POST WAR RE-CONSTRUCTION: TOOLS FOR AFTER
ConférenceVernissage: 16/04/2025 à 18:45
16/04/2025 de 16:45 à 19:00
The Embassy of Italy in Beirut, the Italian Cultural Institute of Beirut, in partnership with the School of Architecture & Design at the Lebanese American University, are organizing a symposium and accompanying exhibition on the overarching theme Post-War Reconstruction: Tools for After, to be held on April 16, 2025, at the Gezairi Building, LAU Beirut campus.
The recent post-war destruction in Lebanon has compelled a renewed critical examination of the spatial and material constituents of our built environment—particularly within the most severely affected areas. These urban and architectural layers not only narrate the historical trajectories of place, but are also deeply embedded in the socio-economic and cultural fabric of the territory. Within this framework, the ruins themselves become a lens through which to articulate contemporary visions for recovery, grounded in sustainable and context-responsive methodologies.
This symposium seeks to investigate alternative ecological, natural, and biotechnological materials as part of a broader cultural shift toward sustainable construction and rehabilitation practices. The objective is to explore the potential reactivation of existing public structures through the integration of new functions and innovative materials, thereby contributing to the formation of a cohesive urban strategy rooted in a contemporary and sustainable design ethos.
By interrogating the historical, social, and architectural value of these urban fragments, the initiative aims to foreground the complex layers of post-war reconstruction. It proposes new tools and thematic frameworks to stimulate the regeneration of public spaces and catalyze a critical dialogue on the future of urban resilience.
PROGRAM
APRIL 16, 2025 @ GB 404
3:30 - 3:40
Welcome and Introduction Note,
Dr. Maroun El-Daccache
3:40 – 4:00
Opening Speech
President, Lebanese American University, Dr. Chawki Abdallah
Italian Ambassador, Dr. Fabrizio Marcelli
Director of Italian Cultural, Dr. Angelo Gioe
Dean, School of Architecture & Design, Dr. Elie Haddad
SESSION I (4:00-5:00)
SUSTAINABLE CITY
4:00 - 4:20
Valentina Sumini
Living beyond Earth: designing for life in the unknown
4:20-4:40 Massimo Iosa Ghini
The People Mover in Bologna: A Sustainable Infrastructure between Technology, Architecture, and Landscape
4:40-5:00
Selenia Marinelli
From Hands to Habitat: Bio-fabrication to support a multispecies co-existence and community-driven sustainability
SESSION II (5:00-6:00)
SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE
5:00-5:20
Barbara Narici, Maddalena Ferraresi
"Raw Earth in Contemporary Architecture: Sustainability and Innovation"
5:20-5:40
Margherita Bertoli, Matteo Mannini
ARUNDO: A new way of understanding structure, nature, functionality, participation, space, and sociality.
5:40-6:00
Mauricio Cardenas Laverde
BooTech, an Architectural Tool for After
6:00-6:10
Elie Haddad (Dean of the School)
Conclusion Note
6:10 - Discussion
6:45 - Opening Exhibition and Cocktail @ GB 1003
SHORT BIOGHRAPHY:
MASSIMO IOSA GHIN
Considered one of the most prominent Italian architects and designers on the international design scene, MASSIMO IOSA GHINI (Bologna, 1959) participated in the Eighties in the innovative activities of the design avantgarde, founding the cultural movement of Bolidismo and participating in the Memphis group of Ettore Sottsass.
In 1990 he opened Iosa Ghini Associates, which now operates in Milan, Bologna, and Miami, developing projects for large groups and international developers and designing residential, commercial and museum, architectural spaces, cultural installations, areas and facilities dedicated to public transport, and retail projects for international groups.
His major works of interior design and architecture include the worldwide development of the Ferrari Store and Kiko Store chains, the headquarters of Capital Group in Moscow, Casa Museo Giorgio Morandi in Bologna, the Kröpcke Metro Station in Hanover, the recent electric monorail Marconi Express in Bologna, IBM Rome Software Lab in Rome and the Brickell Flatiron residential building in Miami, and various projects under construction.
He has taught at the University La Sapienza of Rome; since 2008 he has been Adjunct Professor at the Polytechnic of Hong Kong and at the Department of Architecture, University of Ferrara.
