EXPERIMENTAL ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE

There was once a society that believed the future would bring better living conditions to everyone. There were people, utopian thinkers, who thought about the big questions of the city. Today only a feeling remains, half desire, half melancholy, reminiscing of those architects who wanted to live in a better society and who had dreamed of better places. Such an era is now over. Here begins my work.
raumlaborberlin is a network, a collective of 8 trained architects who have come together in a collaborative work-structure. We work at the intersection of architecture, city planning, art and urban intervention. We address in our work city and urban renewal as a process. We are attracted to difficult urban locations. Places torn between different systems, time periods or planning ideologies, that can not adapt. Places that are abandoned, left over or in transition that contains some relevance for the processes of urban transformations. These places are our experimentation sites. They offer untapped potential which we try to activate. This opens new perspectives for alternative usage patterns, collective ideals, urban diversity and difference.
For our projects, we form tailored teams of interdisciplinary experts. City residents are also specialists. No one knows better in each respective situation than those who have to deal with the places on a day to day basis. Thus we can gain valuable information about the history, fears, desires, existential needs, as well as deficits, that exists like an invisible network over every spatial situation. We forge active alliances between local actors and external experts. Thus we discover new areas of action and open new fields of experimentation, whose possibilities we test and examine collectively.
We call this “research-based design.” We are committed to dealing with places 1:1, discovering and using what we find within the conditions of the site. In the process of doing, we learn more through active design about the site of investigation and find new methods that are open to appropriation and upgrades the existing. We do not solve problems, rather we initiate processes that give actors the opportunity to know, understand and use the city and its dynamics, as well as its possibilities.
An architecture in which it is possible to merge space with individual experience can uncover new qualities and leads to new images of the city created in the minds of its users. New options and possibilities appear on the horizon of places or buildings, were nothing seemed possible before, because they appeared finally defined, were given up or simply forgotten.
Examples for this practice are projects like “Der Berg” (2005), a spacial installation in the former Palace of the Republic in Berlin; the “Eichbaumoper” (2009), an urban laboratory for the recapture of a neglected traffic junction in public space; “Moderato Cantabile” (2008), a festival centre in Graz or “Open House” (2010), a vertical village as a generator for an open society in South-Korea; “The KNOT” (2010), a laboratory for artistic production, dialogue and presentations in public space.
On an abstract level of city planning we have specialized in dynamic master planning. Activation through use is our central approach. Multi-facetted usage of public space a driving force for the development of vibrant, contemporary and adaptive neighborhoods. We try to invent new user-based applications and involve the urban actors as early as possible in the transformation processes.
City-planning projects are e.g. “Kolorado Neustadt” (2003-2006), scenarios for a new urban diversity in the shrinking city Halle-Neustadt, the “Rahmenplanung Dachauer Str.” in Munich (2009) or the “Aktivierende Stadtentwicklung Flughafen Tempelhof” in Berlin (2007-2008) and the collaboration for the concept of an “IBA Berlin 2020″ (2011).
 
raumlaborberlin also works in the field of urban interventions. We transform urban spaces into something completely different, far from all expectations and visions. We move programmatic narratives into urban spaces, install new atmospheres and create a sense of new potential. Through the participation of local actors in cooperation with experts from all creative disciplines, new fields of action are discovered, tested, and projected into the future.
Examples for this approach are the “Kitchenmonument” (since 2006), an ephemeral and interventionist object for the creation of temporary communities in Duisburg, Liverpool, Warschau, Munich, Berlin or Eindhoven; the “Hotel Neustadt” (2003) a theater festival in Halle/Saale; and again the “Eichbaumoper” (2009) a opulent opera in a run-down public space by the motorway A40 in between Mülheim and Essen.
Architecture is an experimental laboratory for a moment related to the participatory work practice in urban areas. Architecture is understood not as an object, but rather as history, a layer of the history of the place. As architects, artist we are more of activists, because we operate within the city. Architecture is a tool, in the search for a city of possibilities, the city of tomorrow!

