Focus on Carlo Ratti's Innovative Design for the Milano Cortina Olympic Torch
The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Torches, named 'Essential', are a testament to innovation, sustainability, and national identity. Designed by Carlo Ratti and his team, these torches embody a minimalist and deeply symbolic aesthetic that reflects the core values of the Games.
The Essential torches are designed to be pure, functional, and deeply symbolic objects. They feature clean lines, clear volumes, and a balance between matte and glossy textures, reflecting a refined Italian design ethos rooted in avant-garde traditions. The torch's design centers the flame, making it the focus, and strips away unnecessary elements to reveal the burner.
The torch's handle is made from a Versalis-developed polymer derived from renewable sources, while the torches themselves are crafted from 89% certified recycled material. The torches are powered by renewable bio-LPG, produced from waste oils, fats, and agricultural residues.
The torches weigh just over a kilogram and are a symbol of the Games' commitment to environmental responsibility and global solidarity through sport. They also signify unity and shared effort, much like the medals for the Games that feature two opposing halves coming together to symbolize the bond between different stakeholders.
The design process for the Essential torches was collaborative and integrated with the overall Games identity. It involved collaboration with Cavagna, Versalis, and Eni, and digital tools and data-driven insights were used for wind tunnel tests, simulations, and fluid dynamic analysis.
Carlo Ratti, the curator of the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, advises younger architects and designers to always challenge the brief, design from the effect they want to produce, and understand the present with unprecedented tools before projecting forward. This philosophy is evident in the design of the Essential torches.
The torches have two distinct finishes: blue-green for the Olympics and bronze for the Paralympics. The refillable burner can be used up to ten times, reducing the number of torches produced. The Essential torches are not just functional objects for carrying flame but elegant symbols that evoke the Olympic spirit through their pared-down, thoughtful design.
The design of the Essential torches aligns with themes that will be explored at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, such as hybrid intelligence, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and understanding the present to imagine the future responsibly. This approach mirrors the Games’ broader themes of strength, support, and unity, as well as sustainability and respect for heritage.
In conclusion, the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Torches, named Essential, are a shining example of how design can reflect the spirit of the Games while promoting sustainability and innovation. They are a testament to Carlo Ratti's design philosophy and a symbol of the Games' commitment to environmental responsibility and global solidarity.
- The Essential torches, with their sleek design and renewable materials, exemplify the intersection of technology and sustainability in visionary products.
- The travel of these essential torches to various Olympic and Paralympic venues will serve as a beacon, communicating the news of the Games' commitment to ecological responsibility and solidarity.
- As the 2026 Winter Games approach, the design of the Essential torches serves as a poignant reminder that sports, much like technology, advocates for unity and constant progress, even in the face of adversity.
