Carlo Ratti has unveiled his design for the torches for next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Milano.& The instruments to be used in ceremonies seen across the world are made from either bronze or aluminum, weigh close to 1.06kg (or 2.3 pounds), and can be reused up to ten times by the respective torchbearers in each relay.  Image courtesy Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026Ratti, who is busy preparing the 2025 Venice Biennale, has chosen to name these torches Essential and says their inspiration has concentrated more on enhancing the ancient symbol of the games than being presented as a singular design object.  Image courtesy Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026"We were clear from the very beginning: it’s not the torch that matters, but the flame. So, we started thinking about how to design a torch that, in a way, isn’t a torch – and instead emphasizes the power and beauty of the flame," he reiterates in the design announcement. Image courtesy Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026As a ...