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Isolarchitetti


Biography

Established in 2000, the Turin architecture practice Isolarchitetti was founded by Oreglia d'Isola (1928) with his son Saverio (1972). Currently it also comprises Flavio Bruna, Michele Battaggia, Andrea Bondonio and Stefano Peyretti.
Isolarchitetti “draws on the legacy of the Gabetti & Isola design studio, which from 1950 to 2000 was one of the most fruitful professional partnerships in modern, contemporary architecture”, with internationally acclaimed projects.
The valuable experience and perception accrued by the Practice over the years percolates into new projects mostly related to great historical or environmental value”, including housing, offices, business premises, churches and restoration of historic buildings.
In addition to the above, the Practice has provided consultancy services for numerous projects in vast areas of outstanding natural beauty (urban planning, housing complexes, port facilities, marinas, commerce sector, parks and infrastructure), often located in complex ecological systems.

This work for public and private bodies is recognized nationally and substantiated by their wide selection of publications and awards.
The link between the two design studios (Gabetti & Isola and Isolarchitetti) is Aimaro Isola, an architect who has worked in Turin since 1952, the city where he graduated and where he has had a long teaching career.
 
From Gabetti & Isola (1951-2000) to Isolarchitetti (since 2000)
 
Alongside Turin architect Roberto Gabetti (1925-2000), in the 1950s Aimaro Isola opened the design studio which would lead to them carrying out urban planning, housing complexes, institution and religious projects.
These include the Courthouse in Alba, Casa Paravia, Piazza Statuto and Stock Exchange in Turin, Mathi Canavese Papermill (with Franco Fusari) and La Tominera Dairy in Bagnolo.
Their early work, along with that of Guido Canella (1931-2009) of BBPr and Architetti Associati, is considered representative of the “neo-liberty” movement, active in Italy from the middle of the twentieth century and the focus of much critical debate in architecture magazines.

"Their designs begin by questioning the International Style in traditional Italian architecture".In particular the Bottega d’Erasmo (1956) embodies this trend “with an explicit revival of Art Nouveau and early F.L. Wright" (Tgcom).
Gabetti & Isola subsequently explored cultural and local traditions, with a special focus on the environment and landscape, with a progressive, ongoing approach in which awareness of the central position of quality housing is entrenched as opposed to design simply for the sake of abstract style concepts”.

The Practice’s body of work includes Società Ippica in Nichelino, Turin (1959), Olivetti Housing Complex at Ivrea (1970), Housing Complex, Sestrières (1976), Museum of Antiquities, Turin (with Guido Drocco and Enrico Moncalvo), restoration of the Stupinigi building (1995), City Hall (1980) and Dairy (1982) in Bagnolo, Piedmonte.

However, religious buildings are a prominent feature of Gabetti & Isola’s work, including the Church of the Holy Apostles, Piossasco (with Luciano Re, Torino, 1973), Convent of Discalced Carmelites, Quart (with Guido Drocco, Aosta, 1989), for which they received the International Award for Alpine Contemporary Architecture in 1992, and Church of San Giovanni Battista in Desio (with Flavio Bruna, 1995).
The architecture historian Sergio Pace called them “churches that are not temples”. They are buildings “in the most disparate settings, from the peripheries of the economic boom to the Alpine valleys (...) with a common denominator, the place, the landscape that produces and encompasses them (...) where the mystical aspect and self-referential architecture are set aside in favor of careful consideration of the religious community that spends every day there” (S. Nannini).
Their many awards include the Feltrinelli Prize, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei (1988) and Pietra International Award for Architecture in 1991 and 1992.
Roberto Gabetti is also the author of essays which include Architettura dell'Eclettismo (with Andreina Griseri, Einaudi, 1973) and Le Corbusier e "l'esprit nouveau" (with Carlo Olmo, Einaudi, 1997).
 
Elements of Gabetti & Isola’s body of work are evident in Isolarchitetti projects, where Aimaro Isola has applied his expertise to major areas and infrastructure projects, city parks, harbors and docks, in addition to residential neighborhoods and the restoration of buildings of historical and environmental importance.
Isolarchitetti’s projects include the new headquarters for IBM in Segrate, ports and marinas, in Sarzana, Livorno, Pisa and Varazze, a detailed plan to transform the former Sipe Nobel area in Spilamberto, redevelopment of the San Michele area in the historic center of Alghero, the Design Center, in Torino Mirafiori and new Egyptian Museum in Turin.
 
Isolarchitetti selected works and projects
 
- Shopping Park "I Viali", Nichelino (Italia), 2017
- Progetto di ristrutturazione e rifunzionalizzazione Nuovo Museo Egizio, Torino (Italia), 2015
- Piazza Foro Boario, Cuneo (Italia), 2014
- Progetto di allestimento interno e restyling esterno Eram Shopping Mall, Teheran (Iran), 2012
- Centro commerciale e multisala San Donato, Firenze (Italia), 2012
- Quartiere San Donato (progetto Gabetti & Isola, 1998), Novoli, Firenze (Italia), 2012
- Masterplan Zipa Verde (progetto), Jesi, Ancona, (Italia), 2012
- Centro del design, Mirafiori, Torino (Italia), 2011
- Centro Parrocchiale Santa Maria in Zivido, San Giuliano Milanese (Italia), 2008
- L'anello verde, Alba, Cuneo (Italia), 2008
- Marina di Varazze (Italia), 2006
- Progetto di ampliamento uffici giudiziari, Bergamo (Italia), 2008
- Marine di Fiumaretta, Pantalè e Tenuta di Marinella, Sarzana (Italia), 2006
- Ristrutturazione e recupero Mausoleo della Bela Rosin, Torino (Italia), 2005
- Centro direzionale IBM, Segrate (Italia), 2004
- Recupero urbano dell'area Le due Baie, Sestri Levante, Genova (Italia), 2001
- Quartieri e parco Ottavi, Reggio Emilia (Italia), 2001
- Chiesa Parrocchiale di San Giovanni Battista (progetto Gabetti & Isola), Desio, Milano (Italia), 2000
- Progetto Museo di Arte Contemporanea, Benevento (Italia), 2000
 
Gabetti & Isola selected works and projects
 
- Restauro della palazzina di Stupinigi (Italia), 1995
- Monastero delle carmelitane scalze, Quart, Aosta (Italia), 1989
- Municipio caseificio, Bagnolo Piemonte (Italia), 1980-1982
- Complesso residenziale, Sestrières, Torino (Italia), 1976
- Centro residenziale Olivetti, Ivrea (Italia), 1969
- Società Ippica torinese, Nichelino (Italia), 1960
- Palazzo di Giustizia, Alba (Italia)
- Borsa Valori, Torino (Italia), 1952
- Bottega d’Erasmo, Torino (Italia), 1953
- Casa Paravia, Torino (Italia)
 
Official website:

www.isolarchitetti.it

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