Sustainable Architecture

Alberto Bruno

Born in Italy in 1981, he graduated with honours in Architecture from Turin Polytechnic in 2006. The design project he presented as his thesis was awarded the Corus UGAA 2006 prize.

During his studies he particularly focused his attention on the technological and energetic aspects of “containers” based on sustainability principles, specialising in Environmental Design.

He took part in a number of national and international competitions and a few of his projects have been on show at the RIBA in London.

In 2007 he was engaged in research activity on building "containers” at the Energy Department of the Turin Polytechnic. This work is part of the IEA ECSBS international research project Annex 44_Integrating Environmentally Responsive elements in buildings, financed by the EU. During the same period he lectured in the Physics of Buildings and Software for Sustainable Designing at the Faculty of Architecture of the Turin Polytechnic.

In January 2008 he became a part of the R&D team for Mario Cucinella Architects of Bologna as environmental consultant.

He is currently collaborating on a number of projects within the studio, where he develops environmental strategies and applies sustainable environment principles; he also takes an active part in the development of the research project Casa 100K. Since April 2009 he has become head of the R&D team.

Andreas Kipar

Born in Gelsenkirchen (Germany) in 1960, he graduated in Essen in 1984 in Landscape Architecture. In 1994 he graduated in architecture at the Milan Polytechnic. Since 2009 he has been teaching Public Space design at the Milan Polytechnic. Since 1985 he has been working freelance, both in Italy and Germany, through the KLA-kiparlandschaftsarchitekten with offices in Milan and Duisburg. He has been involved in the planning of the green areas of Milan, Cagliari, Reggio Emilia, Ravenna, Vercelli and the city of Essen in Germany. Among the parks he has built a mention must be given to the projects produced from 1985 to 2000 for the creation of the Parco Nord in collaboration with the arch. Borella, of the Parco Rubattino, the Public Park created in the industrial area of the ex OM factory, of the Parco del Portello in collaboration with Charles Jencks. Among the other works it is worthwhile mentioning also the Parco Krupp in Essen, the Parco della Spina 3 in Turin and the Parco delle Sabine in Rome (still in the construction stage).

Antonio Navarra

Antonio Navarra graduated in Physics at Bologna University in 1980 and was awarded his Research Doctorate (PH.D) from the University of Princeton in 1986. He is a research executive of the National Geophysics and Vulcanology Institute and President of the Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change. He is particularly involved in the investigation of the dynamic mechanisms that regulate climate on a global level as a way of understanding climate variability through statistical methods, numerical simulations and simplified models.

Benedetto Camerana

Architect, landscape artist, PhD in History of Architecture and Urban Planning, having completed his studies he continued with theoretical research working on the integration between architecture and landscape, in the direction of "green architecture" clearly based on environmental principles. He has publically discussed these issues on the Giornale dell'Architecture, The Stampa daily newspaper, the magazines Arca, Ottagono and Il Giornale dell’Arte and as Manager of the "Eden" magazine. “Architecture in the landscape” from 1993 to 1997 and “Landscape Architecture” from 2001 to 2005, and in many papers produced for workshops, conferences, and ultimately as chairman of the XXIII UIA World Congress of Architecture 2008. In 1996 he became a member of the Board of Directors of Palazzo Grassi in Venice and since 1999 he has been a member of the Scientific Committee of IED – Istituto Europeo di Design.

Brian Ford

Brian Ford is an architect and environmental design consultant who has specialised in the design of naturally ventilated and passively cooled buildings around the world, including the SFC Brewery Process Building Malta and the Queens Building, De Montfort University, Leicester; in partnership with Alan Short. He has also advised on the design of the Sydney Olympic Stadium, Australia; Pittsburgh Convention Center, USA; Torrent Research Laboratories, India; and the Malta Stock Exchange. Since 1996, Brian has initiated over 4.0 million Euro of funded research, the latest of which involves 8 partners from around Europe, India and China working on the application of passive downdraught cooling. He is currently Head of the Architecture and Urban Design Research Division, in the Department of Built Environment, University of Nottingham.

Chiara Aghemo

Coordinator of the Scientific Research Program of Considerable National Interest co-financed by the Ministry of Education, University and Research, in 2003, entitled “Natural and artificial lighting systems and their integration for the purposes of achieving visual comfort and energy conservation” which involves seven Italian Universities.

Coordinator of the Scientific Research Program of Considerable National Interest co-financed by the Ministry of Education, University and Research, in 2005, entitled “Natural and artificial lighting systems and their integration for the purposes of achieving visual comfort and energy conservation” which involves seven Italian Universities.

