Architecture Competitions for the Ministry of Cultural and Heritage Italy: projects and goals Elena Pelosi

ICOM 24th General Conference Museums and cultural landscapes 4 July 2016, Milan, Italy

ICOM 24th General Conference Museums and cultural landscapes 4 July 2016, Milan, Italy

PROJECT QUALITÀ ITALIA

“…… the outcome of a consistent design development transposing the functional and aesthetic requirements form the basis for planning and carrying out the work and

ensuring its harmonious integration into the landscape and into the surrounding environment”.

(art. 2 del “DISEGNO DI LEGGE SULLA QUALITA’ ARCHITETTONICA” 2003)

SOME CRITERIA

• value of the architectural and urban proposal

• relationship with the urban and landscape context

• preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage

• compatibility with planning and compliance with regulations instruments

• environmental and energy sustainability

• process unit design

ARCHITECTURAL QUALITY

Ministry of Heritage and Culture (MiBAC) General Direction for the landscape, the fine arts, architecture and contemporary art. Ministry of Economic Development (MISE) DPS Department for Development and Economic Cohesion with the Regions that have signed the Multi-regional program of 4 april 2006, within the Contemporary Senses Program.

• Region Abruzzo

• Region Basilicata

• Region Calabria

• Region Molise

• Region Puglia

• Region Sardegna

• Region Sicilia

THE PROMOTERS

THE RECIPIENTS

All Public Administrations that can act as General Contractor Stations for the realization of

architectural , urban and landscape projects, such as:

• Regions

• Provinces

• Municipalities

•Mountain Communities

Involving Public Administrations

from the programming of Public Works

to the promotion of the Design Competition

PROMOTE THE CULTURE OF THE PROJECT AND QUALITY ARCHITECTURE

THE PURPOSE OF QUALITÀ ITALIA

• promoting architectural quality • promoting design competitions • ensure the realization of the works

propagation of the instrument of the design competition as an opportunity for discussion and a guarantee to achieve quality public works.

experimenting with an innovative formula of the relationship State - Regions in the implementation of support initiatives tp local authorities.

institutional collaboration to guide the action of the Public Administration.

An opportunity to discuss the issue of architectural competition as part of Codice degli appalti (D.Lgs 163/2006)

comparison + training + quality processes

Law on ARCHITECTURE QUALITY

In 1999 in MIBACT the DG DARC for contemporary architecture and art was established. Among the istitutional mission it had to work on the

development and dissemination of architectural quality.

It started in 2003, it was resubmitted and updated in 2013 it is still under approval.

Need for Training paths

Educate and raise awareness among

administrators , technicians and

professionals.

Awareness and ability to manage the

entire process.

Competition not as a slogan but as a Tool

Tool to intervene on the urban, architectural and landscape

territory.

Missed Opportunities

“Ten years of design contests .

In Italy, how many lost opportunities!”:

journalistic investigation indicated in 60% the percentage design competitions that were

rejected in their concrete outcomes.

The sense of competition for designers

Design competitions, accomplished with the experimentation

of Qualità Italia, were an opportunity for designers

not only because they have multiplied the opportunities to access public offices or because

everyone was able to express their creative talent, but above all because they offered

the possibility to transform design ideas into concrete opportunities

for improvement of the territory, the environment and people’s lives.

The sense of competition for Administration

The design competition is an opportunity

for administrations in two ways: as an opportunity of comparison and of

guarantee for the search for quality design solutions; to define

knowledgeably choices beforehand, gaining a lasting benefit,

not only in appearance, of the communities they represent.

The sense of competition for citizens

The competition were an opportunity for citizens,

because they were made part of a shared and transparent process,

on which they were constantly informed, that will lead to the realization of the

works.

In addition the comparison and the competition generated a multiplication of

comparable ideas and offered the added value of creativity: more

culture for their territory.

A commonplace

Culture and economy have met on the quality of terrotiry, commonplace.

