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Francisco Mota | eu collaborators

Category: ⚐ EN+colaboradores

Today we introduce you to Francisco Mota, a young environmental engineer who has been helping us with our proposals for Voronezh and Asunción during the last months. The office felt a bit more boring the very moment he left back to Portugal!

Hi, my name is Francisco Mota and I’m a Portuguese urban planner/environmental engineer, vegetarian, environmentalist, stuff maker, and midnight poet. I like to surround myself with a creative environment, and I do believe creativity, passion and having fun are key for a good work, even if it is slowly killing you.

No cameras, please!

No cameras, please!

My interests are many. Sometimes I feel like what Fernando Pessoa said, tenho em mim todos os sonhos do mundo (I have within me all the dreams of the world, in The Tobacco Shop). I love to write and play music, and I would like to experiment with other types of creative professions. I’m also an art enthusiast, I like the kind that can, somehow, challenge or touch me. And I do have to say that 90% of Prado bored me to death. [Editor’s note: This is not part of that 90%, right?]

Most of my work wanders around sustainable mobility and urban planning strategies and solutions. Coming from an environmental engineering background has given me some good strengths. I’m quite sensible with ecological and environmental problems, all my education was moved towards sustainability and I enjoy working with data. Actually, I do believe that collecting and analysing urban data can provide us, planners and designers, some important answers. Other thing that also excites me about this field is the collaboration with professionals of different areas, we all have so much to learn and it can lead to bright results.

Since the moment I graduated I was looking for an international experience and I was really glad to meet Ecosistema Urbano and to have the chance to join them for a four month internship. They have a very interesting vision and approach on planning, with a great emphasis on the social and sustainable layers, and not forgetting the importance of creative ideas. During the internship I had the opportunity to work on three different projects: the Voronezh Sea Revitalization, where we had the stimulating task of finding a strategy for cleaning a contaminated reservoir and making it suitable for leisure activities; the Creative Placemaking in South Loop competition, where we developed an artistic/public participation idea to bring some light to the most boring city in Minnesota; and the development of a Master Plan for the historic downtown of Asunción that will make this paraguayan city be stunning.

2014-05-31_620

These four months were great and productive. I had contact with subjects and perspectives on city projects that I always wanted to try, and I did really learn a lot, not only from these projects, but also in the morning coffee breaks and from all the conversations we had while cooking lunch. We really were a small family there.

And there’s another thing, somehow beautiful and sad: the man is the only living being capable of changing and creating (this is, designing) its own ecosystem and, through centuries, we managed to create some amazing cities all around the world. The sad part is that somewhen we forgot to build them for ourselves. Nevertheless, I’m pretty optimistic about the future, once the change to turn our cities into sustainable, attractive and livable places is already happening. I want to use my skills and creativity to help this movement. If you share this vision and want to work together, please write me a line.

Cheers!

Occupation: Urban Planner and Environmental Engineer
Interests: Urban Planning, Mobility, Info-structures, Design, Sustainability,  Literature, Music
City/country: Lisbon, Portugal
Web: efemotasurbanstudies.tumblr.com
Social profiles: @efemota, linkedin
Check the Posts by Francisco Mota on this blog

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Guillermo Aroca | eu collaborators

Category: ⚐ EN+colaboradores+ecosistema urbano+Uncategorized

Dear all! Today we introduce Guillermo Aroca, a young architect who is collaborating with us from September 2014. He is bringing a critical fresh view of urbanism and architecture. A sharp observer who gives the perfect touch to our reports. Below, in his own words:

 

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I was born in Madrid in 1989 and I have always had a special interest for design, society and politics. I developed my passion for politics through my participation in the Model European Parliament (MEP), a debate program organized by the European Union.

I have learned architecture at the Architecture School of Valladolid and I have studied the fifth year of my career at the University of Technology and Economics of Budapest (BME). I have presented a selection of freehand drawings, photographs and collages that I have made during my career to the Association of Architects of this city (FUGA).

