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International fame and the heart of Arte Povera
The Archea Associati studio has created works of architecture, design, interior e graphic design, obtaining important recognitions throughout the world. For Marco Casamonti, partner and founder, they are the bonds and above all the sense of belonging, the ability to read the context, the project conceived as a narrative to make a difference, with history, culture and emotions.
The Perfetti factory at Linate Airport in Milan, the Antinori winery in Chianti, a former wine warehouse on the port in Trieste, reborn as an Eataly store, the San Lorenzo covered market in Florence. And then there are luxury apartments in Lugano, the Curno library in the province of Bergamo, the stadiums in Udine and Tirana in Albania, and the Ceramics Museum 80 kilometers from Beijing.
What do these buildings have in common? They all bear the signature of Archea Associati. A beacon in the world of international architecture, lit about 30 years ago. And Marco Casamonti was part of the project from the very beginning.“We started with three friends, three architects. From three, we became four, and gradually expanded to 120 employees and several offices in Italy: Milan, Rome, and Florence, our historic headquarters, where I love working. We also have other offices around the world that support various construction sites: for Asia, in Beijing, useful for the many projects we carry out in Vietnam; in Dubai, from where we monitor the work in Russia and the Arab countries; another office in São Paulo, Brazil, where we oversee the work in South America; and a final one in Albania, which we opened because we have the Tirana National Stadium and an airport under construction..” For Casamonti, what matters most in shaping Archea’s work is the sense of belonging to the country in which one was born.“We've been heavily influenced by Italian Arte Povera: artists like Boetti, Burri, and certainly the spatialism of Fontana and Castellani. Whenever we think of the façade of a building, we think of a painting rather than another construction..” But architecture is also unconscious. “When we completed the Curno library, for example, we cast some letters in the concrete. Only after we'd finished it did we realize that the work drew on the poetics of Alighiero Boetti..”
Incessant study and research. In addition to publishing activities and teaching at the universities of Genoa and Florence.“I think it is really very important to keep this opportunity alive,”explains Marco Casamonti“Being in contact with young people, their enthusiasm, their new ideas has brought us many benefits. And then the best architects we have in our studios today were our students..” Archea has received numerous awards for its work in Italy and abroad.“The world of architecture is divided into two broad categories. One is more commercially oriented, more business-oriented. The other perceives every activity as an intellectual project. For me, for example, architecture is art. It happens that, as in the figurative arts, there are competitions in our environment too. But we don't view it as a sporting competition.. Here the issue is not to win, but to convince,” stigmatizes Marco Casamonti.
If he had to choose two projects he was particularly proud of, he would have no doubts. The first is the Antinori winery, which has become a temple of winemaking and an example of respect for the landscape, because "“It was formative for the whole firm and we had the pleasure of working with intelligent and cultured clients.”; the other is the majestic and revolutionary ceramics museum in China. But when it comes to feelings, the preference is different: “Perhaps the building I feel most connected to is the tiny Archea studio headquarters in São Paulo, Brazil. I believe it was the dialogue with the country and its fascinating culture that enriched me so much..”
“The world of architecture is divided into two broad categories. One is more commercially oriented, more business-oriented. The other perceives every activity as an intellectual project. For me, for example, architecture is art.”
The meeting with Aba took place years ago. “We choose to generally work with small-to-medium-sized companies, because large firms often tend to impose their product on architects, at the expense of flexibility. Roberto Giaccherini and his ABA, on the other hand, exemplify great flexibility and professionalism, which is a valuable inspiration for those who practice our profession. When I asked him to build the entire Antinori Winery in Corten steel, even the counters, I was aware of the difficulty of the request: he didn't even consider the issue. He simply did it, finding the right methods and technologies to achieve the optimal result..”
“Knowing how to work materials is a privilege that very few parts of the world can boast. Italy is one of them. Being born in Tuscany is a great fortune to be able to acquire this type of craftsmanship..”
