In a video message recorded for Virtual Design Festival, the owner of Bar Basso in Milan says the design community has a chance to stay together despite the coronavirus pandemic causing design fairs to be cancelled.

Maurizio Stocchetto, owner of the bar that attracts thousands of designers each night during Milan design week, contributed the opening sequence to the Virtual Design Festival launch movie, which was published last month and which we are streaming ahead of our live interview with Stocchetto later today.

"As we all know, this year Salone del Mobile will not be held in our city," Stocchetto said in the movie, which shows him unlocking the empty bar that is usually crammed with designers.

"But with the Dezeen Virtual Design Festival, we still have a chance to stay together."

Bar Basso was established in 1933 and since the 1980s has been a staple watering hole for the design community during Milan design week, with attendees spilling out into the street until late in the night.

Stocchetto's video message features in the VDF launch movie alongside contributions from 34 other architects, designers and artists in lockdown around the world, including Stefano Giovanni, Es Devlin, Ini Archibong, and Bec Brittain.

As part of Virtual Design Festival, Stocchetto will be speaking to Dezeen's founder and editor-in-chief Marcus Fairs in a live interview about the history of the bar, followed by a cocktail masterclass in how to make its signature drink, Negroni sbagliato. Tune in here from 5:00pm UK time.

About Virtual Design Festival

Virtual Design Festival runs from 15 April to 30 June 2020. It brings the architecture and design world together to celebrate the culture and commerce of our industry, and explore how it can adapt and respond to extraordinary circumstances.

To find out what's coming up at VDF, check out the schedule. For more information or to join the mailing list, email [email protected].