NICOLA DI CROCE / PORTFOLIO - 2015

BIO

NICOLA DI CROCEArchitect / PhD Student / Composer

Born in Potenza, Italy, February 7 1986address: via della Pineta 15, Potenzamobile: +39/3472991617

LANGUAGESItalian, mothertongue / English, C2 level / Deutch, B1 level/ French, A2 level

SOFTWARES Autodesk AutoCad, SketchUp, Allplan, Cinema 4D, Rhinocerous, Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, Acrobat, Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Microsoft Office.

PHD / REGIONAL PLANNING AND PUBLIC POLICIESIUAV, UNIVERSITY OF ARCHITECTURE, VENICE

My research deals with the relation between city, territory and sound. This relation explores new potentials for urban regeneration, participatory processes and local developement.

The Listening and Field recording practices lead together to a new perception of the environment, where the sound language becomes a narrative and design vehicle; as an essential tool for the un-derstanding and the redefinition of public space quality.

Through this research I intend to make use of listening as an empowerment design for marginal stakeholders, as well as an instrument for the implementation of the institutional understanding on critical urban issues such as depopulation, segregation, and the dieing out of local identity.

As part of my PhD research, some of the following projects are effectively working through arti-stic and planning approaches in order to reframe citizens perceptions and develop their self go-vernment aptitude.

WORKS 2010/2015

picture by Luigi Greco

LISTENING CLOSELY / A PARTICIPATORY PROJECT

A project by Nicola Di Croce, San Cipriano Picentino (SA) 2015

For further informations fondazionepetroni.org/

Listening Closely is a Sound Art participatory project developed during an artistic residency held by Fondazione Aurelio Petroni. The main focus is about the perception of the inhabitants of the soundscape of the vil-lage. A series of soundwalks and field recordings are made in order to build up an iden-titatian archive: sound and memories are collected to-gether with the citizens, who are invited, finally to take part in an interactive performance. A public talk has finally remar-ked the responsability of eve-ry inhabitant in the composi-tion of the local soundscape.

pictures by Chiara Caterina

TRIESTE SOUNDSCAPE PROJECT / WORKSHOP CURATOR

A project by Archivio Italiano Paesaggi Sonori with Nicola Di Croce, F. Giannico, A. Ballerini / Trieste 2015

For further informations www.archivioitalianopaesaggisonori.it/archivio/projects

Trieste Soundscape Project is a workshop organized within In/Visible Cities, Multimedia Arts festival.

The aim is to orient partici-pants in a first acknowledg-ment of the intangible cultural heritages of the city of Trieste. The inquiry on the soundsca-pe brings the research to in-teract with inhabitants and discover their acoustic per-ception.From this interaction, a series of urban planning interven-tions are proposed. A final performance shows and play with the sonic choices of the inhabitants.

pictures by Francesco Giannico

URBAN SAMPLING / A SOUND ART PROJECT

A project by Nicola Di Croce / Palermo 2014

For further informations www.dimoraoz.it/

Urban Sampling is the result of an artistic residency held by Dimora Oz.

The research focuses on everyday practices, in par-ticoular on the screams of sellers within the historical markets of the city center. Such an identitarian sonic cue brings back to a local tradition which is dieing out and which furthermore reveals the nei-ghbourhoods dynamics. A series of interviews and field recordings are collected and presenter through an in-stallation and a performance.

COLLECTIVE BACKGROUND / PORTOBESENO FESTIVAL

A project by Nicola Di Croce / Castel Beseno (TN) 2014

For further informations www.portobeseno.it/2014/festival/alpsound2014.html

Collective Background is a Sound Art project developed during an artistic residency held by Portobeseno festival.

Exploring and representing the soundscape of Vallagarina is the main goal of the rese-arch. A series of interviews and field recordings investiga-te the acoustic identity of the inhabitants, and through them reveal the main political issues of the territory. The collected material is pre-sented through a live perfor-mance in the Medieval Castel Beseno.

