Architectural Activism: Challenging Space and Systemic Boundaries
Thursday
11th March 2024 | 13:00 – 14:30 CET
Aula 201 Lingotto | Streaming on YouTube
INTRODUCTION
The lecture recounts an initial journey through the architectural profession as an individual path challenging conventional box-like spaces through playful design interventions rich in cheeky diagonals, bold textures and brazen holes. A design search in material and visual experimentation, trial and error, where emotional and communicative charge finds expression in spaces, objects, and graphics.
This is a personal exploration that turns toward the interpretation of architecture as a plural political act, recognizing its potential to subvert the toxic system entrenched within the profession by embracing architectural activism, confronting systemic norms, and advocating for a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable built environment.
A narration highlighting the power of shared creativity as an effective instrument to bring about change.
BIO
Francesca Perani is an architect-activist, graphic designer, and educator trained in Milan, Italy, Belgium, Australia, and the UK. She established her “Enterprise” in the Valleys of Bergamo, and her work has been published and awarded internationally. She is the president of the RebelArchitette association, advocating for equality in architecture through the open dissemination of international female role models.
Contacts
Architect Francesca Perani introduced her work as an attempt to go beyond the limitations of architecture to a box. Her professional experience illustrates how she has often tried to break the box by making more fluid places using design strategies such as cutting a simple rectangle with diagonal cuts, hole cuts or using conflicting combinations of colors and materials. Beyond the typical architectural design projects she also started projects fighting the system via democratic data providing professionals open source cutout pics that go against the gender stereotypes. As she experienced the limits of architecture as a woman professional through her career, she started the Rebel Architette project that aims to detox architecture from the gender inequalities through partecipation and networking but also through spreading the work of inspiring female architects who are having successful carreers.
Architect Perani presented the problem where clients do not think that the architect dedicated a lot of work for the result. Approaches offered the use of a variety of materials, sustainable materials, dealing with the environment as is instead of covering existing elements, taking photos of the whole process and presenting a “before” and “after” photos. Another issue discussed was the challenge new architects face in gaining visibility and exposure. Working with leading architects, leaving the “traditional” box for using diagonals, different shapes and holes in various numbers and sizes as well as non-traditional materials and colours. Examples included an Ice-cream event where typical spoons and gelato imitating materials like Ecorub with a neutral colour were used. By using materials and colours that encourage emotions an atmosphere was created for the event. Using the local red corn shape in the lighting system at a mountain restaurant to emphasize the local heritage.
Francesca Perani’s lecture on the role of professional photography and graphic design in architecture was not just informative but also thought-provoking. She emphasized the pivotal role that high-quality photography plays in the architectural process, not only in documenting projects but also in enhancing their visibility and impact. Perani’s emphasis on adhering to architectural principles throughout the project lifecycle resonated strongly with the audience, underlining the importance of maintaining design integrity from conception to completion. Her advice on utilizing photography to expand professional networks and reach a wider audience through social media platforms was particularly insightful in today’s digital age.
Moreover, Perani’s encouragement for architects to cultivate their uniqueness and draw inspiration from unconventional sources sparked a lively discussion among attendees. While some echoed her sentiment of prioritizing emotional resonance in design, emphasized the importance of striking a balance between functionality and creativity. she was mostly rely on thinking out of the box and using diagonal, holes and textures to creat visual impact and emotions on the projects.
Additionally, Perani’s advocacy for increased visibility and recognition of female architects struck a chord, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by women in the field. Overall, her lecture provided a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted relationship between architecture and photography, leaving attendees inspired and eager to implement her advice in their own practices.
Architecta Francesca Perani’s lecture tells us about the common denominator, present in her architecture projects, for overcoming both physical and social constraints. The desire to overcome the limit of the space made available for the project (box or delimited space) is equivalent to finding new interpretations of space. Diagonal elements, original openings in the walls, innovative materials and dissonant colours are all means that the architecta uses to “break the box” and obtain new spatial conformations. Together with Rebel Architette she also works to overcome the social limits of the profession of architect that still exist in Italy today. Gender disparities, in the working environment, as data report, are evident in our country to the point of not granting equal recognition for the work done compared to male colleagues, and more over. The group was created to be solid network of professional women, and as reported by architetta Perani “it’s a plural act to detoxing architecture from inequalities, starting from a gender perspective”. The group works to spread and show the work of female architects, who are greater in number than their male colleagues, to bring them out of the dimension of the invisible.
Francesca Perani starts her lecture by attesting her dissatisfaction with the current scenario of architecture and her desire to “break the box”. By this statement Perani explains how on her designs she seeks to literally change the way we build rectangular shapes and instead explore different configurations, colors and materials. Moreover, figuratively, Francesca Perani debates the role of the female figure in the field of architecture. Her speech relies on how today the spotlight is mainly focused on white male architects, and how we can create a more inclusive and diverse scenario.
