Interview with Grafton Architects

Almost every day I take the tram in Porta Lodovica and watch over the extension of the Bocconi school of economics designed by Grafton Architects. The building (completed 2009 and result of an international design competition) won several architectural awards in the last years thanks to his rigorous, expressive and uncompromising architectural language. Yet it works well and is beloved by its users. It is a seldom building reconciliating critics, users, professionals and builders, naturally advocating the civil role of architecture with its presence. In my opinion the best public building built in the city since decades.

Here you can download and read the recent conversation I had with  architects Yvonne Farrel and Shelley McNamara, published on Costruire in laterizio 144. The  issue dedicated to Dubliners brick architecture featuring projects by O’Donnell+Tuomey Architects, DTA Architects, Donnelly Turpin Architects, Niall McLaughlin Architects, A2 Architects and others. Our conversations starts by the Bocconi, extends to their working method and architectural approach and anticipates some of their next realisations.

One of these days I will have a walk around and inside the Bocconi extension, take some pictures and add them to this post.