Biographical notes
Shigeru Ban, who was born in Tokyo in 1957, attended at Southern California Institute of Architecture and graduated from Cooper Union School of Architecture in 1984. In 1985, he established Shigeru Ban Architects, a private practice in Tokyo. In 1995, He started working as a consultant of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and at the same time established an NGO, Voluntary Architects’ Network (VAN) in 1995. Renowned for his works with innovative ideas such as “Curtain Wall House”, “Japan Pavilion Hannover EXPO 2000”, “Nicolas G. Hayek Center”, “Centre Pompidou-Metz”, he is today based in his three offices at Tokyo, New York and Paris. Meanwhile, he contributes his knowledge, skills and energy for the disaster relief projects such as Paper Log House (Kobe of Japan in 1995, Turkey in 2000, India in 2002), Paper Church (Kobe,1995), Temporary Elementary School (Chengdu, China 2008) and Container Temporary Housing (Onagawa, Japan in 2011)  He has been awarded a number of prizes, including Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Architecture (2005), l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France (2010) and Auguste Perret Prize(2011).  Jury of Pritzker Architecture Prize from 2007 to 2009, Professor at Keio University, Japan from 2001 to 2008, Visiting Professor of Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Visiting Professor of Cornell University(2010), and Professor of Kyoto University of Art and Design from 2011.

Biographical notes

Mr Davide Bandera, who was born on December 20th in Milan and is resident here, graduated in Architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan in October 1997. His first post-graduate work was the architectural design of the structures of some installations for the production of prestressed concrete elements.
He has been working in Mapei since June 1st 1998 in the field of the technical assistance in the construction site for the buildingline sector, both in Italy and in foreign countries, with particular reference to the restoration systems in existing buildings, also of historical and artistic value, under protection of the Superintendence for the architectural and environmental heritage.
Since 2006 he has been Product Manager of the Restoration line for masonry buildings.
His expertise relates to the knowledge of building systems, with particular attention to issues of durability and eco-sustainability, as well as eco-compatibility and comfort.
Experience that has been proven both in the analysis of the main degradation phenomena of building materials that affect the existing structures and in the degradation prevention at the design stage.
Knowledge of the most advanced techniques-technologies, as well as of consolidation systems, renovation and restoration of existing buildings, both of the concrete ones and of the masonry ones, also of particular historical and artistic value.
Management of relations with both public and private prescribers-specifiers and with specialized restoration companies, either domestically and abroad.
Speaker at numerous national monothematic conferences and seminars.
Author and co-author of numerous articles and publications in the specialized press of the sector.

Biographical notes

Born in Lima, Peru, 1967. Formed as an architect in Lima and Paris.
Master degree in Landscape and Territory at the UDP, Chile.
She currently teaches at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and has previously taught at the Paris-La Villette School of Architecture (2006).
Received the 2018 Woman in Architecture Award from the Architectural Review, London.
Recipient of the Fulbright Foundation and the French Académie d’Architecture Fellowship in 2000.
Sandra was curator, along with J.P. Crousse, of the Peruvian Pavilion at the 15th Venice Biennale, 2016, which obtained the Special Mention of the Jury.

Biographcal notes

Fiorella Baserga is the CEO of Gigapublishing, a multimedia publishing company that publishes magazines about design, contract, gardening, food and fashion - with dedicated websites for each sector - .
She’s the Editorial Director of Suite, the high-level hotellerie leading magazine in Italy, which since almost 30 years speaks about trends and innovation in the contract field, analyzing the development strategies in this sector.
In the early 2000s she started getting interested in the world of SPA and wellness and she curated several editions of the “Guida al Benessere” a basic guide which represents a fundamental tool for all those who wish to approach to the wellness world , at whatever level. The guide is constantly updated and it is available on the website www.spachoice.com.
In 2008 Fiorella and her sister Gisella founded Fondazione Gaetano Bertini Onlus, a non profit organization whose mission is promoting social inclusion of young people with psychological distress , trough activities such as cooking and gardening courses.