The architect’s lecture starts with a pessimistic view of the profession reality, but follows to an inspirational path when Perani presents us her initatives along with other female architects to increase women visibility.
Rebelarchitette is one of their platforms, the website presents us numerous examples of female architects and their respective works providing a full catalog of professionals available for teaching, debates, conferences and others.
The lectures unfolds an activist dimension of architecture, where the orator discussed about the tragic situation and statistics of women architects across the world and especially in Italy. Her initiative of Rebel Architette, which celebrates women architects each day, is a step towards the betterment of this scenario. Amongst her projects, the most fascinating and contextual one was the installations in-front of the Gelato Shops in an Italian city. The interesting part was the thought process behind development of material pallette and design language. The analogy of neon fibre boards to the colors of gelato with the subtle balance with black recycled plastic material Ecorub as a backdrop was a masterstroke. The people of the city as they use the space leave behind a mark and a sense of connection on Ecorub-made seating spaces in the installation which changes and adapts the shape with its use. The limits of architecture were explored in the sense of the impact it creates and engagement it generates along with some highlights on the gender scenarios from an activist point of view.
Architect Francesca Petrani told as her experience.
She always liked fluid forms to define a space and even though is difficult to use those in a confined spaces such as an apartment, she always tried to do so using diagonals, for walls or furniture, holes small or bigger to compose a window, o unconventional materials.
She soon discovered that the best way to follow a project is to document it thought photography, which is also a way to story tell a design and to express a style.
After showing us some of her projects, she also told us some of the problems she had to face as a woman. It is proven that architecture isn’t an easy field to navigate as a female, in her opinion a solution might be to form a network of architects to support each other, which she did with the project Rebel Architecture through which she tried to lower the gender inequalities in architecture.
It was proven not an easy task, a path defined by light and shadows; one of the main victories of the group was to normalize the term architetta for the Italian language, and even if many men and women avoid acknowledging it, we can consider it a victory for gender equalities.
The architect Francesca in this lecture explained how architecture can be free of spacial limitations that has been known about design field since almost forever, how using simple shapes can actually make a difference in the final result of designing a project; for example using circular shaped-glass as a window instead of using the regular square shape. The professor also mentioned some of her previous work as the Refugee Urbano were she aimed to granting privacy for the users of the space, she couldn’t use sustainable materials because the project is small so she tried to use simple and available materials which strengthen the idea of going beyond limitations. Besides this, the speaker also mentioned the sustainability aspect by inventing the starbox project that aimed to widen the sustainability in the area.
At the end, the lecturer mentioned how she and plenty of other female architects accumulated their efforts to change the idea of the genderization of the architecture field, in addition to spreading the work of these architects by using the Rebel Architette platform.
However, the whole speech was very fascinating I was more impressed by the last part. I found architect Perani one of those proactive female architects whom we are lacking. She highlighted successful female architects who can play a role model for younger ones, like us. I think she is one of those role models too. She has worked as a female architect for years and because of that has got a realistic view of their problems, which can be easily overlooked not only by male architects but also by women themselves. Sometimes we unconsciously conceive that there are some problems or injustices, but we can’t specifically mention what the problem is. Women like her help us understand the issue and bring it to a conscious nature. That is when we start to ask for our rights.
But it doesn’t end here. People like her benefit women and men both. For example, when she mentioned the working hours of architects. It’s an unfair thing that has always been neglected. We work more, we suffer a lot of physical pains for spending long hours sitting in front of the computers, we are about to die in the days preceding the project delivery, and this story does not suffice for the student period, but is gonna continue over our whole working life and finally, we are paid less than most engineering fields, who never experience this amount of pressure. Even if it is not possible to increase the architects’ salary, for any justification, there is an urgent need for legislation in terms of decreasing the working time of architects to make a balance between the workload and payment.
The lecture by Francesca Perani has focused on the topics such as the different fields rerlated to architecture, escapes from the ordinary that can be made with simple movements and orientation of shapes, underlines that the steep angles of architecture, which is the general way of thinking, can be changed. As mentioned as antibox believer, using angled walls, diagonals, holes on the wall and circular window instead of using the regular square shape.
Gender, age distribution and earnings in the architecture sector.
She demonstrated the process and inspirations of EXPO 2015, ice cream installation, then also urban cabin which is guest house in Albino.
What I was more interested in was our differences in architecture as men and women. Even the mention of male masters instead of “masters” was a testimony to the egalitarianism of the conference language. as a woman, I am grateful that unequal pay and other social inequalities, known but somehow ignored, were quantified.
