Norwegian Talks #3: Milan
October 16th, 2010
NORWEGIAN TALKS
15-29 OCT 2010
Spazio Mostre
Facoltà Architettura e Società/Politecnico di Milano
Friday 29 OCT
h10.00
aula IIIC
introduction
Stefano Casciani (deputy Editor Domus)
“Non è un caso che come per Lewerentz, anche per Fehn prima e per Knut Hjeltnes, Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk, Jan Olav Jensen & Børre Skodvin poi, per descrivere l’essenza del loro lavoro si sia ricorsi alla metafora della investigazione della materia e delle regole della “messa-in-opera” quale cifra connotativa. L’imprevedibile e l’inatteso, come paradigma del fare, intesi non nella accezione di ricerca dello stravagante, del pirotecnico, dell’eccentrico, quanto all’opposto della investigazione e della perlustrazione di strade alternative alla regola del mercato o alla consuetudine costruttiva, sono gli atteggiamenti che da soli sono in grado di eliminare tutte le sollecitazioni al riproporre stilemi tanto consolidati quanti vuoti di senso”.
Exhibition lay-out & mounting
Michela Bassanelli, Francesca Alquati, Cecilia Marchesotti, Elena Mor, Erica Borsa, Panos Veizis, Francesca Pozzi, Chiara Cicciarella, Silvia Medici, Valeria Mercogliano, Ilaria Bollati, Giuseppe Esposito, Giorgia Notaro, Mara Brozzi, Stefania Prina (all students @ Polimi).
420 expanded polystyrene rails (cut out of 34 70x100x5 cm panels) layed down in 18 strips invaded the Spazio Mostre of the faculty of Architettura e Società @ Polimi. The room is part of the faculty extension designed by Vittoriano Viganò during the 80s as: a rare exmaple of Milanese Contemporary Architecture. Besides few works of Cino Zucchi, Milan has lost its strong character and influence on architecture it had during the 50s (at the time the school was full of recognized talents and the city was a workshop of architecture cleverness).
The exhibition lay-out highlights the quality of Viganò room proposing a bridge between the work of the Milanese Master and those of the Norwegian guests: construction, geometry, roughness, materials, colors, all elements performed with a tension towards space and meaning.
Last but not the least a personal memory. A month ago, on September the 15th my old mother died in Naples. I was, like yesterday, at school in Milan, working with students. It was very sad not to be there that day in September. But it was fine to be in Milan yesterday: sharing with students small work, many thoughts and lively cooperation. It was all I learned from her: the most generouse, talkative and restless person I have ever met.
