Architecture Competition Pavilion Of Humanity: First Contact Honorable mention – Marco Rosati and Lorenzo Rinaldi

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our Honorable mention winners for our “Pavilion Of Humanity: First Contact” competition –Marco Rosati and Lorenzo Rinaldi Ngiam from Italy!

Marco Rosati and Lorenzo Rinaldi Ngiam from Italy

Marco Rosati: From the beginning of my university career, I have been particularly interested in themes regarding architectural designs related to urban regeneration and enhancement of historical contexts, paying special attention to problems of environmental sustainability. I graduated in Construction Engineering and Architecture from Università di Roma Tor Vergata. During my university career, I participated in many workshops, events, and international contests. Many of my projects have been included in exhibitions and publications. This year I was appointed subject expert of architectural and urban composition at Università di Roma Tor Vergata. Moreover, I am dedicating myself to teaching and I am working as an architect.

Lorenzo Rinaldi: From the beginning of my university career, studying philosophy at the University of Rome, I have been particularly interested in the relationship between the human being and the Polis. This got me closer to the world of architecture for which I have always felt a passion, ever since childhood. At the moment, I deal with graphics and multimedia design.

Brief information about the projects that you/your company have been involved with. For instance, what scale have you focused on/preferred, any significant projects where the company/ individuals have been involved?

Marco Rosati: While I was attending university, various projects on which I worked contributed to raising planning consciousness in residential areas and their re-use. Many of these projects also focused on the enhancement of what already exists in ancient cities; the new and the old are considered as an inseparable whole, without any distinction between architecture, the aspects of its construction, and the city, with different dimensional scales of representation. The projects which were produced during international workshops covered in particular the area of the flower market in Via Trionfale in Rome; the one on the hill of Velia near the Roman Forum; the area along the Arno in Florence; the archaeological site of the Siloam swimming pool in Jerusalem; and the recovery of the ancient city of Akko.

Currently we are participating as a team in several national and international competitions.

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect in your society?

A multidisciplinary analysis: a design of an architectural and urban intervention, conceived by the architect, engineer, and designer, starting from real needs, allows the re-use of the city and the regeneration of public space as a generative location which improves the lives of citizens and the quality of urban contexts. All of this is possible only through creativity and appropriate techniques. Architecture gives shape to a new city, more aware of its historical and natural beauties, of the potential of its urban space; and finally, it becomes more supportive and inclusive between the various social strata. In addition, this new city is more sustainable, more respectful of nature, and it creates a direct relationship between the built and natural environment in a creative way.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We are particularly attentive and sensitive to issues of architectural design, urban regeneration, and social innovation. In participating in architecture competitions, we see an important opportunity for growth and greater acquisition of professional skills through an experiential process that stimulates creativity and innovation in a competitive environment.

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture competitions?

Competitions offer an opportunity to operate in teams, to satisfy one's creative impulses, to test one's skills, and overcome any boundaries. Moreover, participating in competitions allows, through the vision of other projects in the competition, to discover different ways of understanding architecture, and with it, we can understand the relationship that architecture establishes with human beings and the difference in dealing with many different cultures.