Biographical notes

Graduated in Architecture from the University of Florence, he opens his own studio in Colle di Val d’Elsa in 1997. He wins various awards such as the Design Plus with the radiator “Monolite” for Brandoni and the Interior Innovation Award 2014 with the table “Vela” for Resol. He is also selected for the “Compasso d’Oro” award. Today his activity ranges from product design to architecture.

Biographical notes

Student of Scarpa and Niemeyer, Dante O. Benini carried out building projects worldwide co-operating with Frank O. Ghery, Richard Meier, Arup and Daniel Libeskind. He is registered architect at Rome “Ordine degli Architetti” (Italian Architects’ Register), and also chartered member of U.K. ARB (Architects Registration Board) RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects.
In 1997 he founded “Dante O. Benini & Partners Architects” of which he is at present Leader Partner and Chairman together with Luca Gonzo Senior Partner and Managing Director.
DOBP practice with Headquarters in Milan is also present in Monaco, it has specific departments dedicated to architectural project design, urban planning, interior design, yacht design. A staff of 60 people carries out, worldwide, complete projects of urban areas, major companies headquarters, industrial laboratories and shopping centers, exclusive clubs and private houses, yachts, as well as object design. Each project is designed on the basis of technical, economic and environmental sustainability, within a quality architectural context based on details care.
DOBP practice has been awarded several architectural and design prizes and mentions (the latest is Best Lighting Design at Boat International Design & Innovation Awards 2018); won or was classified in international competitions and is invited to hold workshops and conferences both in Italy and abroad.
DOBP practice works have been often published and Bruno Zevi, Cesare De Seta, Cesare Casati, Ada Francesca Marcianò, Renato Pedio, Roberto Guiducci, Giampiero Bosoni, Murizio Vitta and Luigi Prestinenza Puglisi are among the authors of articles about the practice.

Biographocal notes
Solano Benítez was born in Asunción, Paraguay in 1963. After graduating in Architecture from the National University of Asunción (FAUNA) in 1986, the following year he founded the practice Gabinete de Arquitectura which he currently runs together with Alberto Marinoni and Gloria Cabral.
Benítez has won numerous awards, including an Outstanding Youth award from the Junior Chamber of Paraguay for contributions to national culture; the BSI Swiss Architectural Award, an international recognition for architects under the age of 50 who have done significant work in the field of contemporary culture (2008); and an honourable mention from the National Congress of Paraguay for his contribution to the nation (2014). In 2011 he was elected Arquitecto del Bicentenario by the Paraguayan Architects’ Association and in 2012 became an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects.
In turn the Gabinete de Arquitectura has won various awards, including the Work of the Decade Award for the period 1989-1999 from the Paraguay College of Architects in 1999. The same year it was a finalist in the Mies van der Rohe award for Latin America. In 1994 it represented Paraguay in the Venice Biennale, in the São Paulo biennial and in Lisbon during its stint as the Ibero-American Capital of Culture. In 2016 Gabinete de Arquitectura was awarded the Golden Lion for Best Participant at the Venice Architecture Biennale directed by Alejandro Aravena.

Main works
The Ytú tourist village in Paraguay, 1997-1998 (finalist in the Mies van der Rohe Award for Latin American architecture)
Piribebuy Grave (Paraguay), 2000-2001
Unilever site in Villa Elisa (Paraguay), 2000-2001
Casa Esmeraldina, Asunción (Paraguay), 2002
Casa Fanego, Asunción (Paraguay), 2003 (with Sergio Fanego)
Casa Abu & Font, Asunción (Paraguay), 2005-2006
Casa Las Anitas, San Pedro (Paraguay) 2007-2008
Edificio Alambra, San Lorenzo (Paraguay), under construction

Biographical notes
The Brixen- and Rosenheim-based architecture practice bergmeisterwolf was founded by Gerd Bergmeister and Michaela Wolf.