From 1999 to 2001 she was the Scientific Director of the Environmental Systems Analysis and Modelling Lab (LAMSA) of the Interdepartmental Centre of Educational Services of the Architectural Department of Turin University.

Author of approximately 160 publications of a scientific and educational nature and scientific director for Research Contracts with Public and private institutions particularly focused on the tools and methods to be used in natural and artificial lighting design, urban and monument lighting, limiting of light pollution, built up environment quality and technological innovation of lighting systems for interior and exterior environments.

Daniela Melandri

An engineer and Research Doctorate in Energy Management in the Service Industry. Founder member and director of the EnerGia-Da Company (www.energiada.it). European evaluator for the Intelligent Energy Europe program. Collaborates with the Tor Vergata University and is co-coordinator of the European USE Efficiency Project. She writes for the magazine BravaCasa. For RAI Edu and the Ministry of the Environment she writes and hosts the formats La Mia Bio Casa and S.O.S.tenibilità, winner of the Aretè prize as the best social communication TV program.

David Hirsch

Born in Italy in 1969, he graduates in Architecture at the Polytechnic of Turin in 1994 after some study experiences at the Bartlett School in London and at the ETSA in Las Palmas de Gran Canarias. In 1995 he registers to the Ordine degli Architetti in Turin.

After some work experiences in Italy and abroad, in 1999 he gets a Master of Arts in Environment and Energy Studies at the Architectural Association in London, developing an interest in environmental design. In 2000 he wins a scholarship for a Doctorate in Technology and Environment at the Polytechnic of Milan.

He joined MCA Mario Cucinella Architects in 1999, at first in Paris office and soon in Italy, where he develops a wide professional experience.

For MCA he covered different level of responsibility, on a wide range of projects and competitions at different scales and dimensions, co-ordinating internal and external teams and directly interfacing with clients, public institutions or private companies. In several occasions he has presented MCA’s work in conferences and seminars in Italy and abroad.

Over the last years, he has been responsible for a number of projects including the design phase of CSET in Ningbo, China and the architectural supervision during the construction site of the SIEEB (Sino Italy Energy and Efficient Building), in the Tsinghua University campus in Beijing, China.

After a two years experience as project leader at David Chipperfield Architects office in Italy, he has now joined again MCA as responsible for the new office in Milan where he shares overall design responsibility for most of the projects.

Diego Torriani

An engineer, since 2005, alongside his professional activities, he has also engaged in ongoing collaborations in a number of academic teaching roles and in international seminars, at the Degree Course in Construction Engineering/Architecture of the University of Pavia and the Faculty of Architecture of the Milan Polytechnic. In 2009 he was awarded his Ph.D. with a thesis on "Potential Landscapes, thoughts on the sustainability of landscape" a theme he subsequently investigated further in a number of publications. Since 2007 he has studied alternative construction methods suitable for sustainable architectural design in developing countries. In 2009 he set up the ARCò group with which he created a school built out of used tyres in the Occupied Territories of Palestine for the Vento di Terra Onlus (a non profit organisation), a project that is was met with great appreciation by the media and sector magazines such as Costruire and Abitare.

Edoardo Zanchini

Head of the Energy, Transportation and Urban Planning Departments of Legambiente. A member of the National Secretariat since 2003 and of the National Board of Governors since 1999.

An architect, researcher and lecturer in Urban Planning at the University of Pescara. He was awarded his Research Doctorate, specialised in Urban Planning and graduated in Architecture from the Architecture Department of the "La Sapienza” University in Rome.

He is a member of the Board of Governors of Cresme (Centre for economic, social and market research on building and the environment), of the scientific committee of Assolterm (Italian Solar and Thermal Association). From 2004 to 2008 he was a member of the Board of Governors of ISES Italy, a department of the International Solar Energy Society.

His writings on energy policy, transportation and urban planning matters have appeared in a number of different publications.

Emiliano Cecchini

A Physics graduate in 1998 from the La Sapienza University in Rome, he was awarded a scholarships by the National Nuclear Physics Institute, CERN and Enea as well as obtaining a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Siena in 2008. Founder and President of the Fabbrica del Sole he is currently President of its Scientific Committee.

He has designed and coordinated the execution of dynamic bio-cell composting plants for the City of Arezzo as well as the Arezzo Hydrogen Project. From 2004 to 2006 he worked in the program for the Environmental Ministry for the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol in Shanghai, China.

He was a member of the Board of Directors of REA Spa, Regional Energy Agency of the Region of Tuscany, and is currently a Board member of the Arezzo Innovation Consortium and of Exergy.

