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At a time when the energy debate is becoming increasingly urgent, three Italian excellences – Pininfarina, newcleo, and Fincantieri – have chosen the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale as the stage for a radical proposal: changing the perception of nuclear energy through the culture of design.Inside the Corderie dell’Arsenale, the public is invited to explore for the first time a full-scale reproduction of the TL-40 nuclear reactor – the technological core of newcleo’s vision for safe, sustainable, and compact fission.
This joint project, which blends cutting-edge design, technological innovation, and industrial vision, aims to overcome fears and misconceptions surrounding nuclear energy, restoring its central role in the conversation about decarbonization and the future of energy. Through an immersive and interactive approach, the installation transforms engineering complexity into an accessible experience, capable of engaging a broad audience with one of the most controversial topics of our time
At the heart of the exhibition is newcleo’s TL-40 reactor, a next-generation system cooled by liquid lead. Thanks to Pininfarina’s contribution, the reactor becomes an aesthetic and symbolic artifact—designed to fascinate and intrigue, while making the physical and scientific principles behind its operation tangible.
Standing approximately 5.5 meters tall and weighing over two tons, the reactor is presented as a grand technological vessel: a suspended volume, visually lightweight, with a lamellar pattern that creates an elegant moiré effect, enhancing the fluidity of its forms and multiplying light reflections. Its open-section configuration invites the viewer to observe it from all angles, stepping into its core to discover its internal mechanisms.
The installation offers an immersive narrative in which nuclear fission becomes a tangible experience, made accessible through digital interfaces that visualize data, simulations, and future scenarios. The TL-40 reactor not only ensures safe energy production but is also capable of "burning" existing nuclear waste—reducing its environmental impact and turning it into a valuable resource.
The reactor provides multi-recycling of fuel and uses passive safety systems. According to newcleo, the nuclear waste already present in Europe could meet the continent’s electricity needs for centuries. Designed according to the principles of circular design, the installation uses modular, reusable, and low-impact components—expressing a responsible approach in every detail.
>>> Also discover Trimo's new prefabricated modular wall system, designed by Pininfarina
Photography by Agnese Bedini, courtesy of DSL Studio
