Sustainability, care for the environmentreuse. How many times have we heard these words pronounced, the meaning of which carries great weight, especially today, but which we often fail to decipher concretely, in the meanders of issues that few really make their own.
A philosophy of life, a professional approache, a goal to always pursue: if you talk to Nicola De Pellegriniyou will realise how little there is to joke about when it comes to sustainable design.
He was born in Agordo, in the province of Belluno and graduated from IUAV, University of Architecture of Venice, Nicola De Pellegrini developed various projects on different scales, integrating different competences. In 2011, he founded Anidride Design Srl, dealing with product design, retail design, hospitality, product branding. In 2015 he founded Anhydride Design Architecture with Giovanni Beza company specialising in integrated design with high environmental sustainability. We met with the designer to learn more about the subject and get to know him better.
Architecture and sustainability: how do these two concepts fit together and what is Anidride Design's approach?
Sustainability, in architecture, means focusing on the environmental aspects of the project, realising spaces with a high level of comfort for the people living in them. This does not only concern technological and construction aspects, but also considers the relationship of the building with the external environment and its history, regaining focus on the innate relationship between architecture, man and nature. Putting sustainability at the centre of design for us today has become unavoidable. We are going through a crucial period of transition, in which it is essential to become aware of major global and local problems, such as climate change, environmental pollution and social inequality. Designing sustainably means contributing, step by step, to overcoming these issues, and we, as designers and architects, feel a responsibility and need to play our part. Neglecting these aspects in favour of a mere architectural language would be an irreparable mistake today.
The role of design today: in which direction are we going?
Design is change, it is innovation and improvement. Today we are in a time of transformation, where the world is adapting and changing with incredible speed. Designers must be able to grasp these changes, focusing on new human needs, to convert them into ideas and products that can help society in this constant phase of transition. The importance of design, today more than ever, lies in its ability to contribute positively to change, reassuring us in the face of a future that constantly surprises and frightens us. Even the great health crisis we are facing must be an opportunity to reflect and create something new and useful that allows us to face the moment with some optimism and positivity. Design requires a broader vision in terms of skills. It is not just a question of technique, style and functionality, but of production processes, origin of materials, life cycle. The role of technology and information technology is becoming increasingly crucial in understanding the complexity that surrounds us and in defining a new relationship between man, space and objects.
Sustainability: a fashion, an urgency or a possibility?
Thinking and designing sustainably is an urgency. Undoubtedly also a possibility, allowing us to think differently in order to create something new, challenging ourselves to achieve sustainable results. The scenario in terms of housing, public places, infrastructure, both in architecture and design is increasingly focused on concrete and efficient answers. This gives rise to countless opportunities to innovate, to be efficient for both professionals and companies in the various sectors. The push is also global, with very rapid changes in perspective. China and the United States, which are considered to be countries with little awareness of these issues, are beginning to set a new pace that we must strive to support.
What is the book that has marked your career path?
I have often been involved in the design of commercial public spaces, Retail, Hospitality. The relationships created in these spaces between individuals and the spaces themselves are of great interest to me, especially in seeking positive connotations through design. Much of the time we spend when we are not at home or at work is in places that we commonly define as non-places. For this reason, I think, design-wise, they should be approached with a practical but at the same time value-based vision. The book that opened my eyes to this as a student was Nonplaces by Marc Augé .
Architecture and philosophy: how do you see these two concepts related?
I borrow the thought of a friend, who often tells me that my approach to architecture reminds him of a song by Franco Battiato when in Magic Shop he says: "I deduce from a sentence from the Gospel, that a painter is better than Le Corbusier". I think it is so, there is more of a connection between architecture and craftsmanship than between architecture and philosophy. If a real philosopher like Battiato is telling us this, I would say we need to start thinking seriously about it.
Becoming a green architect: how do you get there?
It is important to be able to grasp the changes taking place in society, understanding the new needs and reinventing the way of working. We have decided to invest in sustainability because we believe in it and we really think we have to make our contribution. Architecture, design and sustainability create a formidable alliance that can also boost the economic growth of the territories in which they operate. Our goal, when we design, is to redesign the face of a place or brand by seeking the purity of design through an all-round global strategy, including a circular approach to sustainability, with a focus on the immediate recognisability of projects and the beauty of the end result. Our holistic approach allows us to realise projects that are not only 'green' but also effective and convenient for our clients. For me, the green architect must build a team, as multidisciplinary as possible, with different skills and points of view. Sustainability is a matter of balance, well-considered choices and correct timing.
The project he is most attached to...
It is a project in Agordo, a town where I was born and grew up as a child, and this represents a lot to me. It is a factory, a contemporary and sustainable architecture in the heart of the Dolomites, a great satisfaction. The building is CasaClima Work&Life certified and therefore respects all the principles of both environmental sustainability and well-being for the workers. It is a building with a strong aesthetic impact but which integrates intelligently with its context, a Unesco heritage site, recovering the forms in its three-dimensional facets. This building is also the completion of a long multidisciplinary project with the company, which shares with us the principles of design, made in Italy, quality and sustainability.
His latest project?
It is called Sovereign House and is located within an exclusive residential neighbourhood in Houston, on a 7000 m2 plot. The three-storey structure is generated by the intersection of simple and pure volumes that generate an articulated architecture with a contemporary design and unique character. It is a residential complex, with 5 double bedrooms, distributed on 3 levels. The design creates a unique experience for the owners and their guests, ensuring maximum comfort in every area. Above all, Sovereign house has been designed following the principles of sustainable architecture, both in terms of technological and plant engineering choices, as well as interior design, choice of materials and attention to the surrounding vegetation.
His dream job?
I am attracted by multidisciplinarity, connections between entrepreneurs and professionals with different visions and skills. Here, I think I am always looking for a design ground on which to evolve this way of doing things. And then one day, perhaps, I would like to design a car.
