S2E3 - KUEHN MALVEZZI

In this episode of materico Leonardo talks with Simona Malvezzi. Together with Wilfried Kuehn and Johannes Kuehn she is the founder of KUEHN MALVEZZI in Berlin, 2001. KUEHN MALVEZZI has gained international recognition for their innovative and unconventional approach to architecture and design. Their projects span a wide range of scales, from small installations to large urban projects. They are known for their ability to integrate contemporary architecture into historical and cultural contexts. The studio has also been involved in a number of remarkable exhibitions and installations, including several Venice Biennials, the Chicago Biennials and the Lisbon Triennal.

As for the other episodes of the second season of materico, the conversation starting point is a reflection about how a contemporary architect can deal with the renovation of an architectural heritage, focusing on the conception of the landmark and the role of public spaces.

Simona briefly explains the characteristic approach of their studio, which they define curatorial, borrowing the term from the art field, which is a constant reference for them.

Among other notable projects, a part of the conversation aims the attention to "House of One", an interreligious building in Petriplatz, Berlin city center, that houses a synagogue, a church and a mosque under the same roof. KUEHN MALVEZZI project won the international competition for the inter-faith house of prayer back in 2012.
Simona refers to the work of Gianbattista Nolli, the italian engineer who drew city plans as black homogeneous mass in which open public spaces where left in white, "like voids dug out of the constructed mass." Nolli's representation of Rome, where the Pantheon and Piazza Navona are easily recognisable, is included in the following pictures.

You can learn more about KUEHN MALVEZZI architects in their website at www.kuehnmalvezzi.com

The episode, as well as the second season of materico architecture podcast, is inspired by the reuseitaly's Reuse the Tower competition. More info at www.reuseitaly.com/competitions/reuse-the-tower-lecce/