Unfinished buildings, a new point of departure. Designing difference for a sustainable future

Authors

  • Maria Luisa Germanà University of Palermo
  • Francesca Anania University of Palermo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19229/2464-9309/8142020

Keywords:

technological design, unfinished building, time variable, SDG 11, SDG 12

Abstract

Contemporary unfinished buildings, which represent a widespread sort of abandoned built environment around the globe, have only recently shaken off the taboo to which they have been relegated by their inescapable condition as symbols of failure. The theoretical connotations attributed to them often fluctuate between the mystifying poles of exaltation and demonization; without discussing these, and looking at trends that can be identified in certain works over the last decades, the article aims to contribute to defining an analytical and design-based approach. This procedure is geared towards the multidimensional goals of sustainability, and to responding in concrete fashion to the demands of stakeholders and the community. The paper aims to demonstrate that, for the sustainable future of unfinished buildings, a new point of departure is needed, in which the design project should focus on actual differences with regard to the cultural premises of the original, interrupted building process.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Article Metrics Graph

Author Biographies

Maria Luisa Germanà, University of Palermo

Architect and PhD in ‘Built and environmental rehabilitation’, is a Full Professor of Architectural Technology and Coordinator of the ‘Architectural Heritage’ Cluster of the SITdA (Italian Society of Architectural Technology); her research themes mostly concern environmental design and management, refurbishment, and reuse of the built environment.
E-mail: marialuisa.germana@unipa.it

Francesca Anania, University of Palermo

Architect and PhD Candidate, she is a Member of SITdA (Italian Society of Architectural Technology) and carries out research into technological design in the Architecture field; in particular, she is currently working on research about unfinished buildings, in order to complete and upgrade them.
E-mail: francesca.anania@unipa.it

References

Alterazioni Video and Fosbury Architecture (2018), Incompiuto – La nascita di uno stile | The Birth of a Style, Humboldt book, Milano.

Arboleda, P. (2019), “Reimagining unfinished architectures – Ruin perspectives between art and heritage”, in Cultural Geographies, vol. 26, issue 2, pp. 227-244. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1177%2F1474474018815912 [Accessed 20 September 2020].

Cau, U. and Romagni, L. (eds) (2016), Scheletri – Riciclo di strutture incompiute, Aracne, Roma. [Online] Available at: issuu.com/recycleitaly/docs/21_re-cycle_scheletri [Accessed 20 September 2020].

CRESME (1995), L’onda del recupero e il mercato delle costruzioni dal 1990 al 2000 – Scenari di cambiamento, Cresme Saiedue Bologna.

De Bonis, L., Di Benedetto, G., Germanà, M. L., Trapani, F., Petrangeli, M. and Tonelli, C. (2018), “The Urban Regeneration of Peripheral Areas – The case study of Tor Vergata (Rome, Italy)”, in Catalani, A., Nour, Z., Versaci, A., Hawkes, D., Bougdah, H., Sotoca, A., Ghoneem, M. and Trapani, F. (eds), Proceedings of the International Conference on Cities’ Identity Through Architecture and Arts, (CITAA 2017), May 11-13, 2017, Cairo, Egypt, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, London, pp. 411-419. [Online] Available at: www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781315166551 [Accessed 20 September 2020].

DeSilvey, C. and Edensor, T. (2013), “Reckoning with ruins”, in Progress in Human Geography, vol. 37, issue 4, pp. 465-485. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1177%2F0309132512462271 [Accessed 20 September 2020].

Fraschilla, A. (2015), Grandi e inutili – Le grandi opere in Italia, Einaudi, Torino.

Gambardella, C. (2013), Una casa tra due pini – Abitare il mito del Mediterraneo | A house between two pine trees – Living the Mediterranean myth, LetteraVentidue, Siracusa.

Garvin, E., Branas, C., Keddem, s. Sellman, J. and Cannuscio, C. (2013), “More Than Just an Eyesore: Local Insights and Solutions on Vacant Land and Urban Health”, in Journal of Urban Health, vol. 90, issue 3, pp. 412-426. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1007/s11524-012-9782-7 [Accessed 20 September 2020].

Gaspari, J. (2012), Trasformare l’involucro – La strategia dell’addizione nel progetto di recupero – Tecnologie per la riqualificazione sostenibile del costruito, EdicomEdizioni, Monfalcone.

