Iuav, the University of Venezia at Palazzo Badoer on November 23rd and the M9 Museum in Mestre on 24th were the venues for a two-day event focusing on advanced architecture. This gathering brought together leading research institutions and notable architecture firms such as Zaha Hadid Architects, Foster + Partners, and MAD Architects, among others, with participants from 15 different countries. The SHARE X Conference for Advanced Architecture, organized by SHARE Architects in partnership with the Venice Order of Architects, Planners, Landscapers and Conservators, and under the auspices of the Foundation of Architects, Planners, Landscapers and Conservators of the Province of Venice and the Regional Federation of Architects PPC Veneto, was a highlight of this event. The event was supported by main partners Șișecam, Isopan, Everest, and media partners PLATFORM and ingenio.
The topics and protagonists of the debate were many and varied: we give a small summary of them below.
ROUND TABLES:
- Flora Lee, Associate Partner MAD Architects, China, presented the “Architecture within nature. Nature within Architecture” in which the main idea centered on “Architectural design and spatial quality that promote emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being of humans through the connection with nature”.
- Anna-Johanna Klasander, Director of R+D WHITE Arkitekter, Sweden, revealed the “Climate and construction – learnings from a 20 storey timber building”, focusing on how sustainability can be a driver for practice-based research and push the transition of the industry by exemplifying Sara Culture Centre, which is a high profile project on a limited municipal budget.
- Martha Tsigkari, Head of Applied R+D, Foster + Partners, UK, demonstrated how technology has helped us develop ideas into building through “The White Rabbit – How innovation, disruption and uncertainty can create new possibilities for the AEC indusrty” . The presentation captured the most important aspects of architecture research development such as Complex Geometry, Design to Construction, Performance Driven Design, Optimisation, Distributed Computing, AI and Machine Learning, IoT and Digital Twins, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Interactive Application and Interoperability.
- The Head of Computation and Design Research (ZHACODE), Zaha Hadid Architects, UK, Shajay Bhooshan, focused on “High performance geometry for AEC”. The roundtable emphasized several key points: the necessity of a shared geometrical language to enhance collaboration across disciplines in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) sector; the impracticality of using masonry construction with 3D printed concrete ‘stone’ for sustainable and circular construction aims; and the unexpected significance of video game technologies in attracting new professionals and democratizing advancements in digital design and robotic manufacturing
- “From Research to Practice” given by Aleksander Guldager Kongshaug, Associate, Circular Design Specialist 3XN/GXN, Denmark, showcased the projects like Circle House, Biomason, Green Solution House, and QQT Tower. It was an insight of how 3XN/GXN bridge theory to real-life structures. Explored the in-house R&D process based on GXN processes, to see how circular and sustainable strategies become implemented in large scaled projects.
FUTURE NARRATIVES FROM THE PAST
SHARE Architects together with Romanian Pavilion from the Venice Biennale organized the exhibition of “Future Narratives from the Past”. The meeting was held inside the amazing exhibition that showcased research dedicated to forgotten innovation that can generate and rewrite a new conceptual and creative agenda for the pragmatic future. In the inspiring meeting, the guests discussed how past futures can empower architectural research and innovation practice.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: THE MOST ANTICIPATED PROJECTS OF THE FUTURE
The second day of the conference, which took place on November 24th at the M9 Museum Auditorium, featured presentations from distinguished architects representing prestigious firms.
The Conference was officially inaugurated on November 24 by Florin Mindirigiu, Founder of SHARE Architects; Roberto Beraldo, President of the Venice Architect, Planner, Landscaper, and Conservator Order; Angelo Maggi, Advisor for International Relations at Università Iuav di Venezia; Luca Molinari, Chairman of the Conference and Scientific Director of M9 Museum, as well as an Architect, Critic, Curator, and Full Professor at the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”; and Serban Tiganas, President of SHARE Architects Society
- Simone Sfriso, Co-Founder of TAMassociati in Italy, led the discussion on the “Architecture of Coexistence,” reflecting on how recent global occurrences such as the pandemic, wars, and climate crisis have shown the world’s economy to be at its most vulnerable in recent times. He emphasized that those already on the margins or living in precarious conditions are now facing an even greater risk of being completely overlooked. He argued that architecture with a societal focus can help reduce marginalization and exclusion, serving as a catalyst for new ideas. Sfriso highlighted architecture as a potent tool for communication and a means for various groups to assert their rights, progress, opportunities, and inclusion.