Over the years, the architects have developed their own design approach based on the pursuit of a harmonious and integrated balance between architecture and landscape, drawing from local South Tyrolean traditions and craftsmanship like a true laboratory of ideas and tailor-made spatial solutions. They see an in-depth knowledge of the urban and natural context and a contemporary reinterpretation of local history and traditions as essential first steps when creating new architectures capable of transforming the environment and generating new locations and new landscapes. A constant two-way dialogue with the client makes every project a journey of development towards synergistic solutions tailored to the needs of both the client and the local area and community. For this reason, models have a twofold purpose. First, they serve to communicate the project to the client; secondly, they are the main tool used by the architects to gain in-depth knowledge of the local area, its forms and its potential for transformation through projects aimed at introducing new contemporary languages into the context and revealing the identity of places. Alongside their professional work, the two partners also teach and carry out research at the Technische Hochschule in Rosenheim, where they hold a course on experimentation with space and wood.

Over the years, bergmeisterwolf have received numerous awards and nominations, including a nomination for the EU Mies Award 2022. In 2019 they won the Italian Architect Award, promoted by the CNAPPC (Italian National Council of Architects, Planners, Landscapers and Conservationists), for an approach to architecture that “responds to the context with attention to materials and bold formal solutions”. More recently they won the Best Architects award, one of the top recognitions for German-speaking regions in 2022, 2020 (including a Gold Award), 2018 and 2016; the Italian Architect Award for the Restoration and Renovation Works category as part of the 2018 edition of the Festa dell’Architetto; three Architettura Città di Oderzo awards for architecture in the Triveneto region (in 2020, 2016 and 2013), and many more.

bergmeisterwolf have participated in several national and international conferences and juries, including that of the Piranesi Award in 2011. They have taken part in numerous exhibitions, most recently Architettura Alto Adige in Naples, Italy in 2020, the Pisa Biennale of Architecture in 2019, and the Italian Pavilion at the 12th Venice Biennale of Architecture in 2012. They held solo exhibitions at the Spazio Solido gallery in Treviso in 2020 and at the Prisma Gallery in Bolzano in 2018 (with an exhibition entitled Dislocazione).

Biographical notes
Bijoy Jain was born in Mumbai, India in 1965 and received his M. Arch from Washington University in St Louis, USA in 1990. He worked in Los Angeles and London between 1989 and 1995 and returned to India in 1995 to found his practice.

Studio Mumbai is a human infrastructure of skilled craftsmen and architects who design and build the work directly. Gathered through time, this group shares an environment created from an iterative process, where ideas are explored through the production of large-scale mock-ups, models, material studies, sketches and drawings. Here projects are developed through careful consideration of place and a practice that draws from traditional skills, local building techniques, materials, and an ingenuity arising from limited resources.

The essence of the work lies in the relationship between land and architecture. The endeavor is to show the genuine possibility in creating buildings that emerge through a process of collective dialog, a face-to-face sharing of knowledge through imagination, intimacy, and modesty.

Biographical notes

Graduated in architecture in 1982 from the Milan Polytechnic, in 1983 he began his professional practice by working in Mario Botta’s architectural firm till 1988. Ever since he has been principal of an architectural firm in Varese engaged in residential, industrial and directional building and in industrial design, working with companies such as Alias, Artemide, Desalto, Poliform, Ycami, B&B and Flou. As a public and private interior designer, he planned some of the infielders of the “Teatro alla Scala” of Milan and has several exhibition installations to his credit, such as those at the “Triennale di Milano” and at the “Musèe du Président Jacques Chirac”. In 1997 he received the “Design Preis Schweiz” award and in 1998 he won the “Compasso d’Oro”. By 2010 Laleggera chair for Alias and Entronauta chair for Desalto have been included in the Moma’s permanent collection of New York. Currently, as much in architecture as in industrial design, he is focusing on the issue of removing all non-essential components of the structures, and has devoted himself to research and teaching. He is professor in architectural and industrial design at the Academy of Architecture in Mendrisio- USI, at the IUAV-RSM in S. Marino, at the NABA in Milan and at the ISAID in Vicenza. Blumer conducts research, lectures and workshops in methodologies focused on creative design and cognitive training through physical exercises within the “esercizi fisici di architettura e di design”.