I began to practice as an architect at the architecture firms M57 and ODImasP, the former is based in Granada and the latter in Valladolid. I have also worked in the gallery of contemporary art Álvaro Alcázar, where I got in touch with the most active professionals in the Spanish creative scene.

In 2013, after volunteering in a Spanish NGO and submerging myself into the Spanish crisis, I conducted a final thesis project of a social nature, with the desire to serve the most disadvantaged part of the population.

During my stay in Ecosistema Urbano, I have developed an interest for urban social planning with citizen collaboration. These past months I have focused in the execution of a Master Plan for Asunción (Paraguay), I have also been working in the preliminary phase of the development of a Master Plan for Encarnacion (Paraguay) and a group working space in Barcelona. This commission has allowed me to mentally travel to South America without moving from my own city. Apart from learning how to trace a Master Plan full of content and without losing any attention to its design and appearance, I have also enjoyed an extraordinary work environment, full of great energy and fellowship.

In the future I look forward to further developing my passion for architecture, fashion, photography and writing. I have been able to cultivate these interests through various collaborations in many magazines, such as Curador, Doze and Metal Magazine.

More information at:
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Claire Cassanet | eu collaborators

Category: ⚐ EN+colaboradores+ecosistema urbano

Today we introduce you to Claire Cassanet, a young landscape engineer who just left the office after four months of internship. We worked and learned together, we cooked together, we enjoyed every day in her cheerful company. We already miss you, Claire! Read on as she describes her experience with us…

Claire!

Claire!

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Johnny Rabines | eu collaborators

Category: ⚐ EN+colaboradores+ecosistema urbano

Today we introduce Johnny Rabines, an industrial design and interior architecture student who is doing an internship with us, helping in different projects and opening very interesting topics through our conversations and his articles. His own words:

Bonjour

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Born in LIMA (Peru), grew up in STRASBOURG (France), now living happy in MADRID (Spain) for four months to work with Ecosistema Urbano. In real life I’m a student at the Ecole Camondo (product design and interior architecture) located in PARIS. Here you have an overview of some stuff I’ve done.

In 2012, I took part in “Design in the city” the first workshop organized by the association Particule 14 in partnership with the direction of the development of the city of Bordeaux and the School of Fine Arts of the City of Bordeaux.

« En écho au Projet de Trame Douce (déambulation urbaine et revalorisation de parcours pédestres méconnus) développé par l’architecte urbaniste Nicolas Michelin (Agence ANMA), ce workshop aura pour ambition de mettre en valeur des pépites (excroissances urbaines remarquables) in situ.
Les travaux des 25 étudiants venues d’écoles européennes (Camondo, La Cambre, Politecnico, Brighton, Esad, Ensadse…) ont été présentés le long de la trame douce et trouveront écho au sein du H14 pendant Agora (Biennale d’architecture, d’urbanisme et de design de Bordeaux).»

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Improvised goal on narrow street.

With Poppy St James Wilson (University of Brighton) and Paolo Chiorino (Politecnico di Milano), our proposal was anchored in a process of “proximity design” close to the choices and habits of affected streets’s urban dwellers.

The same year, with Paul Marchesseau and Wladimir de Lantivy, I’ve co-founded DANT (acronym of Design Architecture and New Technologies), a research collective integrated to Art&Flux (CNRS research team on art, economy & society integrated to ACTE Institute, UMR 8218, Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne University). For us, this entity is a lever for the exchange, exploration and application of ideas in connection with space, object and fair use of technology. Indeed, as practitioners, we keep the project finality in mind.

Photo conférence vernaculaire numérique

On 19th of March 2013, the first DANT conference was held in the auditorium of the Ecole Camondo together with Yasmine Abbas (french architect, author of the book Le Néo-nomadisme : Mobilités. Partage. Transformations identitaires et urbaines.) and Victor Petit (french teacher and researcher in philosophy of science and techniques) around the theme we called “digital vernacular“.

