Globalizing Good Design  

Lorenzo Ciccarelli

Lorenzo Ciccarelli is a Research Fellow in History of Contemporary Architecture at the University of Florence. He was Visiting Research Fellow at the Architecture Theory Criticism and History Research Centre of the University of Queensland (2019) and Senior Visiting Lecturer and Researcher at University College London (2021). His studies are devoted to the Italian modern and contemporary architecture in a global perspective, with special attention to cultural migrations and labour organization strategies. His research has been discussed in international conferences and recently published in the edited books Post-war Architecture Between Italy and the UK. Exchanges and Transcultural Influences (University College London Press, 2021) and Largest Architectural Firms. Design Authorship and Organization Management (Edifir, 2021). He is currently working on a book about Vittorio Gregotti, seen as a leading figure in the process of internationalization of Italian post-war and contemporary architectural discourse, between history, politics, design culture and professional organizations. He is also a Member of the Scientific Committee for Renzo Piano Foundation.

How are some of Europe's most celebrated and important design firms directed and organized? What are the differences between the public image these studios offer and how they actually operate? What are the intersections between the artistic distinction of the founder and the large number of architects and professionals employed?

The conference employs architectural history, economic history, and business analysis methodologies to reflect on these questions, analyzing in particular the case studies of Foster + Partners (UK) and the Renzo Piano Building Workshop (Italy and France).

   Host & Discussant  

HUA Xiahong

Professor, CAUP, Tongji University

Director for the Double-degree Program between UNIFI-Tongji

Visiting Professor, Università IUAV di Venezia

Visiting Fellow, Yale School of Architecture

   Between Design and History   

Lorenzo Ciccarelli

Vittorio Gregotti was one of the most important architects in the Italian and European design culture of the second half of the 20th century. The conference aims to discuss his figure, analyzing in particular the relationship between design activity and historical research that characterized his path. Gregotti attempted to be, at the same time, an architect in the field (author of imporantant and vast projects) and an intellectual architect, participating in the social and cultural debate of his time. Is this a model of an architect that is still relevant today?

   Host & Discussant  

HUA Xiahong

Professor, CAUP, Tongji University

Director for the Double-degree Program between UNIFI-Tongji

Visiting Professor, Università IUAV di Venezia

Visiting Fellow, Yale School of Architecture

ZHENG Shiling

Academician, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Professor, CAUP, Tongji University

WANG Zhijun

Associate Professor, CAUP, Tongji University

Director, Double-degree Program between TU Berlin-Tongji