Many of the products designed by him are in various museum collections and have received awards and commendations, among which International Architectural Award by Chicago Athenaeum, Good Design Award, Roscoe Award, IAI Green Design Award, iF Product Design Award and Red Dot Award.
In 2013 Triennale di Milano dedicated a solo - exhibition to his work “From the beginnings to the sustainable present”.
In 2015, the retail concept Kiko Milano, won the Best Retail Global Expansion award at MAPIC 2014.
Massimo Iosa Ghini, appointed Ambassador of Italian Design and Red Dot Network, Active Member of Leonardo Committee and Effective Member of the Accademia Clementina, received the Marconi Award for Creativity in 2015.
https://www.iosaghini.it/architectures/
VALENTINA SUMINI
Space architect, her research activities have focused on the development of designs and structures to enable life in extreme environments both on Earth and in orbit, on the Moon, and Mars. With dual degrees in Architecture and Engineering, a Ph.D. in Preservation of Architectural Heritage, she is a Research Affiliate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab within the MIT Space Exploration Initiative, and a Visiting Professor at the Politecnico di Milano, where she holds the first course in Italy on “Architecture for Human Space Exploration”. The course is part of an innovative didactic Pilot project at Politecnico di Milano in collaboration with MIT, featuring the Webinar Series 'Design Exploration: towards a Moon Architecture,' in which Valentina is also a lecturer.
Valentina has presented her research activities as an Invited Keynote Speaker at various international events and conferences in both architectural and aerospace fields and has published several scientific articles on the subject. She has showcased her projects in international exhibitions and venues, including the Venice Biennale 2022, MIT Museum, Harvard, Yale, Museum of Science in Boston, MAXXI, Museo del 900, Biennale Architettura 2021, International Association of Shells and Spatial Structures, International Astronautical Congress, MIT Media Lab Beyond the Cradle, Ars Electronica, TEDx Talks and others. Her work has been featured in MIT News, Harvard Design Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, WIRED, National Geographic, Structure Magazine and others, and presented at international conferences and institutional events organized by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Italian Embassies worldwide. Valentina is one of the founding members of the SpaceCHI - Conference on Human-Computer Interaction for Space Exploration, together with colleagues from the MIT Media Lab.
https://www.media.mit.edu/people/vsumini/overview/
SELENIA MARINELLI
Bio-Architect Ph.D, Independent researcher and Material Activist. By adhering to a posthumanist and material feminist approach, the objective of her research is to redefine architecture as a place of co-existence between human and non-human inhabitants. For this reason, Selenia conducts as independent researcher a hands-on experimentation with the DIY creation of biomaterials, to promote material activism through a transdisciplinary material design approach. Together with more functional applications, her work with biomaterials also aims at stimulating artistic and speculative scenarios and it was showcased in different exhibitions.
From 2021 she works for FVA - New Media Research as Project Manager in EU funded projects focused on the sustainable circular bioeconomy and sea protection.
https://www.seleniamarinelli.com/bio/
BARBARA NARICI
Barbara Narici, an architect with over 25 years of experience in raw earth construction, has realized numerous public and private buildings using various techniques such as rammed earth, earth and straw, and adobe. Her experimentation includes earth floor, plasters, finishes, sculptures, masonry coatings, and models. She founded the documentation center for earth houses in Abruzzo and co-authored a manual on raw earth construction with Professor Scudo from Politecnico di Milano.
In recent years, Narici has worked on projects in France, Greece, and Belgium, collaborating with the Venice Biennale to highlight the use and recyclability of raw earth in temporary installations. Alongside Andrea Facchi, she has developed public awareness projects on raw earth with universities and participated in international conferences.