Fabio Renzi

Among the inventors and promoters of Symbola – Foundation for Italian Qualities, he has been its General Secretary since April 2005. The driving force and coordinator behind many initiatives such as the Italian Quality Fair, the Symbola Summer Seminars, research and studies on issues of local development and territorial networks.

He has been the national delegate for "Protected areas and Territory" for Legambiente (an Italian Environmental Association) from 1989 to 2003 and a member of the National Secretariat from 1995 to 2007.

He was among the promoters of the Federparchi – Italian Federation of Parks and Nature Reserves of which he was a member of the Board of Directors from 1997 to 2006.

From 1992 to 1994 he was one of the experts collaborating with the Technical Department for Protected Areas of the Ministry of the Environment holding the post of works coordinator for the “programming” team responsible in particular for the three year natural protected areas program.

From 1993 to 1998 he was a member of the Board of the Monti Sibillini National Park Institution.

He has promoted initiatives and designs at national, European and particularly in a Mediterranean context and has taken part in conventions, seminars, debates and courses at international level.

He is an author of essays and articles on nature conservation, territorial conservation, local and Italian quality development.

Gianni Terenzi

Architecture and part-time professor of Set Design Techniques in the Architecture Department of the University La Sapienza in Rome, a collaborator of The Scenographer magazine, a member of the committee of experts for European design competitions.

A designer for RAI television productions. In 2005 he founded the EnerGia-Da company (www.energiada.it) where he holds the post of head of design and communication. For RAI he has written and hosted the tv format S.O.S.tenibilità, winner of the Aretè prize awarded by Confindustria (the Italian Industrialist Federation) as the best social communication program on Italian TV and La Mia Bio Casa, both produced by RAI Edu and the Ministry of the Environment. He writes on environmental architecture for the magazine BravaCasa.

Giulia Pentella

Honours graduate in 2007 at the “Valle Giulia” Architecture Faculty in Rome with a thesis which also won her second prize in the sustainable architecture “Raffaella Alibrandi 2009" competition.

Already during the course of her university career she became interested in sustainable design, with particular focus on the technological aspects which might contribute to energy saving, care for the environment and the user, based on a holistic approach to sustainability.

Currently involved in two research projects, soon to published, on the accessibility of retail structures for people with disabilities and modes of sustainable cohabitation for the elderly.

Since October 2009 she has been working as sustainability consultant within the “R&D_Research and Development” team at the MCA Mario Cucinella Architects Studio in Bologna.

Leonardo Cascitelli

Since 1987 he has been involved in teaching activities for the Milan Polytechnic on issues concerning habitation and the design of cities. Since 1990 he has been involved in urban planning for the Milan Council on a number of environmental, urban and social reclaiming and requalification projects. He was the curator of the “La casa delle esperienze” (The House of Experiences) project, which promoted the creation of an interactive centre for children in Milan and of the Children's Archaeological Museum in Rome. Since 2000 he has been head of the negotiated planning service for the implementation of integrated programs. Since 2006 he has worked in urban and real estate development for EuroMilano s.p.a. Since 2008 he has managed the Technical, Development and Territorial Marketing Department of Aler Milano. Since 2004 in collaboration with the Temporalia Labs he handles research and projects based around temporary living situations.

Mario Abis

Founder and managing director of Makno since 1978, a research and strategic consultancy company, for many years now he has dealt with the social and cultural phenomena connected to issues concerning change.

Temporary lecturer at the Iulm University in Milan – Science of Communication for the course on psycho-social research into the consumer and public opinion. He is on the Board of Directors of the Triennale Museum of Milan; a member of the Scientific Committee of the I-CSR Foundation – the Foundation for the Dissemination of Social Responsibility among Companies (Ministry of Labour and Social Policies)

Salvatore Calì Quaglia

He has been a freelance professional since 1981; he worked in the plant engineering sector, acquiring specific experience in the designing of Environmental Thermofluid Climatisation plants and plants for the production and distribution of thermoelectric power.

Head of the Research Contracts projects set up with the European Union (DG TREN) and Consultant on the rational use of energy (R.U.E. - Rational Use of Energy) and on the application of renewable sources (R.E.S. – Renewable Energy Sources) – From 1992 to 2005.

From 1986 to 2008 – Partner - General Director of the Metec & Saggese Engineering Srl, a plant engineering company - He is currently the Business Developer for Energy Services of Golder Associates Srl.

Italian Representative in the IEA (International Energy Agency) SOLAR HEATING and COOLING Program – Task 14 – From 1991 to 1994.

A member of the European Housing Ecology Network – with headquaters in Copenhagen.

A member of the European Green Cities Network.

A partner of ASHRAE and Aicarr.

He has been a temporary lecturer in 1998 at the faculty of Architecture in Turin.