Biographical notes
Cini Boeri graduated from Milan Polytechnic in 1951. After a brief collaboration with Gio Ponti’s practice, she worked for many years at the firm of Marco Zanuso.
She started up her own practice in 1963, concentrating on civil architecture and industrial design.
She has designed single-family houses, apartments, museum exhibits, offices and shops in Italy and abroad, devoting a great deal of attention to the functionality of space and the psychological relationships between humans and the environment. Her work in the field of industrial design has focused in particular on furnishing elements and building components.
She has given conferences and lectures at a number of universities in Italy and abroad, including Berkeley, Barcelona, the Nucleo del Deseno Industrial in São Paulo, the College of Architects of Rio de Janeiro, the Cranbrook School in Detroit, the Southern California Institute of Architecture in Vico Marcote, Switzerland, and Pacific Design Center and UCLA in Los Angeles.
From 1981 to 1983 she led courses in architectural design and industrial and furnishing design at Milan Polytechnic’s Architecture faculty.
She was a member of the Board of Directors of the XVI Triennale in Milan and has been on the jury of numerous international competitions.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS:
Milan, Compasso d’Oro, mention (1970), Milan, Premio Compasso d’Oro, Strips (1979), Ljubljana, gold medal for “Rever” door, BIO 10 (X Bienniale Disegno Industriale) (1984), Stuttgart, Design Center Stuttgart, Design ‘85 award for the Prisma collection (1984), New York, Roscoe Prize (1984).
Stuttgart, Design-Auswahl ‘90 (1990), Milan, Medaglia d’oro “Apostolo del Design”, Sala Puricelli, Fiera di Milano - Rima Editrice (2003), Milan, Dama d’Argento award “Gli uomini e le donne che fanno grande Milano - I Maestri del Design” Spazio Ferrè - Associazione Amici del Museo Poldi Pezzoli (2006), Milan, “Milano Donna” award, Palazzo Reale, Sala delle Cariatidi (2007), Florence, “Piramidi dell’Accademia Italiana” award, Teatro Saschall, Accademia Italiana (2008), Los Angeles, The IIC Lifetime Achievement Award from the Italian Cultural Institute (2008), Chicago, Good Design Award (2008), Rome, XXII Compasso d’ Oro ADI, Compasso alla Carriera (2011), Rome, Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, nominated Grand Officer of the Republic (2011)

PUBLICATIONS:
Le dimensioni umane dell’abitazione, Franco Angeli editore, Milan 1980
essay, La dimensione del domestico, in M. Bertoldini (editor), La casa tra tecniche e sogno, Franco Angeli editore, Milan 1988
essay, Progettista a committente, in Struttura e percorsi dell’atto progettuale, Città Studi, Milan 1991
C. Avogadro (editor), Cini Boeri, architetto e designer, Silvana Editoriale, Milan 2004

Biographical notes

Since 1994, the editor-in-chief of the magazine Interni (Mondadori) and all the publications
of the Interni system: the monographic Annuals (Cucina, Bagno, Contract); Interni Panorama;
the Design Index; the FuoriSalone Guides; KingSize and the website www.internimagazine.it.
As a curator, she creates and organizes events and exhibitions in various countries.
In 1990 she invented the FuoriSalone, the Design Week that enlivens the city of Milan each year in the month of April, with over 1000 events. In 2007 she received the Ambrogino d’Oro from
the City of Milan for the creation of the FuoriSalone, and in 2014 she was assigned the
Premio ITA Italian Talent Award by the Chamber of Deputies in Rome.

