Dancing Density

TEAM DATA

Team Representative: Alessandro Pretolani (IT) – architect; Associate: Filippo Pambianco (IT), Davide Lorenzato (IT), Andrea Sperandio (IT) – architects

Studio Caveja, via Ambrosoli 37, 47121 Forlì – Italia
+39 33 83 822 047 – info@cavejastudio.com – www.cavejastudio.com

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^{A. Pretolani, F. Pambianco, D. Lorenzato and A. Sperandio}

INTERVIEW

1. How did you form the team for the competition?

Three members of the team out of four come from the School of Architecture of Bologna and the team was formed around the common intention to face the issues of Europan 12, drawing upon professional and academic background around Italy, Spain and Portugal.

2. How do you define the main issue of your project, insisting on how you answered on this session main topic: adaptability and urban rhythms?

The first element in the definition of the project is to calculate the building density, drawing on the analysis of the surrounding neighbourhoods.
The urban project for this case study was chosen on the initial assumption that the contemporary approach to living in the city should be more human-centred. The project for Marly’s town is therefore not confined to a single function and just one kind of building (mono-large); instead, it involves buildings of different heights and kinds (multi-mix), creating an average building density in keeping with the project area.
Single unit dimensions can vary according to the site chosen and can be adapted to other similar sites, without losing the human aspect and its multifunctional value, essential to the development of a new way of living.

3. How did this issue and the questions raised by the site mutation meet?

The project can increase the number of neighbourhood units depending on the population rise/demand service; at the same time, the process can reverse in order to leave enough space for green areas, maintaining the volumetric and typologic difference between public/private buildings and spaces.

4. Have you already treated this issue previously and could you present some reference projects that inspired yours?

The designing idea was born out of the inspiration from the specific nature of the site and the eternal relationship between man and nature and how they have a hold on each other.

5. Today –within the era of an economic crisis and sustainability– the urban-architectural project should reconsider its production method in time; how did you integrate this issue in your project?

On the one hand we reduce the costs of production through the introduction of prefabrication system, simplification and reproducibility of the elements and also thanks to the use of the materials and construction systems on-site. And on the other we favour a contemporary language to establish a stable and lasting relationship with the already existing features of the site.

6. Is it the first time you have been awarded a prize at Europan? How could this help you in your professional career?

Yes, it has been the first time and it would be an honor to share this experience. We really believe in the importance of the theoretical reasons that form the basis of Europan and for this reason we hope that it will be an excellent springboard for the next generations, ourselves included.