREE OF KNOWLEDGE 
The Bracco Group, which operates in the life sciences sector and is a world leader in diagnostic imaging, with "The tree of knowledge" spreads knowledge, understood as a collective heritage that is transmitted through education. 
Located in a peripheral area of ​​Milan, the involvement is greatly appreciated, the arboreal installation brings us closer to science through three complementary actions: imagine, know and live. 
The gift offered is represented by unpublished scientific insights, accessible to all, which will flow into an infographic table that will be donated to schools. 
Creative and executive production: Balich Worldwide Shows 
Design: Studio Giò Forma 
Light Design: Sergio Cattaneo  
 
4. Piazza della Scala, Engie   
TREE OF THE WIND 
The wind tree celebrates art and pays homage to the square that hosts the Teatro della Scala in this very particular season which opens this evening.  
The tree is "carbon neutral" and represents ENGIE's commitment to environmental sustainability. The installation is inspired by the wind turbine, with a continuous rotary motion combined with LED lights, it reproduces the music of the wind interpreted by the great composers. It uses the generative principle of nature (Fibonacci sequence) which regulates its proportions, shape and development, giving harmony and balance. The structure is made entirely of laminated beams with sustainability certification linked to the forestry sector.  
Creative and executive production: Balich Worldwide Shows 
Design: Studio Giò Forma 
Light Design: Sergio Cattaneo  
Music&Sound Design: Maurizio D'Aniello  
 
5. Piazza Gramsci, Nickelodeon   
GAME TREE 
The Nickelodeon tree, part of ViacomCBS Networks Italia, is dedicated to children in a space known and frequented by families. The tree is destined to then be donated to the Municipality of Milan, thus becoming a permanent play structure: a large colored and personalized slide with the puppies of PAW Patrol, the little sharks of Baby Shark, through SpongeBob, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the protagonists of The Loud House and The Casagrandes. The most beloved characters of NickJr and Nickelodeon will thus contribute to animating a new, regained gaming space. 
 
6. Corso Garibaldi, Paramount  
STAR TREE 
The Paramount Network tree, part of ViacomCBS Networks Italia, is linked to great cinema and great stories, and is inspired by the magic of cinema and its stars, in line with the "House of Stars" Christmas campaign. An artistic installation made of recyclable metal gives shape to a Christmas tree, on whose structure many stars engraved reflect and illuminate the surrounding space. The Paramount Network tree is designed to convey the magic of entertainment all around, because we must continue to dream and support the great stories that only cinema can tell.  
  
7. Piazza XXIV MAY, MTV  
MUSIC TREE 
A shining tribute to the power of music and the entire world of entertainment. The MTV tree, part of ViacomCBS Networks Italia, is hi-tech and made of light. A structure made of metal mesh houses 40 luminous "cubes", ideally anticipating the next anniversary of MTV which in 2021 will celebrate 40 years since its birth in the United States. Each cube offers a representation of the brand's iconic graphics and styles that have made MTV popular with the general public since 1981. The different textures, together with a central beating heart, light up during the night, in a rainbow of colours. A charity auction is connected to the light boxes - imagined as unique design elements, personalized by artists and singers. All proceeds will go to SCENA UNITA and the COVID-19 LET'S SUPPORT MUSICA fund promoted by promoted by the Cesvi Foundation, La Musica che Gira and Music Innovation Hub. 
 
The 3 trees of ViacomCBS Networks Italia have creative and executive production: Balich Worldwide Shows,  
Design: Matteo Oioli - Assistant Daniele Borin, Dario Bruno, Light Design: Sergio Cattaneo  
 
8. Piazza Greco, Greco Properties 
A TREE FOR GREEK 
Christmas card from the heart of Greco from traders, associations and all the people who live in Greco. For the neighborhood the Tree represents a symbol of courage and hope for the present and future. 
 
9. Piazza San Carlo, Stone Island 
TREE OF TOMORROW 
The Stone Island Tree is an invitation to research, it is the inspiration of a sustainable technology oriented towards nature. In its creation the element of reflection is fundamental, which multiplies the single tree in a forest, visible from all sides. The classic Christmas fir tree becomes a tree of light, made of optical fiber, which starts from a root of woven white fabric to which it gives color with its reflection. 
Creative and executive production: Balich Worldwide Shows,  
Design: Matteo Oioli - Assistant Daniele Borin, Dario Bruno, Light Design: Sergio Cattaneo  
 
10. Via Luca Beltrami, Golden Goose 
GOLDEN TREE 
A "collective" installation made up of 22 baskets created with the collaboration of some street artists. A perfectly imperfect, lived-in tree through which to tell authentic stories. A tribute to the street culture that Golden Goose has always been inspired by but also an act of love towards the city of Milan. At the end of the Christmas period the baskets will be donated. 
Creative and executive production: Balich Worldwide Shows,  
Design: Matteo Oioli - Assistant Daniele Borin, Dario Bruno, Light Design: Sergio Cattaneo  
 
11. Piazza San Fedele, Cimento  
WHISPERING TREES 
Pair of trees placed in two different points of the square. The trees host a niche, a sort of imaginary cocoon, which allows you to experience the public space in a different way and be able to share the meaning of Christmas, even in the context of the necessary interpersonal distance. Inside the nest it is possible to listen to the sounds of the forest, the sound of the wind in the branches, the quick footsteps of squirrels and foxes crossing the forest as the snow falls. A protected corner, for adults and children, where we can live a sensory experience capable of reconnecting with the rhythms of nature. The trees are entirely covered in CAMENTO®, a patented compound, which uses over 90% mineral aggregates mixed with a cement binder and natural pigments.  
Designer: Omri Revesz and Parisotto+Formenton Architects 
Lighting design: Claudio Valent, Metis Lighting 
 