 

Currently, I began my master thesis about the impact of digital technology on future school environments designs. Thus during my internship at Ecosistema Urbano, I have initiated writing a serie of posts on the issue called EntornoEducativo. A coincidence with the experimental school in Reggio Emilia ongoing project and the launch of EU-education. In the right place at the right time!

Before that, I’ve worked in two product design studios.
2011: Nathalie Dewez, designer _ Brussels (Belgium)
2012: Mathilde Brétillot, designer _ Paris (France)

Moi & nathalie2

Nathalie Dewez and me at Ampersand House (Brussels)

Thanks Ecosistema! Great place, kind people, creative food and interesting work!

Occupation: Industrial design and interior architecture student, DANT’s co-founder
Interests: Digital, education, sociology, economy, food, design, architecture, cities, drawing, graphic design
City/country: Paris, FR
Web: twitter, linkedin

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Matthieu Darcourt | eu collaborators

Category: ⚐ EN+colaboradores+ecosistema urbano

Today we introduce Matthieu Darcourt, an architecture student who has been doing a short internship with us, bringing the French language back to the office after a couple of years… Here is what he tells us:

Matthieu Darcourt

Matthieu Darcourt

I’m a student in architecture at the National Institute of Applied Sciences (INSA) of Strasbourg in France, and I will graduate in October 2014. I had the opportunity to travel a lot especially during my Erasmus in Budapest and my internship here at ecositema urbano in Madrid. I believe there is no such thing as losing yourself in an unknown city in order to discover it’s deeper essence, culture and personality. As an architect and as a person, I am really interested in this balance between big cities and traditional culture, and Madrid is a beautiful example of it: a 21st century city with a village atmosphere.

Matthieu Darcourt in Budapest

Matthieu Darcourt in Budapest

During my internship at ecosistema urbano, I had the chance to think about it when writting an article about situationist theories and urban participation. Indeed, thanks to their blog, they take some time to think and research concerning urban social design, so it creates a stimulating and creative atmosphere and projects. I found really interesting the original project approach they have, including social networks, technologies, and creative commons, questioning urban landscape and social life. Finally, I enjoyed the nice atmosphere of the studio, especially during cooking time! Thanks again.

Occupation: Architecture student
Interests: Architecture, Anthropology, Sculpture, Cities
City/country: Strasbourg, FR
Web: Portfolio

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Claudio Marras | eu collaborators

Category: ⚐ EN+colaboradores+ecosistema urbano

Today we introduce Claudio Marras, a young architect who is doing an internship with us, taking part in various aspects of our work… and also bringing a great Italian touch to our lunchbreak! Let him tell us a couple of things about himself:

A young dreamer architect.

Passion, Curiosity and Perseverance: I want to travel, I want to see, I want to know.

Architect evolution

Architect evolution

Hello everybody, I am Claudio Marras a 30 years old italian architect come from Sardinia, Italy. I will try to synthesize my life with 3 simple keywords.

Passione (passion)

From from child to young adult

Once upon a time

A life lived wrapped by passion. Food, travel, sport, people, ART… Born in a creative and art-loving family, I was easily able to discover and explore different worlds. Living in a island I had, from the beginning, the pleasure (and necessity) to go abroad.
I lived in Croatia, Usa, Spain and Germany and I traveled throughout most of Europe.

Curiositá (curiosity)

From external world to myself

From Praha with love

From Praha with love

Each place/person could teach you something. It’s up to you understand the way to acquire knowledge from it. Every place can be different for everyone, it’s the culture and meaning behind it that matters and makes it special and unique for every one. It is not only the place, it is also the experience.

As an architect I have to design the space in relation with local dynamics and needs, trying to involve those who will use that space into the process.

Determinazione (perseverance)

From Valencia to Punto d’Incontro

Different forms of urban attraction. The Turia’s park of Valencia for a cultural conversion of spare time

Different forms of urban attraction.
The Turia’s park of Valencia for a cultural conversion of spare time

Social Architect

My architecture thesis project (2007) was the synthesis of my mindset and my professional way of seeing urbanism and architecture: bottom up architecture, social approach, participatory process. The project’s AIM was to find a social and cultural way to convert the spare time of the people. The idea was to give to everyone the opportunity to know and exchange skills and competencies in a public space coordinated by the Time-based currency system. The project was studied for the river park of Valencia, Spain.