MATERA SOUNDSCAPE PROJECT / WORKSHOP CURATOR

A project by Archivio Italiano Paesaggi Sonori with Nicola Di Croce, Francesco Giannico / Matera 2014

For further informations www.archivioitalianopaesaggisonori.it/archivio/projects

Matera Soundscape Project is a workshop organized within the University of Basilicata, DICEM department of eu-ropean and mediterranean cultures. The aim is to orient partici-pants in a first acknowledg-ment of the soundscape, and to bring them the basic tools to record and recompose it. The inquiry brings the rese-arch to interact with inhabi-tants and discover their acou-stic perception.A final performance shows and play with the field recor-dings collected by the partici-pants.

A DI CITTA’ - URBAN REGENERATION FESTIVAL / WORKSHOP CURATOR

A project by Nicola Di Croce, Luigi Greco, Detto fatto Collective / Rosarno 2013

For further informations adicitta.wordpress.com/

The workshop is focused on the inquiry of a lower income neighbourhood of Rosarno, which hosts a huge quantity of migrants from North Afri-ca. The study on soundscape helps the research to under-stand the social perception of the issue, from the perspec-tive of the inhabitants and the migrants. A series of in-terviews and field recordings are collected and presented through a sonic and architec-tural installation, designed and realised with the collabora-tion of the migrants.

pictures by Lorena Caruana

VOKAS - FROM ARCHIVE TO DESIRE / WORKSHOP CURATOR

A project by Luca Ruali, with Nicola Di Croce, Emilio Macchia, Paul Paper / Klaipeda 2013

For further informations www.vokas.net/index.php

The workshop is hosted by the Vilnius visual design Aca-demy and presents to the students a various range of alternative approaches for the representation of urban environment.

Soundscape becomes here a tool for the understanding of the political and social issues of the city. The students are asked to re-cord the soundscape and re-compose it in order to create a continuous installation loop.

FARE ALTRE COSE / BIENNALE DI VENEZIA, PADIGLIONE ITALIA

A project by Luca Diffuse, with Nicola Di Croce, Francesca Ramirez / Venezia 2012

For further informations http://www.farealtrecose.net

“Fare altre cose” is a visual project by Luca Diffuse made for the Venice Biennale of Ar-chitecture, as part of the sec-tion Re-Made in Italy, inside the Italian Pavillion.

A video shows different kind of episodes dealing with the italian landscape; simple ex-periences and actions of se-veral groups working on the valorisation of the shrinking territories.The close connection betwe-en animations and music ex-plain a strong narrative wish essential also as a powerful design instrument.

72 HOURS URBAN ACTION / DESIGNING AND BUILDING INTERVENTION

A laboratory by gATR -Terni young Architects- 72HUA / Terni 2012

For further informations http://72hoururbanaction.com

In a working-class district of Terni five small interventions within unused spots aim to cerate new shared uses of the public spaces. The design and the real time costrucion process come up with the idea of a furnished table made by wood and concrete cylinders, that goes down with a ramp to the grownd becoming a seat, and can be used as a kitchen, a spi-ces store and a children game at the same time.The table’s shape gives to the neigbourhood a warm welcome and invites them to cooperate and organize small events for the residential area.

TRACCIATI, LA CITTÀ SOSPESA / COMMA URBAN ART FESTIVAL

A project by Bob Gibson, The london police / Perugia 2012

Watch the video on http://vimeo.com/43921188For further informations http://comma.cap2020.it/

Comma Urban art Festival took place in Perugia during June 2012. The Istallation is build by ten selected parte- cipants directed by the artist Bob Gibson, from “The lon- don Police” collective.The main idea is to build an imaginary city starting from elementary materials: wood, bricks an iron, placed and re- placed day by day in order to represent the evolution nd the developement of the ur-ban structure.A video shows the steps of the process with an original soundtrack composed with the working noises.

