#Designgoeson: Designdiffusion.com talks with architect Marco Piva about smart working, health emergency, and China’s return to work
While in Italy we are still forced to stay at home, in some areas of the world the Covid-19 health emergency started earlier and is already over. As is the case with many areas of China, the country where Studio Marco Piva has an office already fully operational after the compulsory stop.
Smart working and remote working across two continents
“Studio Marco Piva, however, has never stopped working, either in Milan or in Shanghai; the office has always been operational and all collaborators kept working remotely from home. Even at home, in Milan, we have been experiencing a sort of “smart working and smart living” situation, characterized by parents’ conference calls, distance learning for children, spare time and domestic activities scheduled by precise timetables to preserve a routine among the different activities.
In this period, we have found that remote working, for some functions, is doubtlessly more flexible. Moreover, at least until next year, the regulations in force will not allow 70 employees to be in the same place, so we will continue to use smart working and we will try to improve it to make it even more efficient.
Read also the other interviews with leading figures from the design world:
- #Designgoeson: How China is recovering
- Roberto Gavazzi and Boffi | De Padova
- Filippo Santambrogio, Viva Porte and China
- Massimiliano Messina and Flou, design and Covid-19
- Maurizio Riva: Riva 1920 and communication as a means to rise again
- Nicola Coropulis: Poltrona Frau and the future of Made in Italy design
- Giovanni Del Vecchio, Giorgetti: safeguarding the supply chain
- Alberto Lualdi and online communication to start anew
- Matteo Moretti, Vistosi: this crisis will change the way we work
- Silvia Gallotti, Gallotti & Radice: taking on new challenges
- Paolo Castelli: protecting the supply chain and reinventing the Salone del Mobile
Made in Italy and Chinese tradition in architecture
In the meantime, China has started its recovery and the situation has greatly improved. Therefore, our office in Shanghai, Si Mai Pu, is fully operational and is working on our projects. At present we are planning our presence at the Guangzhou Design Week in December and I hope to take part in the Shanghai Design Week in November, at the latest. Until the health emergency I used to go to China once a month.
In this period, our projects in China are starting to progress again. One of them is Villa Forte, in the area of Shanghai Garden Plaza South. This villa, within a complex including five villas, is a project that combines Italian architecture and Chinese tradition. Materials and technologies are sustainable, for an architecture that is beautiful and functional at once. Built volumes and open spaces are deeply connected thanks to the combination of composite and natural materials.
Another project realized under the banner of made in Italy is the Tonino Lamborghini Hotel, in the heart of Chengdu. SI Mai Pu designed the two Lamborghini Towers and the interior – apartments and communal spaces – skillfully mixing Chinese tradition and Italian design culture. A tribute to two cultures that have long-standing traditions, with a functional and emotional result. Two cultures that are now linked by a virtual connection, waiting for the chance to travel again, which I hope will happen as soon as possible.
Read also the other interviews with leading figures from the design world:
- #Designgoeson: How China is recovering
- Roberto Gavazzi and Boffi | De Padova
- Filippo Santambrogio, Viva Porte and China
- Massimiliano Messina and Flou, design and Covid-19
- Maurizio Riva: Riva 1920 and communication as a means to rise again
- Nicola Coropulis: Poltrona Frau and the future of Made in Italy design
- Giovanni Del Vecchio, Giorgetti: safeguarding the supply chain
- Alberto Lualdi and online communication to start anew
- Matteo Moretti, Vistosi: this crisis will change the way we work
- Silvia Gallotti, Gallotti & Radice: taking on new challenges
- Paolo Castelli: protecting the supply chain and reinventing the Salone del Mobile