12. Largo La Foppa, Saipem   
TREE OF THE FUTURE 
Technological tree that invites us to look forward, to get in touch with the world to come.  
An imposing 6 meter high structure supports four LED bands, as well as dozens of rings of white light, on which flow phrases linked to tomorrow and the answers we expect. An interactive tree that communicates with users through the web and that comes to life thanks to the emotions and thoughts of anyone who wants to speak to the future, to relaunch it with new projects, solutions and ideas in an open conversation that promotes change and evolution. 
The tree was designed and produced by the Ground Control agency. 
 
13. Galleria del Corso, Qwarzo 
ONE FILAMENT PAPER TREE 
Tree made entirely of ecological paper treated with Qwarzo, therefore stabilized and waterproof, starting from a single 5 cm high ribbon for a total length of approximately 366 metres. The ribbon is wrapped in a helical spiral that rises to a height of 4 meters. Qwarzata paper is the compostable, recyclable and biodegradable Qwarzo solution 
for the replacement of disposable plastic and bioplastic objects. The paper was sprayed directly with bronze and copper to have shiny and material decorations by Metallvm. The tree therefore has a strong ecological vocation as it is entirely recyclable and with its 366 meters of paper it could also be the longest Christmas tree in the world.  
Design Giulio Ceppi/TotalTool with Elena Ferrando  
 
14. Piazza San Simpliciano, Levi Strauss 
LEVI'S TREE 
Levi's® celebrates its commitment to sustainability conceived from a full circle Repair, Reimagine, Recycle perspective, by participating in the "Christmas of Trees" project. "Levi's® Tree of the brand. This tree in its fascinating essentiality interprets everyone's feelings by expressing it in the concept less is more.  
 
15. Piazza Tre Torri, CityLife   
AD LUMEN CityLifersXSustainability 
By Annalaura di Luggo, CityLife Shopping District brings to Piazza Tre Torri a tree created from recycled aluminum waste, a symbol of positive rebirth and a metaphor for redemption and invites all CityLifers to recycling and sustainability and urges them to entrust their desires to the tree : on the Shopping District website or on site it is possible to write messages which will then be hung on the structure making it unique.   
 
16. Piazza San Marco, London art 
THE WALL PAPER TREE (not ready yet, will light up tomorrow) 
A tree illuminated with approximately 1200 microlights with stylized balls covered with resin wallpaper scraps. The subjects were selected from the Londonart 2020 Exclusive Wallpaper collection. At the end of the event the decorations will be entirely recycled and reused. 
 
17. Piazza Cadorna, Trunks in the Square 
 TRUNK TREE 
The Tree of Trunks aims to keep alive the attention of public opinion and institutions towards entertainment and event workers, who have been deprived of their jobs by the crisis linked to the Covid pandemic, linking to the climate of solidarity that characterizes especially the time of year with the Christmas holidays. As for the demonstration on 10 October in Piazza Duomo, here too the trunk is the symbol of the work behind the scenes, that work which by its nature is invisible to most people. 
 
18. Piazza Sempione, A2A 
TREE OF LIGHT  
The Christmas proposed by A2A will arrive in the city with a dance of light next to the Arco della Pace. A wattle installation with suspended and moving LED lights inside will create an oasis of light in Piazza Sempione. Light and sound swarms will design the tree, generating a natural choreography.  
Creative and executive production: Balich Worldwide Shows 
 
19.Piazza Croce Rossa, Montenapoleone District 
Tree of Light in Montenapoleone District 
A sculpture of great symbolic meaning for the celebration of an unusual Christmas.  
Piazza Croce Rossa is illuminated by the Tree of Light by the Florentine artist Roberta Cipriani. The work, 3 meters high, is a hymn to peace and love which is expressed in the message engraved in the trunk. The light radiates through the letters in a spiral motion that reaches from the roots to the branches, a metaphor for the path that everyone takes on Earth. The tree is embellished with Magic Decor golden decorations. 
 
20. Library of Trees, ENEL 
ICE TREE (will open in the next few days) 
The Ice Tree is the innovative work of urban light art created by AADV Entertainment for Enel. A tree inspired by the woods of the deep north which, in the colder seasons, are covered with extraordinary formations of ice and snow, welcomes visitors into a magical and surreal kingdom made of frozen sculptures and mirrored bears. A project that wants to shine a light on global warming, one of the most urgent issues related to environmental sustainability. 
In collaboration with BAM, the installation is located in the heart of the Library of Trees.   
Art direction / Set design: Greymatters 
Lighting design: Giovanni Pinna 
 
21. Largo de Sabata, Intesa Sanpaolo 
EMBRACE TO HUMANITY (will open in the next few days) 
Installation designed by the architect Michele De Lucchi, in Largo de Sabata in front of the Sanctuary of San Giuseppe, a small pearl of Milanese Baroque. Not one tree but many trees, an installation that represents an embrace of humanity inspired by Bernini's colonnade and Italian gardens. Small trees grow on a large colonnade, which lights up at night, animating the city, built with the wooden shingle construction technique, based on overlapping small wooden planks on top of each other.