2 Ministries and 7 south Regions - Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Molise, Puglia,

Sardegna e Sicilia – have worked together to identify the objectives to be achieved and

actions to be implemented:

a substantial institutional cooperation process, that wants to go besides just

formal agreements in the management of public expenditure.

Qualità Italia Projects for the quality of architecture

Qualità Italia_ Projects for the quality of architecture is part of the activities of Sensi Contemporanei, program promoted in 2004 by the Ministry of Heritage

and Culture, Directorate General for Landscape, Fine Arts, Architecture and

Contemporary Art ( PaBAAC ) and the Ministry of Economic Development,

Department for Development and Economic Cohesion (DPS),

implemented in partnership with the regions of Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Molise,Puglia, Sardinia and Sicily.

Building capability

From this analysis, Qualità Italia has developed a strategy which is not only the promotion of architectural competitions, but a capability building process that

can create concrete operational capabilities.

The architectural competitions and with them the quality of design, should no longer be exceptions for extraordinarily significant interventions but become

common practice. A strategy that must lead beyond the competition, up to the realization.

Overcome difficulties

Pillars of this experimental strategy are innovative ways and tools.

The participating local authorities were constantly supported through:

a technical and scientific support to assist the technical departments of local

authorities during the competitions; a financial contribution of 100,000 Euros for the expenses and many visibility and communication tools.

From complex problem , competitions have become opportunities.

Works in progress

The 13 international design competitions,

carried out for just as many public interventions, move a total value of 37

million euros , in large and small municipalities.

The program demonstrates how architectural competitions can become standard

practice to achieve public interventions of any size.

On the same level

Over 1500 designers for 315 projects have found themselves competing for

reinventing squares and public spaces, places for culture , new

doors for the city. Young studios and established professionals met to discuss

concrete issues, in competitions where all parties are on the same level.

Young designers

“… not ideas, but opportunities are lacking”, especially for those who are starting

their careers. With Qualità Italia Program

young designers had a chance to win a Prize reserved to those who have decided to

invest in an under 40 group leader.

35 projects were admitted in the award

The best won

12 projects won, selected by unbias juries. In addition to economic prizes,

they were granted the official design appointment.

In total 67 projects were awarded or mentioned

as they were still good ideas that showed the local communities new points of

view on everyday landscapes.

01. SELECTION OF THE ADMINISTRATION

Selection of the Administrations to be awarded the funding and the technical and scientific support to promote a design competition for a meaningful public work

already programmed and financed, with the aim to support the rapid implementation.

02. ARCHITECTURE COMPETITIONS

Each selected administration organizes a design competition to realize the planned

intervention.

The stages of work under The Program QUALITÀ ITALIA

01. Selection of the Administration

Publication of the Notice in the Official Gazette of the Italian Republic

•Administrations present significant action proposals from the architectural, urban and landscape

quality point of view, already planned and funded, to be achieved through a

design competitions. They can be interventions for the construction of new buildings, renovation of existing buildings or placing of open spaces.

•Commissions (ONE BY REGION) evaluate the applications received according to:

• Strategy and objectives

• The economic/financial feasibility

• Compatibility with urban instruments

• The value in terms of cooperation

•Selection of one Administration per Region and allocation of funding of 100.000 euro and scientific technical support for the realization of the architectural

competition.

02. Architectural Competition

•The selected Administrations stipulate with MIBACT an agreement that regulates the reciprocal commitments including: provision of assistance, technical and scientific support, timing and deadlines, guidelines and type of competition.

•Administrations organize and announce design competitions with the contribution of 100,000 euros (to cover the costs of organization and management) and

technical support by the technical- scientific unit which supports

the Administration in the preparation of notices and the organization of the competition.