Biographical notes

Nadir Bonaccorso, was born in Milan, in 1967. Studied architecture at the Facoltaì di Architettura , Politecnico di Milano and graduated in 1993. He collaborated with JoaÞo Luiìs Carrilho da Graça Office (1993 - 1996). In 1997 led his own office (nbAA). He starts working with passive solar energy in architecture, extending his interests on research, apllied to competitions. Currently in Brasil where is developing his Phd, started in the University os Evora, focused on “Plug-in, infra-structure for low height construction in tropical climate” and as Invited Professor at University of Architecture INTA in Sobral.

Biographical notes
Mario Botta was born on 1 April 1943 in Mendrisio, Ticino. After doing an apprenticeship in Lugano, he attended the “liceo artistico” (artistic high school) in Milan and continued his studies at the University Institute of Architecture in Venice, where he graduated in 1969 under supervisors Carlo Scarpa and Giuseppe Mazzariol. During his time in Venice, he had the opportunity to meet and work with Le Corbusier and Louis I. Kahn.
After returning to Ticino in 1970, he opened his first practice in Lugano, a city where he would stay for the next forty years until moving to Mendrisio in 2011.
Throughout his career, he has always combined his architectural work with teaching and outreach activities through lectures, seminars and courses held at schools of architecture in Europe, Asia, the United States and Latin America.
When the Università della Svizzera Italiana was established in 1996, he was involved in founding the Academy of Architecture in Mendrisio, where he taught until 2018 and was granted the title of Emeritus Professor in 2019.
His work has been honoured with major international awards and numerous exhibitions. Following the construction of single-family houses in Canton Ticino, he went on to design all kinds of buildings including schools, banks, administrative centres, libraries, museums and places of worship.
His works include: the Watari-um art gallery in Tokyo; the MoMA Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco; the Cathedral of the Resurrection in Evry; the Tinguely museum in Basel; the Cymbalista Synagogue and Jewish Heritage Centre in Tel Aviv; the municipal library in Dortmund; the Dürrenmatt centre in Neuchâtel; the MART museum in Trento and Rovereto; the Kyobo tower and the Leeum museum in Seoul; the Tata Consultancy Services administrative buildings in New Delhi and Hyderabad; the church of Papa Giovanni XXIII in Seriate; renovation of La Scala Theatre in Milan and the current extension project; the Church of the Santo Volto in Turin; the Tschuggen Berg Oase wellness centre in Arosa; the Bechtler Museum in Charlotte; the former Campari headquarters and residences in Sesto San Giovanni; urban redevelopment of the former Appiani area in Treviso; the Twelve at Hengshan hotel in Shanghai; the Garnet chapel in the Zillertal, Austria; the library and museum for the Tsinghua University campus in Beijing; the Fiore di Pietra restaurant on Monte Generoso; the Architecture Theatre in Mendrisio; the Fortyseven° wellness centre in Baden; the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Namyang.

Biographical notes

He is currently a partner and CEO of Studio Marco Piva, a reality of architectural design, interior design and product design with about 60 employees in Milan and with offices in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Mumbai, Beijing and Shaghai.
Among the various activities of architect, interior designer and product design he teaches at the Polytechnic of Milan, SPD Polytechnic School of Design, Tongji University_Shanghai, Shenzhen University_Shenzhen Tsinghua University_Shenzhen, Barreira A + D_Valencia JURIES and collaborates with SDA Bocconi and other international universities.
He has been a member of several juries and has been coordinating the Young & Design award since 2015.
He has collaborated with some fashion brands such as Aspesi, Bvlgari, Jil Sander, Larusmiani, Maison Martin Margiela, Marni and MSGM. He was founder and artistic curator of the Spaziootto art gallery in Milan. He is the founder and director of BrUTO magazine.