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Designing the future: the Chorus Life smart city and more…

Joseph di Pasquale

Designing the future: the Chorus Life smart city and more…
By Editorial Staff -

Joseph Di Pasquale, founder of Milan-based architecture studio JDP Architects, has always focused on contemporary architecture and the issues affecting urban areas. A good example of this is his design for the headquarters of Aerea Spa in the Italian province of Como, in which function is eclipsed by a vision of industrial architecture as an important presence in local society and the area in general.

According to Di Pasquale, industrial buildings need to express the dignity and value to society of manufacturing itself, understood as the creation of wealth in an area and for an area. He says, “I believe that in our post-globalist age, manufacturing will again need to play a central role in urban life, partly due to the increasing momentum of the shift to return manufacturing to mature industrialized countries.”

Guangzhou Circle is another project that typifies Di Pasquale’s architectural vision. “Roots are fundamental for me,” says Di Pasquale. “Exchange with other cultures is essential, too, but that certainly doesn’t mean we should try to standardize behaviors or mentalities…. In my opinion, this kind of conservativism is necessary for progress to be a constructive evolution, as opposed to progressivism, which too often involves the destruction of one’s own identity, both as individuals and as a community.”

Guangzhou Circle is another project that typifies Di Pasquale’s architectural vision.

“Roots are fundamental for me,” says Di Pasquale. “Exchange with other cultures is essential, too, but that certainly doesn’t mean we should try to standardize behaviors or mentalities…. In my opinion, this kind of conservativism is necessary for progress to be a constructive evolution, as opposed to progressivism, which too often involves the destruction of one’s own identity, both as individuals and as a community.”

The Guanghzou Circle has been identified as one of the symbolic buildings of the city of Guangzhou. Its image has been used in official posters and advertising as the face of the Chinese metropolis, depicting it as the great “Jade Gateway” to the city.

Chorus Life

The winner of the City of Milan’s WT Smart City Award 2017, Chorus Life is an urban development project that offers a new model for cities to grow in an intelligent, practical way to meet the challenges of both today and tomorrow. The project was designed to encourage community life, while respecting the environment and integration.

Although located in the Italian city of Bergamo, the Chorus Life model could readily be repeated in many suburban areas of Europe and with zero land use. The project’s objective of providing low-density living was achieved through a series of design ideas that multiply opportunities for people to meet and mix.

The project includes the construction of a residential area, a plaza, a park, a hotel, retail and services areas, and – the lifeblood of the whole project – a cutting-edge mixed-use stadium that will serve the entire development.

 

Residential Area

A hundred homes will be built, including one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, designed for every category of people, from young to old. Occupants won’t pay rent as such but a single fee for all the services provided.

Plaza and Park

Both the plaza and park will occupy three levels, without any architectural barriers, for a total of 270 thousand square feet (25,000 m2) of open space, smaller plazas, and green spaces offering a range of facilities.

Hotel

Staying at the Chorus Life Hotel will be like living with the locals. In fact, it will be possible to access all the spaces and services available to residents. The property will also have a roof garden with a panoramic restaurant and a multimedia room able to host conferences for up 250 people.

Retail & Services

This area will provide 215 thousand square feet (20, 000 m2) of shops, restaurants, and professional offices. A long outdoor “sky jogging” path will be built on the roofs, along with a roof garden with various facilities.

Mixed-use Stadium

Equipped with the latest theater technology, the stadium will be reconfigurable to host events of all kinds, from sports to concerts, meetings, conferences, and banquets, with variable seating capacities of up to roughly 6,500.

Aerea Headquarters

Architect: Joseph Di Pasquale
Location: Como, Italy
Photography courtesy of Joseph Di Pasquale

Guangzhou Circle 

Architect: Joseph Di Pasquale
Location: Guangzhou, China
Photography courtesy of Joseph Di Pasquale

Chorus Life

Architect: Joseph Di Pasquale
Client: Grupedil SPA
Concept: ing. Cav. Domenico Bosatelli
Location: Bergamo, Italy
Photography courtesy of Joseph Di Pasquale

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