THE PILGRIMAGE / AN ART INSTALLATION

A project by Nicola Di Croce, in collaboration with Mila / Berlin 2012

For further informations http://www.the-berg.de/

“The Berg” is the project of an utopian mountain in the center of Berlin, designed to study how a new landmark could affect the inhabitants.

Mila Gallery is a space where “The Berg” is presented and reconsidered in a different way for each installation.

A “holy Pilgrimage” is the main theme of the spring exhibition, where a series of cardboard silhouettes create the perspective of a crouded queue going down an imagi-nary valley to reach a lighted mountain.

LE VOCI DELL’ACQUEDOTTO FELICE / AN INTERACTIVE MUSEUM

A project by Stalker/Primaveraromana, in collaboration with IED and TRai group / Roma 2011

For further informations http://levocidellacquedottofelice.wordpress.com/

The Felice Aqueduct is a 10 km roman infrastructure that tells the memories and the stories of all the inhabitants living in the surroundings or using it as a shack; a well preserved, interesting and unknown route going from the centre till the outskirt of Rome.The idea is to realize social-ly, by the collaboration of people and experts, a me-mory archive, an interactive museum using the QR code technology: the photos, the audio files and the videos are collected in a web site and ea-sly recalled by a smartphone.

CO/AULETTA / AN ARCHITECTURAL AND CURATORIAL PROJECT

A project by Luca Ruali in collaboration with Based Architecture, Emanuela Ascari, Nicola Di Croce, Giuseppe Maiorana, Studio Iknok, Elena pierazzoli / Roma 2012

http://www.abitare.it/it/diffuse-outtakes/coauletta-–-diretta-web-1/

picture by Luca Ruali

For further informations http://coa.progetto-rena.it/si-ma-cosa-ci-fai-con-lo-spazio-vuoto-niente-2/

Co/auletta is a management model as a process for the cultural developement of the small town of Auletta.

An artistic residence system is proposed in order to interact with the locals and create a common sense of the place.

The settlement is part of a huge depopulating areas of the Appenines mountain belt: new lifeblood is given by the free use of the existing space and by the parallel action of artists coordinated by a de-signer, editorial, audio editing and publishing team.

LISTENING TO IMPERFECT TAPES / AN ARCHITECTURAL MIXTAPE

A project by Luca Ruali in collaboration with Abitare Magazine, Fest’Arch / Perugia 2011

For further informations http://listeningtoimperfecttapes.tumblr.com/ http://www.abitare.it/it/festarch-2011/listening-to-imperfect-tapes-4/

Listening to imperfect tapes is a multimedial production for the International Festival of Architecture “Fest’Arch”, or-ganized in Perugia.

The work started collecting the impressions of the city, recording and re-elaborating the material in a sound and graphic mixtape. The final result can’t be understood li-stening to the single contents, but to the whole action of re-searching and rendering; the production aim is a new ur-ban experience, to create the chance for new prospectives and new possible projects.

SEA FOR EVERYONE/ URBAN PLANNING COMPETITION

A project by Nicola Di Croce and Luigi Greco , in collaboration with Well tech ingegneria - Agrigento / Roma 2011

For further informations http://www.welltechsrl.it/home.htm

The project main goal is to encrease and develope the opportunities of the west coast water system of Sicily by establishing a net of struc-tures for the support of the pleasure sailing.The strategy starts mapping the weak and strength points, than elaborating a common punctual action in orther to face the massive tourism of the summer season in a su-stainable and reversible way. New flexible sailing structu-res are designed leaving free areas for a landscape revita-lization and the environment care.

ILA&UD BOOKS / “WHERE DOES CITIES COME FROM?”

An editorial project by Etra Occhialini with Nicola Di Croce and Davide Luca / Ferrara 2011

For further informations http://www.ilaud.eu/

The International Laboratory of Architecture and Urban Design, ILAUD is a free as-sociation founded in Italy in 1976 by Giancarlo De Carlo.

