Island (e)Scape

TEAM DATA

Team Representative: Marcello Galiotto (IT) – architect; Associates: Alessandra Rampazzo (IT), Susanna Aina Elisabeth Lindvall (SE), Luca Negrini (IT) - Architects Contributors: Yasmine Houari (BE) – Architect; Francesco Cauda (IT), Carlotta Floreano(IT), Francesco Baggio(IT) – students in architecture

San Marco 2504, 30124 Venezia (IT)
+393348241664 - info@apium2a.it 

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^{M. Galiotto, A. Rampazzo, S. Aina Elisabeth Lindvall, L. Negrini. Y. Houari, F. Cauda, C. Floreano, F. Baggio}

INTERVIEW

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

The Team is composed by two different Professional Association, AMAA collaborative architecture office for research and development and Negrini Lindvall Architecture. Based in different Italian cities -Venice/Arzignano (Vicenza) and Bologna- the collaboration was set specifically for Europan 15. The Team members share a common ground in architecture based on their studies at Iuav University of Venice (Italy).

2. How do you define the main issue of your project, and how did you answer on this session main topic: the place of productive activities within the city?

The project focuses on the idea of breaking existing limits of the territorial site - limits that have been defined over the years, provoking a change in “metabolism” of the area. The idea is indeed to re-activate the site offering quality public spaces for the residential neighbourhood (considered troubling nowadays). That means transforming the entire island of the strategic site into multiple smaller-in-size islands. The spaces in-between will then increase the permeability and overcome both social and economical boundaries that have been setting physical barriers between human beings until today.

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

The site looks today like an urban island or a bastion, as the Palm in Dubai or the city of Palmanova, which are both generically isolated and unaccessible, if not from specific gates. The analysis of the site gives hints for the project, in term of morphology, program, porosity/un-accessibility, mobility, density.

4. Have you treated this issue previously? What were the reference projects that inspired yours?

The project has been a summary of several ideas that the Office have been working on in the past years, in the theoretical field as well as in our practice. Architecture is the result of a complex phase. It is not a unique and linear process but it is based on the continuous review of multiple options available always keeping a critical attitude. This is a peculiar practice manner based on the primary role of the IDEA in the process. The act of DOING is also fundamental and researches a balance between the three steps of working on architecture: theory, order and the final outcome. Each one keeps the essence of the original idea and gradually becomes more precise and developed until the project reaches the realisation. Theory is a synthesis in the making of the background made of models, references, words and other contributions coming from other disciplines, all weaved together. Order transforms this background into design weaving a deep connection with the city, its history and its layers. The real challenge is to preserve the essence of that idea during the entire process, from the first sketch to the detailed constructive drawings and finally during the construction on site (the final outcome).

5. Urban-architectural projects like the ones in Europan can only be implemented together with the actors through a negotiated process and in time. How did you consider this issue in your project?

The porous islands will be slightly transformed, aiming an increased usage comfort, the connections among people coming from the nearby neighbourhoods, recalling the typical relationships you can see in a local marketplace. Small buildings and constructions will start the site re-activation process: the main focus is on social and functional terms, leaving aside the aesthetic component. The first step of the project is then fundamental and promotes the future development of the area: it is the first piece of a bigger puzzle. It will also assurge as a reference for the next phases.

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

We have already been awarded with the runner-up prize in Europan 11 (Linz). Europan is very well known worldwide. For this reason we received a lot of recognition for this award. Moreover, the participation to the Winners Forum and Workshop opened up new connections with Architects coming from all over Europe, which was fundamental for the development of the research of the Office. We believe, indeed, that Architecture is a collaborative attitude rather than the expression of a personal one.

TEAM IDENTITY

Office: …
Functions: Architecture, History of Architecture, Restoration
Average age of the associates: 30 years old

Has your team, together or separately, already conceived or implemented some projects and/or won any competition? If yes, which ones?

AMAA was created in 2012 by Marcello Galiotto and Alessandra Rampazzo based on their experience of working alongside Massimo Carmassi and Sou Fujimoto. Both for private commissions and for national and international competitions, they are very much used to work with a variety of scales from small details to global designs thanks to a multidisciplinary teams and consultants. Since 2010, they have been awarded many national and International prizes, including the Runner Up prize in Europan 11 (Linz, AT) and the third prize at House in Milano Sesto Competition. In 2015 they have been selected as finalists at the Federico Maggia Award 2015 and as Architects of the Year Under 36 - New Italian Blood. In 2019 AMAA as a temporary grouping (RTP) won the first prize for the design and construction of a 9-residences housing building for IPES in Bressanone (BZ) and for the extension of the RSA 'Rosa dei Venti' in Borgo Chiese (TN), both now at the final draft stage. The restoration of the Santa Croce Convent in Venice was awarded with the honourable mention at the Cappochin Award 2015 (regional section) and the renovation of The [B] Zone was selected among the 10 best regional works in the Cappochin Award 2017 and selected as finalist in The Plan Award 2018.