The 13 competitions

QUALITÀ ITALIA Abruzzo

•Magliano de’ Marsi (AQ) - Recovery of the historic village of Rosciolo - Organized by Municipality of Magliano de’ Marsi (AQ) •Montesilvano (PE) -Restoration and recovery of Villa Delfico-Organized by Municipality of Montesilvano (PE)

Basilicata •Rionero in Vulture (PZ) - Reconnection of two historic squares -Organized by Municipality of Rionero in Vulture (PZ) •Matera - Access to the ancient Rione Sassi - Competition organized by Municipality of Matera

Calabria •Olivadi (CZ) -Realization of a Cultural Centre- Competition organized by Municipality of Olivadi (CZ) •San Giorgio Morgeto (RC) - Urban Integration - Organized by Municipality of San Giorgio Morgeto (RC)

Molise •Campobasso - Expansion of the biblio - media library “P. Albino” – Organized by Province of Campobasso

Puglia •Mola di Bari (BA) - Center for Digital Cinema - Competition organized by Municipality of Mola di Bari (BA) •Bisceglie (BA) – A new School - Competition organized by Municipality of Bisceglie (BA)

Sardegna •Quartu Sant’Elena- Campus for education-Competition organized by Province of Cagliari •Oristano - Terminal intermodal exchange and service center- Competition organized by Province of Oristano

Sicilia •Siracusa - New water-front Porto piccolo - Competition organized by Municipality of Siracusa •Pantelleria (TP) - Redevelopment of the waterfront - Organized by Municipality of Pantelleria (TP)

The numbers of the program

QUALITÀ ITALIA

7 Regions involved

12 selected interventions

39 million euro invested in public works

62 designers winners and mentioned

73 Participating Local Administrations

315 designers in competition

Library in Campobasso (Molise)

The winning project by Anastasio Di Virgilio provides many ecological solutions and a new entrance on the square.

Cultural Centre in Olivadi (Calabria)

The winning design by Pier Alberto Ferrè, enhances the arc already present and it opens a new volume that overlooks the valley.

Nursery School in Bisceglie (Puglia)

The project by Luca Peralta redraws the area behind the affordable popular housing district and will arise next to a new school and other services

Educational Campus in Quartu S. Elena (Sardinia)

The project by Paolo Mestriner for the new art school will transform the area of schools , currently divided by a big road , in a single Campus.

Cultural Centre in Montesilvano (Abruzzo)

The project by Vincenzo Vandelli , recovers Villa Delfico’s neoclassical characters and turns it into a center for exhibitions and cultural activities.

Intermodale centre in Oristano (Sardinia)

The S.C.E. Project S.r.l. project creates a new hub starting from a large technologic platform roof that reminds us of traditional Sardinian tapestry

Urban Garden in Matera (Basilicata)

The project by Associates Architects is a garden that is inspired by the closed spaces of the ancient Rione Sassi and it covers a new underground infrastructure.

Seafront in Pantelleria (Sicily)

The project by Giorgio Furter restores the centrality of the Castello by using a thick curtain of trees that creates a new landscape for those arriving by sea

Porto piccolo in Siracusa (Sicily)

The project by Beta Servizi Ingegneria S.r.l., group leader Francesco Taormina, provides a new dock and new bridges for the seaside walk way

System of squares in Rionero in Vulture (Basilicata)

The project by Efisio Pitzalis has water features that allude to the ancient Rio Nero , retrieves the public green space and creates a new theater.

Diffuse hotel in Borgo di Rosciolo (Abruzzo)

The project by Paul Lamber involved in the philological recovery of buildings creates new pathways for the enhancement of the historic town

Urban redevelopment in S. Giorgio Morgeto (Calabria)

The project by Riccardo Bianchini creates new pedestrian routes and new markets; the green cover on the current structure visually sews together the city landscape

…competitions are not organized... why?

The difficulties of public administration have arisen:

Organization costs, complex procedures imposed by the rigid normative system of the Code of contracts and tenders,

the repeated failures and the weak spreading of specific expertises at a local level,

Rare official appointments to winners. And mostly, the lack of secure and planned funding.

These are all elements that cause a lack of realization of

architectural works.

Grazie

ICOM 24th General Conference Museums and cultural landscapes 4 July 2016, Milan, Italy