Starting from these theoretical input, I’m developing it in a practical way trough Punto d’incontro (Meeting point) project. It is a box that contains active and creative groups or people who work for the re-appropriation of public space through a participatory process. Artists, professionals, and experts interact with the local population to involve people in a urban renewal.

Claudio

Claudio

RESUME

Education
Bachelor Degree of Territorial, Urban and Environmental Planning in 2005.
Master Degree on Architecture in 2007.
Freelance architect from 2009 with a Certificate of Site Safety Coordinators (2012).

Currently a Post-Master student of Urban Research Lab Sardinia – Environmental Design in the University of Sassari (Sardinia) in partnership with Dessau Institute of Architecture (DIA) of Anhalt University of Applied Sciences where I spend the first part of the Master (5 moths).

more information on LinkedIn profile

In times like these, escape is the only way to stay alive and keep dreaming.

In times like these, escape is the only way to stay alive and keep dreaming.

In tempi come questi la fuga è l’unico mezzo per mantenersi vivi e continuare a sognare.

In times like these, escape is the only way to stay alive and keep dreaming.

Henry Laborit, from the italian movie: Mediterraneo

Here is a short summary about Claudio:

cla 2Occupation: Freelance Architect
Interests: urbanism, architecture, design, social, community
City/country: Sassari, Italy
Web: Punto d’Incontro
Online profiles: Facebook, LinkedIn

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Christian Jøhnk Hess | eu collaborators

Category: ⚐ EN+colaboradores

Today we introduce Christian, an architecture student who recently did an internship with us, getting involved in our latest projects… and giving us some more hints on Scandinavian culture! Here are his kind words about his stay with us:

Christian

Shortly about myself, I’m from Denmark. I have just started on my last year of my master at the architecture in Copenhagen, after having spent five months with Ecosistema.

Before going into the final stages of my education, I decided to take advantage of the opportunity of making an internship, being introduced to different ideas and ways of working and at the same to a different culture by moving to Spain for five months.

Christian

Ecosistema is very good at working in a socially responsible way and with those layers of architecture that are related to the process and networks. They take into account the humans involved, and at the same time make their dreams and ideas turn into very nice buildings. They master all the layers of architecture today and they have fun at the same time. Their way of thinking supplements my knowledge from the school in Copenhagen very well.

During my stay I was working with ecosistema on the competition about the new city centre of Kiruna. It was a very complicated issue which combined with the other things we have been working on have given me a lot to take with me back to my school and think about.

To me architecture is an opportunity to get into a wide range of knowledge and putting it to use. Hopefully giving something back, which will be helpful, inspiring and relevant.

Before coming I had only heard good things about Ecosistema. It’s all true and I feel privileged to have been able to make my Internship here. So thank you for this time, I wish you the best for the future.

Short profile:

Occupation: Student at The Royal Danish Acadamy of Fine Arts. School of Architecture.
Interests: Architecture and lots of other stuff
City/country: Copenhagen, Denmark
Online profiles: facebook.com/christianjhess

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Francesca Rotundo | eu collaborators

Category: ⚐ EN+colaboradores

Today we introduce Francesca Rotundo, a young architect who is doing an internship with us, being mainly involved in our proposal for the competition in Kiruna and the Reggio Children experimental centre.