Germanà, M. L., Mamì, A. and Perricone, M. (1999), “Costruzioni abusive in Sicilia. Ipotesi per un recupero tecnologico”, in Polverino, F. and Ribera, F. (eds), Quale architettura per la residenza del terzo millennio – Atti del Convegno Internazionale | What kind of architecture for the third millenium dwelling – International Symposium Proceedings, Naples, October 8-9, 1999, Luciano Editore, Napoli, pp. 851-860.

Giancotti, A. (2018), Incompiute, o dei ruderi della contemporaneità, Quodlibet Studio, Macerata.

Guernieri, M. (2020), “Gli spettacolari, desolati relitti della speculazione immobiliare”, in Domusweb, 13/02/2020. [Online] Available at: www.domusweb.it/it/architettura/gallery/2020/02/13/future-rust-future-dust-la-speculazione-immobiliare-in-immagini.html [Accessed 20 September 2020].

Guidolin, F. (2014), “Riqualificare con l’esoscheletro: strategie additive per una rigenerazione del patrimonio edilizio”, in Fabrian, L. and Marzo, M. (eds), La Ricerca che Cambia – Atti del Primo Convegno Nazionale dei Dottorati Italiani dell’Architettura, della Pianificazione e del Design, Università Iuav di Venezia, 19-20/11/2014, LetteraVentidue, Siracusa, pp. 1219-1234.

Lam, S. (2016), “White Elephants: Over-Budget, Unsuccessful, and Embarrassing Architecture Projects From Around the World”, in Archdaily, 26/09/2016. [Online] Available at: www.archdaily.com/795913/white-elephants-over-budget-unsuccessful-and-embarrassing-architecture-projects-from-around-the-world [Accessed 29 September 2020].

Licata, G. (2014), Maifinito, Quodlibet Studio, Macerata.

Marcinkoscki, C. (2016), The City That Never Was, Princeton Architectural Press, New York.

Nikishina, O. (2018), “Incomplete construction – Russian and foreign experience”, in Vladimirovich, P. V. (ed.), 2018 International Scientific Conference on Investment, Construction, Real Estate – New Technologies and Special-Purpose Development Priorities (ICRE 2018), MATEC Web of Conferences, vol. 212, 04007, pp. 1-6. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201821204007 [Accessed 20 September 2020].

Rella, F. (1984), “Tempo della fine e tempo dell’inizio”, in Casabella, n. 498-499, pp. 106-108.

Secchi, B. (1984), “Le condizioni sono cambiate”, in Casabella, n. 498-499, pp. 8-13.

Smithson, R. (1967), “The Monuments of Passaic, New Jersey”, in Artforum, December, pp. 52-57.

Troiani, I. and Dawson, A. (2020), “Regenerating Unfinished Buildings”, in Orbaşlı, A. and Vellinga, M. (eds), Architectural Regeneration, Whiley, Hoboken, pp. 189-214.

UNI (1998), UNI 10722-1:1998, Edilizia – Qualificazione e controllo del progetto edilizio di nuove costruzioni – Criteri generali e terminologia | Building – Qualification and control of building project and design for new constructions – General criteria and terminology.

UNI (1981), UNI 8290-1:1981, Edilizia residenziale – Sistema tecnologico – Classificazione e terminologia.

United Nations – General Assembly (2015), Transforming Our World – The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 25 September 2015. [Online] Available at: www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/1&Lang=E [Accessed 29 September 2020].

Zamboni, A. (2016a), “Aravena’s Biennale”, in Domusweb, 01/03/2016. [Online] Available at: www.domusweb.it/en/architecture/2016/03/01/aravena_s_biennale.html [Accessed 20 September 2020].

Zamboni, A. (2016b), “Unfinished”, in Domusweb, 16/06/2016. [Online] Available at: www.domusweb.it/en/architecture/2016/06/16/spanish_ pavilion_venice_biennale.html [Accessed 20 September 2020].

Neumann/Smith Architecture, Lowe Campbell Ewald Headquarters, Detroit, Michigan, 2014 (credit: J. Maconochie). AGATHÓN 08 | 2020

Downloads

Published

27-12-2020

How to Cite

Germanà, M. L. and Anania, F. (2020) “Unfinished buildings, a new point of departure. Designing difference for a sustainable future”, AGATHÓN | International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design, 8(online), pp. 148–159. doi: 10.19229/2464-9309/8142020.

Technological and environmental design: Italy and Greece in comparison

Antonella Violano, Alexandra Sotiropoulou, Ioannis Tzouvadakis, Euphrosyne Triantis, Athanasios...