March 14, 2023 | 6pm
As part of the 7th edition of Italian Design Day in the United States, the Italian Cultural Institute in Washington DC hosts an exhibit curated by Professor Lavinia Fici Pasquina, associate professor at the School of Architecture at Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington D.C., highlighting the work students completed during their Study Abroad Program in Rome, Italy.
To complement the exhibit, the Italian Cultural Institute has invited Architect Stefano Boeri, Italian architect and urban planner to illustrate the challenges of sustainable architecture and how to blend technology and traditions within urban settings. He will share his contribution via video.
Furthermore, Ms. Vanessa Bertelli, decarbonization expert, will join us to illustrate her work balancing technology and tradition at a time when we are challenged by having a net-zero, if not a positive, impact on the climate. She will present her personal experience renovating her residence and meeting the challenging standards of the DC-NetZero Energy Program while preserving the beauty and character of her 100-year-old house.
During the evening, a short video produced by Associazione del Design Industriale (ADI – Industrial Design Association) in collaboration with Studio Azzurro will also be screened. The video revolves around the four foundational elements of nature: Fire, Water, Earth, and Air, and their interaction, for life to exist and support long term sustainability as well as the creation of beauty. It exemplifies Italian creativity as a tool to integrate production processes from beginning to end, from the identification of raw materials to the completion of processed goods.
LOCATION
Embassy of Italy
3000 Whitehaven Street NW
Washington DC 20008
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Registration and Photo ID Required.
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COVID POLICY: The use of face masks is strongly recommended while at the Embassy for public events. If social distancing cannot be ensured, face masks are required.
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ABOUT ITALIAN DESIGN DAY
The Giornata del Design Italiano nel Mondo – Italian Design Day is a day of celebration of Italian creativity and ingenuity applied to the field of design. Held annually since 2017, it is a project aimed at promoting Italian design as one of the distinctive sectors of Made in Italy on the international level and it is supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation as part of a broader promotional strategy: “Vivere all’Italiana” (Living the Italian Way).
This year’s theme, “The quality that lights up – the energy of design for the people and the environment“, focuses on sustainable design and architecture as a tool to improve quality of life.
Like in the past, this year our work to promote Italian Design Day is part of a wider selection of initiatives proposed by the network of Italian diplomatic representatives and Cultural Institutes in the United States, as well as a constant effort to promote Italian design and architecture as a mark of excellence.
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
The exhibit is titled “aROMAtech – Architectural visions of USA students in Italy” – a title meant to be evocative of technology and tradition at the same time.
The modern technological flavor that emerges from the students’ architectural works is intertwined with the suggestive and subtly pervasive atmosphere one experiences in Rome.
The projects represent a mix of undergraduate and graduate student work, completed during their stays which varied from a 2-week visit to an entire semester experience abroad.
During their Study Abroad program, students were challenged to incorporate the historical lessons of the past and Italian cultural diversity into a contemporary architectural intervention. Concepts such as sustainability, equity, and common building materials and techniques were introduced to students, so that they could take them into account and integrate them into their own designs.
The displayed projects illustrate an array of creative architectural designs, ranging from Sustainable Inhabitable Bridges; Equitable Halfway Homes; Immigration-Integrating Facilities; Wellness Centers; and Small-scale Pavilions.
PROFESSOR LAVINIA FICI PASQUINA
Professor Fici Pasquina, who is also a licensed architect in Italy, has greatly enjoyed exposing CUA students to the rich Italian history and culture; she has especially enjoyed sharing her knowledge of Italian architecture with them. In her own words: “I have witnessed the transformational effects that studying abroad can have on the personal, professional, and spiritual growth of students. In particular, Italy, with its rich and evolving culture and history, always leaves an indelible impression on our students.”
ARCHITECT STEFANO BOERI
Architect Stefano Boeri is an Italian architect and urban planner. He is most known for his project “Vertical Forest”, located in Milan and inaugurated in 2014, which proposed an innovative approach to create green spaces within an urban setting. Architect Boeri is a professor of urban planning at the Polytechnic University of Milan and is founding partner of Stefano Boeri Architetti.
For more information please follow this link: stefanoboeriarchitetti.net
VANESSA BERTELLI
Ms. Vanessa Bertelli is a decarbonization expert and practitioner currently advising multiple coalitions and groups working to electrify buildings at speed. Over her career of 25 years, she has worked across the public and private sectors, in international organizations, large corporations and small nonprofits, in a variety of roles. Vanessa has a law degree from Université de Lausanne, a masters of laws from University College London, and a master in business administration from INSEAD. She is quoted in publications such as The Washington Post and The Atlantic.