La conferenza dell’architetta Perani parte da un assunto di fondo: la rebel, la ribellione ad ogni formalismo ad ogni schema preordinato architettonico, difatti i suoi lavori nascono da una attenta osservazione della realtà socioculturale in cui lei realizzerà il progetto. L’architetta evidenzia che l’origine del progetto è determinato dall’uso dei materiali, dai colori molto accesi che lei definisce dissonanti e dalla luce poiché sono essi stessi rappresentano uno “spazio costruito”. Inoltre attraverso dei tagli diagonali delle aperture nelle pareti determina nuove configurazioni spaziali quello che lei definisce il mezzo per “rompere la scatola”. Tra i suoi allestimenti quello che più mi ha incuriosito è stato quello di rappresentare il lavoro delle maggiori aziende artigianali del gelato attraverso l’allestimento espositivo che si è tenuto nel centro di Bergamo, nello specifico il processo mentale posto alla base per lo sviluppo della tavolozza dei colori che rappresentasse in modo migliore l’aspetto visivo del gelato, che l’architetta rende, secondo me, in maniera geniale con il colore nero, per non scontentare nessun marchio artigianale, e che è stato quindi interpretato mediante l’utilizzo di pannelli in fibra di neon con i colori fosforescenti dei cucchiaini, inoltre attraverso l’istallazione di percorsi pedonali con sottofondo morbido, e con l’ascolto della canzone “a piedi nudi”, il visitatore può rievocare quelle sensazioni giovanili di spensieratezza e svago che il gusto del gelato ci riporta. L’aspetto più importante della conferenza è stato quello di evidenziare i limiti della professione dell’architetto donna, il suo discorso di basa su come ancora oggi i riflettori siano puntati principalmente sugli architetti maschi, lei stessa nel corso della sua carriera ha dovuto scontrarsi con le diseguaglianze di genere. Per sradicare questi “luoghi comuni” l’architetta ci ha presentato le sue iniziative per aumentare la visibilità e la diffusione dei lavori delle donne architette che stanno avendo una carriera di successo, attraverso la partecipazione ai network e alla pubblicazione sulla piattaforma Rebel Architette delle loro rispettive opere intendono fornire un catalogo completo di professioniste disponibili per l’insegnamento, per la partecipazione ai dibatti e alle conferenze.
She emphasized the importance for each architect to discover their uniqueness and draw inspiration from various sources to enhance creativity, as creativity defines one’s identity as an architect. She shared that her uniqueness and inspiration stem largely from being unconventional, avoiding standard shapes like boxes or rectangles. Instead, she focuses on using elements like holes, sharp textures, colors, and diagonal designs to evoke emotions rather than purely functional aspects. Through this approach, she has developed diverse projects with unique perspectives. One particularly memorable project was her use of gelato colors paired with a black base, showcasing her ability to draw inspiration from unexpected sources. Her exploration of new materials also stood out as a fascinating aspect of her design process.
While she finds it fascinating to prioritize uniqueness and emotional impact in architecture, personally, she values sticking to the functionality of a project. Towards the end of her lecture, she highlighted the challenges faced by women architects, such as limited opportunities to participate in seminars and showcase their skills. She stressed the importance of promoting the visibility of female architects to increase awareness of their contributions and expertise in the field. She also touched upon the significant amount of work that goes into each project before it comes to fruition.
Architect Francesca Perani’s lecture emphazised various challenges in space and systemic boundaries within the realm of architecture. Her approach involves pushing the limits of traditional architectural norms and exploring innovative ways to interact with and transform space. Perani’s lecture involved rethinking conventional notions of space within architectural design. This may include experimenting with unconventional forms, materials, and spatial configurations to create dynamic and engaging environments. By challenging the traditional boundaries of space, she seeks to evoke new sensations, emotions, and experiences for the users of her buildings.
By challenging conventional notions of space and systemic boundaries, one can create architecture that is not only aesthetically compelling but also socially relevant, environmentally sustainable, and intellectually stimulating. This could involve questioning established hierarchies, power dynamics, and social norms that shape the practice of architecture and explore how architecture intersects with other disciplines such as sociology, ecology, and technology to address larger systemic issues such as social inequality, environmental sustainability, and technological innovation.
Francesca Peranis lecture was a bold and innovative approach to design, challenging conventional norms and transforming spaces into dynamic, engaging environments. It showed how individual path is marked by a rejection of the mundane “box-like” spaces in favor of playful interventions that incorporate cheeky diagonals, bold textures, and brazen holes.
Moreover, visionary approach to architecture that transcends conventional boundaries, viewing it not merely as a profession but as a platform for political engagement and social transformation. Her personal exploration delves deep into the understanding of architecture as a plural political act, recognizing its potential to challenge and subvert the entrenched systems within the profession.
