Alberto Iacovoni: Open Form in Architecture

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Cornell in Rome Spring 2025 Lecture Series

Abstract

Although architecture's primary role is to provide protection, openness has been a recurring and persistent challenge since the early twentieth century. Modern architects have grappled with the tension between openness and enclosure by devising various strategies to transform architecture into a public and relational medium—one that fosters connections, engages with its surroundings, and adapts dynamically to space and Eme. Drawing on insights from his latest book, La forma aperta in architettura, Alberto Iacovoni delves into the theoretical and practical dimensions of open form in architecture. Through case studies and direct design engagement, he presents an operational framework to address the growing pressures of enclosure and control in contemporary cities, advocating for an architecture that embraces plural and unexpected relationships.

Bio

Iacovoni is an architect, educator, and founding member of the architecture firm ma0 (www.ma0.it). His practice spans a wide range of projects, from interactive installations to urban design. Through teaching, writing, and professional work, Iacovoni has pursued a research trajectory centered on the relationship between architecture and social interaction. His contributions have received national and international recognition, showcasing his work at prestigious events, including four editions of the Venice Architecture Biennale. Iacovoni has held visiting professorships at various institutions, such as the Interaction Design Institute Ivrea, NABA, and multiple American universities, including Cornell AAP in Rome, Syracuse University in Florence, Kent State in Florence, and Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar. He also served as director of the Rome campus of the Istituto Europeo di Design (IED), where he currently leads the postgraduate programs.

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