Francesca

As she tells us:

I’m a quite curious person, careful observer of what is happening around me. My interests are many, but somehow the architecture field seems to contain or connect to a lot of them, giving me everyday something different to think over.
I’ve studied architecture at the University of Ferrara, graduating at the end of 2012, and, as Erasmus student, at Chalmers University in Göteborg, Sweden, a great experience that made me fall in love with the nordic atmosphere, and made me more passionate about my work, in particular about investigating the relation between citizens and the design of the city.
As I wanted to keep widening my horizons, I was especially excited about gaining a Leonardo-program grant and having the chance to join EU, here in Madrid. Participating with them in a university-workshop about the regeneration of borderline areas, organized by Ri-Generazione Urbana, I had the possibility to know them more and I found their way of working very inspiring. I think it’s awesome to collaborate with such a great studio, matching my interests.
Apart from the complexity of the city, which I enjoy so much, in my quite small home town I take part in a cultural association called Primola together with architects and artists, working to make vital the local territory and preserving its landscape. We organize events and activities related to culture, entertaining, designing and realize sets and installations using lights and “poor” building materials, like straw bales.
Trying to conceive design in a playful way, I always keep in mind the social impact of architecture and, as we never stop learning, I keep looking for answers and new questions as well.

Francesca

Here is a short summary about Francesca:

Occupation: Architect
Interests: Architecture-landscape-city, urban safaris, travelling, Illustration, fashion & industrial design
City/country: Cotignola-Ravenna, Italy
Web: Portfolio
Online profiles: Facebook, LinkedIn

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Blanca Abramek | eu collaborators

Category: ⚐ EN+colaboradores

Today we introduce Blanca Abramek, an architecture student who did an internship with us last spring/summer. She did a great work actively helping us with the design and selection of contents for a book about Dreamhamar that we are now (finally!) finishing.

Blanca Abramek -  by Emilio P. Doiztúa

In her own words:

I’m in my final year of Architecture and Graphic Design at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, USA. As researcher at the Positive Psychology Center, I am investigating the relationship between urban design and well- being.

Because of my interest in fine arts, cultural anthropology, psychology and film I like to look at design from a holistic perspective. In my opinion architecture relies on an interdisciplinary exchange in which lies the opportunity for architects to seek broader strategies for impact. I believe that in today’s world we, architects and urban designers, need to seek radical new channels of influence that move design away from focusing only on providing professional services and toward a more ambitious role of cultural leadership in the built and social environments.

Blanca Abramek at Ecosistema Urbano

Here is a short summary about Blanca:

Occupation: Student
Interests: Dance, travel
City/country: Warsaw, PL
Social profiles: @tendrebarbare
Related posts on this blog

Both photos were taken at our office in Madrid. The first –amazing– one is by Emilio P. Doiztúa.

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Serena Chiacchiari | eu collaborators

Category: ⚐ EN+colaboradores

Today we introduce Serena Chiacchiari, an Italian architect who’s doing right now an internship with us, being mainly involved in our proposal for the competition in Kiruna. Enjoy her introduction and the great photos from her trips around the world!

Serena in Patagonia

In November 2010 after graduating in Architecture in Rome I decided to go to Australia and New Zealand for a period. I was there 2 months, trying to visit as much as I could, from big cities to wild nature. When I came back I decided that what I had studied wasn’t enough so I started a professional master about sustainable architecture in IED Torino. The trip around Australia, where everything is so extreme, inspired me. I started asking myself “Is it possible to live without wasting what nature gives us?”, “Can we as architects help not to waste it?”. So I moved to Turin where I started studying the main elements of sustainable architecture.

Apart from theory, we had 3 workshops, one of which was held by “Arcò”, a young group of Italian architects, who helped us to understand how to build in extreme conditions with poor materials like earth, sand and tires. This workshop was awe-inspiring for me and I decided that I would like to start my architectural career in a young and active studio. I was very happy when I knew that I could have my internship in Ecosistema Urbano, which reflects perfectly my idea of what architecture should be: FUNNY, SUSTAINABLE AND PEOPLE’S.

This experience is very important for me because my passion has always been to travel and meet different cultures and this is the best way to do it!

Serena in Jordania

Here is a short summary about Serena:

Occupation: Architect
Interests: Architecture, photography, travel, sports
City/country: Rome/Italy
Web: www.serenachiacchiari.com
Online profiles: Facebook, Linkedin