- Francesca Cesa Bianchi, Partner at Stefano Boeri Architetti in Italy, introduced us to the Trudo Vertical Forest, an embodiment of Stefano Boeri Architetti’s vision for a new architecture promoting biodiversity. This project marks the first application of the Vertical Forest model to social housing. Primarily targeting low-income demographics such as young professionals and students, the tower in Eindhoven offers affordable yet high-quality living spaces.
- Alfonso Femia, Co-founder Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia, Italy shared the project of the Justice Park in Bari titled”Architecture and Generosity” and says “In times of radical change, we need to be radical. In its development as parts and as a whole, the city must be consistent with its time and synchronized with contemporary transformations. Administrators and architects are asked to make courageous choices toward radical transformation, breaking free from the inertia of rhetorical thinking and individual performance”.
- Maximiliano Arrocet, Director at AL_A in the UK, delivered a presentation titled “A Story in Ceramics,” in which he recounted AL_A’s explorative journey with ceramics, spanning from the Victoria and Albert Museum to the Belgrade Philharmonic. Arrocet discussed how ceramics serve as a versatile medium that captures the essence of the Danube River, blending ecological awareness with cultural depth.
- Kerem Yazgan, Co-Founder Yazgan Design Architecture, Turkey, focused “From the Effect of Shadows to the Knowledge of Shadows” with the integration of nature to the architecture is the main idea in the projects, METU Coworking & Cafeteria and HAB OIZ Office, in which inner gardens are designed instead of walls.
- Oskar Noerlius, Partner WHITE ARKITEKTER, Sweden, presented “Sara Culture Centre – New possibilities for mass timber”. In his talk, Oskar focused on the key findings from the design and realization of the world’s first 20 storey tower in mass timber.
- Marios Tsiliakos, Partner in Applied R+D at Foster+Partners in the UK, presented a case study titled “Lusail Towers – Streamlining Design Collaboration through Technology.” The project demonstrates the effective integration of parametric modeling, performance-driven data, and analytical metrics into the design iterations, all accomplished within a remarkably accelerated time frame.
- Etan Kimmel, Co-Founder Kimmel Eshkolot Architects, Israel, given a lecture about “Technology as an innovative generator of architecture” where was presented the case study of Mount Herz International Memorial Hall and The Checkpoint building for computer science in TAU.
- Aleksander Guldager Kongshaug, Associate, Circular Design Specialist 3XN/GXN, Denmark, focused on “Transformation, The New Baseline” Quay Quarter Tower. The 206-meter, 49 story Quay Quarter Tower (QQT) is a once-in-a-generation project. Built only in 1976, the original AMP Centre was reaching the end of its usable lifespan, but rather than simply tear it down and start over, the project team set out to reach an ambitious goal: to reuse as much of the existing building and set a lofty new standard for what is possible for adaptive reuse in architecture.
- Andrea D’Antrassi, Associate Partner MAD Architects, China, presented the “MAD Architects MAD Works” topic, including Boncompagni, Rome, Fenix Museum in Rotterdam and Milan Statale Installation. In his talk, he focused on the Rome regeneration project of a 20000 sqm new facade in the historical center of Rome.
- Paolo Matteuzzi, Director at Zaha Hadid Architects, UK, presented a lecture titled “ZHA Off Site technologies: an excursus through Parametricism.” highlighting exemplary projects such as The Morpheus Hotel in Macau and The Seamless Footbridge in Hangzhou showcasing innovative approaches for tall and expansive structures. Morpheus Hotel, Macau, China The Morpheus is the world’s first free-form high-rise exoskeleton.