The concept of architectural activism, a proactive and socially conscious approach that seeks to address pressing issues such as inequality, injustice, and environmental degradation through design interventions. By embracing architectural activism, Peranis confronts the systemic norms and power structures that have historically perpetuated exclusion and marginalization within the field.
Architect Francesca Perani’s lecture was incredibly inspiring and valuable. We got to know her unique approach to architecture, breaking away from the usual norms with fun and inventive designs, including the art of photography to it as well, and creating these incredible outcomes. She adds playful angles, bold textures, and eye-catching holes to her spaces, making them full of emotion and meaning. The architect doesn’t just focus on design; she sees architecture as a way to challenge unfair rules and make the profession more fair and sustainable. As the head of RebelArchitette, she fights for equality in architecture, giving us hope for a better future. Her story shows us how working together creatively can make big changes.
Architect Perani’s lecture begins with a fundamental premise: the defiance of conventionality and rebellion against predetermined architectural norms. Her creations stem from a meticulous examination of the socio-cultural context surrounding each project. She underscores that the genesis of her designs is influenced by the choice of materials, vibrant hues described as discordant, and illumination, symbolizing a constructed environment. Furthermore, she employs diagonal apertures in walls to forge innovative spatial arrangements, referring to this technique as a method to “breaking conventional boundaries.”
Her projects are important with her approach to sustainable architecture, which emphasizes the harmonious coexistence of buildings with their surrounding environment. Her designs prioritize energy efficiency, use of renewable resources, and minimizing environmental impact.
Most significant aspect of the lecture was that she was highlighting the challenges faced by female architects in the profession. The architect’s discourse revolves around the ongoing spotlight on male architects, reflecting her own encounters with gender disparities throughout her career. To dismantle these stereotypes, she presented initiatives aimed at increasing visibility and dissemination of successful female architects’ work. Through participation in networks and publication on the Rebel Architette platform, they aim to provide a comprehensive catalog of professional women available for teaching, debates, and conferences.
The architect Francesca in this lecture explained that architecture can exist outside the confines of tradition. She explained that the architect doesn’t have to stay in the cube that the conventions dictate and that we can modify and evolve this cube with many different techniques.Some of these techniques include integrating diagonal lines into our buildings, adding depth and texture with different construction materials and more.We can see some of these techniques in EXPO 2015, the ice cream installation, and then in his guest house, the urban cabin in Albino, for example, in the ice cream installation at Expo 2015, she used elements made of recycled plastic in the city square, consisting of sharply shaped triangles witch were made from recycled plastic, as well as colored plates made of plexiglass, adding a new dimension to the square. After this expo, these plastic shapes were revived in another artist’s exhibition, keeping the theme of recycling.
In addition to these topics, the architect Francesca talked about the place of women in the architectural profession from the past to the present and the future.
One of the biggest limits that architect Francesca Perani identified during her professional career was having always had mostly examples of male architects, both in the academic and working worlds. For this reason, she often felt out of place in finding her own unique way to be an architect and reduced her professional aspirations. In fact, at the beginning of her career she felt as if her greatest aspiration was to become the female right hand of an important male architect.
She did not give up on these problems, but rather began her career carrying out many projects, defining her own way, combining emotional spaces with functional spaces, always with her attitude “more in less with less” and increasingly characterizing her works with his style very focused on colors, boxes, diagonals, holes and fluid spaces.
Many of her most important works were then presented, finally concluding with the most important project, namely Rebelarchitette, a non-profit working group to highlight the excellence of professional female architects in design and to be an inspiration for female students and young professionals.
Architect Francesca Perani’s lecture showcased her innovative approach to architecture, aiming to transcend conventional boundaries and craft dynamic environments. She stressed the importance of moving away from traditional box-like structures, advocating for more fluid and unconventional designs. Perani exemplified her design philosophy with many multi-sensory stimuli, to evoke emotions and challenge norms. Throughout her talk, Perani emphasized the vital role of nurturing architectural distinctiveness and drawing inspiration from unconventional sources. Perani also addressed the social and political aspects of architecture, discussing the hurdles faced by women in the field and advocating for increased visibility and acknowledgment. Initiatives like the Rebel Architette project strive to tackle gender disparities and foster inclusivity within the profession.
through these activities, Perani challenges entrenched norms and power structures, utilizing design interventions as a platform for social change and political engagement. Her forward-thinking approach underscores architecture’s capacity to drive positive transformations, addressing issues such as inequality, injustice, and environmental degradation. In summary, Francesca Perani’s lecture provided a stimulating exploration of architecture’s impact on society and inspired architects to think beyond limits and create spaces that captivate aesthetically while leaving a meaningful social imprint.