Currently, she is working on the multimedia project "Womud", exploring the role of women in raw earth construction—a social, economic, and cultural project. She has lived and worked in Belgium, France and Germany, collaborating with local studios on sustainability, self-construction, and innovation of ancient techniques to create large-scale construction sites with more resistant and efficient technologies over time, reducing costs and execution times.
https://iicmelbourne.esteri.it/en/gli_eventi/calendario/visioni-italian-ecoway-of-lyfe_2-2/
MADDALENA FERRARESI
Architect Maddalena Ferraresi has been directing the Archesis Studio in Milan since 1994 where she develops an original methodology for involving people in the design phase and realization specializing in bioarchitecture and appropriate technologies for developing countries she practices participatory planning and design and self-build as an expert in advanced energy design technologies she conducts continuous research and experimentation with natural materials and bioclimatic design she is a trainer on the most advanced natural techniques such as straw raw earth lime plasters and designs for the experimentation of advanced housing practices like cohabitation and solidarity condominiums she works for public executive design computistic and construction management collaborating with several associations for projects in developing countries she is a trainer for the EDE courses of the GEN network and dedicates herself to artistic direction creating installations and site-specific performances born in Milan on July 22 1965 she graduated in Architecture in 1991 passed the state exam in 1992 and is registered in the Order of Architects of Milan with a specialization in energy certification bioenergetic analysis of sites and design and use of raw earth and green buildings
https://iicmelbourne.esteri.it/en/gli_eventi/calendario/visioni-italian-ecoway-of-lyfe_2-2/
MARGHERITA BERTOLI
The CanyaViva method originated around 2005 in Spain through the experiments of British architect Jonathan Cory-Wright. The first core of the CanyaViva Association dates back to 2009: over the years, the group has developed its heterogeneous identity, advancing technical experimentation and artistic research, with a focus on active apprenticeship and the creation of a creative and participatory construction model.
In 2016, CanyaVivaItalia was founded in Italy by Margherita Bertoli and Matteo Mannini with the aim of bringing the method to Italy, delving into its application to bamboo, and introducing new technical and compositional experiments. This project evolved over time through many vital interactions and concluded in 2023, transforming into two distinct projects: ARUNDO (by Margherita Bertoli) and CanyaLab (by Matteo Mannini).
The ARUNDO | ORGANIC CONSTRUCTIONS project emerged as an evolution of this complex journey, which over the years has focused on land art and participatory bio-construction, aiming to promote tools for ecological art and propose social activities based on permaculture principles.
ARUNDO is now a collective with a strong network of collaborators, formed over the years through the educational paths it has offered. We consider the sharing of knowledge that enhances local natural resources, the reappropriation of creative means, and a collaborative, community-based working method to be fundamental.
https://greenmagazine.com.au/tools-for-after-architecture-exhibition/
MAURICIO CARDENAS LAVERDE
Mauricio, leader in sustainable bamboo architecture, developed the Conscious Design method during his Ph.D. at Politecnico di Milano, shaping his professional philosophy. With over 20 years of experience, he specializes in raw bamboo construction and was recognized by the Italian Council of Ministers’ Agency for Innovation for pioneering bamboo connections BooTech. His projects, including the INBAR Bamboo Eye Pavilion, are built worldwide.
From 2012 to 2023, he taught Conscious Design at Politecnico di Milano, Tongji University, and Lantao Academy. Since 2024 he is Associate Professor at Shenzhen University. A member of INBAR’s Bamboo Construction Task Force since 2017.
Mauricio curated Under The Bamboo Tree (2019–2020) at Labirinto della Masone and received the 2019 Best International Sustainable Architecture Practice award from UK BUILD Magazine. In 2020, Corriere della Sera featured him as “The Bamboo Architect,” and he represented Italy as Ambassador in Italian Design Day (IDD2020). In 2021, he organized the Italian Bamboo Culture event in Milan for AIB, supported by Italy’s Minister of Ecological Transition.
His work appears in the documentaries Bamboo: The Tradition of the Future (2021) and The Bamboo Dialogues (2023). In 2022 Mauricio is one of the 38 Italian protagonists among anthropologists, architects, artists, scientists, cooks, in the video “VISIONS Italian Ecoway of Lyfe”. In 2024, UIA included four of his projects in its 2030 Agenda Guidebook. His BooTech System is part of the itinerary exhibition «Tools For After», project by IIC Director Angelo Gioé and architect Mauricio Corrado, presented at the Italian Cultural Institutes of Melbourne, Beirut and Sofia. Currently, he is designing bamboo buildings in Italy, China, Mexico, Guatemala.
LieuLAU-Lebanese American University (Beyrouth)
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