ILAUD activities are carried on through laboratories ba-sed on studio work, seminars and lectures.

Laboratories take place whe-re there are particularly rele-vant issues that need to be studied in depth. Design is used as a tool for exploring issues and suggest tentative solutions that can be useful also for other cases.

MARCH FOR A NEW WORLD / A PARTECIPATED PLANNING AND MEDIATION WALK

A project by Stalker/Primaveraromana in collaboration with Libera / Sicily 2011

For further informations http://siciliaperiperi.wordpress.com/

Walking is an aesthetical ex-perience but also a way to look for a dialogue between people and landscape; star-ting from Danilo Dolci’s walk throught Sicily in 1967, the March for a new world in-volved public administrations together with associations, farms and producers from Menfi till Palermo.

A partecipated plan against underworlds, working on the future of a really contraddic-tory land; a mediation about the central role of public wa-ter and of a controlled farm production.

EAUX VIVES / NEW PUBLIC SPACES, URBAN PLANNING COMPETITION

A project by Ma0 architecture office, 4th prize Geneve / Roma 2010

For further informations http://www.ma0.it/

After the Jean Nouvel me-tro stations, the Eaux Vives district of Geneve needs a strong reorganization of the public space system.

In front of the new Opera house, and between the sta-tions the ground become an interactive promenade: public “rooms” entertain people, giving them the possibility to sit down on a chaise longue, using a public play table or enjoying a series of techno-logical furnitures to listen to music, watching video or changing the light conditions of each room.

LOST TALES / STRATEGY PLANNING, MASTER DEGREE THESIS

A research and a project by Nicola Di Croce, relator Etra Occhialini / Ferrara 2010

For further informations http://issuu.com/nicoladicroce/docs/raccontidimenticati

The depopulation phenome-non, at a world and expecially European scale, shows a closerelation to the mountain sy-stems. The worse situation in Italy is on the Appennine mountains band, where the shrinkage and abandoning trends hit both cities and more isolated settlements. A focused action on the city outskirts, and a territorial one on the inland municipalities, aim to create a social and economic net based on new services and accessibilities, to revitalize the areas suffering the distance from big centers and the infrastructures lack.

PAST WORKS 2007/2009

NY ELLEBJERG STATION / NEW DEVELOPEMENT, URBAN PLANNING PROJECT

A project by Nicola Di Croce, teachers: Jens Kvorning and Jens Pasgaard / Copenhagen 2009

Ny Ellebjerg station is in the west outskirt of the danish capital, close to the junction of two raliway lines; this kind of areas are now strategic no-des for a sustainable develo-pement of the contemporary city.

The intervention consists in a masterplan that works on the unbuilt strips by the railway li-nes; one is layed underground and new connections are created between the existing industries, the sport centers, the offices, with new dwel-lings, creating different layers of green and public spaces.

MICROCITY / REDEVELOPEMENT, ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN PLANNING PROJECT

A project by Nicola Di Croce, teachers: Carmelo Baglivo - Ian+, Marco Brizzi, Stefano Rocca / Ferrara 2008

The ex Sani barrack is a huge enclosured area in the outskirt of Bologna, the challenge is open it to the city.

The first proposal is to pre-serve some existing buildings and edge between them some “untouchble” zones in order to create a Third Lan-dscape in realtion with the new developement. The design goal is to establish the missing link from inside to outside the previous barrier by working with green areas new services for the com-munity and a series of artists Atelier open to the people.

TIME MUSEUM / ARCHITECTURE PROJECT

A project by Nicola Di Croce, teachers: Antonello Stella - n! studio, Paolo Iotti - Iotti+Pavarani / Ferrara 2007

The green belt following the old city walls of Ferrara is an unsta-ble balanced place, therefore an exhibition center dedicated to “time” have to consider the different rithms of the city.

The main idea is working on a semi-hypogean structure: each room outcrops in the park, fa-cing the urban differences of the area. Really important is the setting up of the exhibition, all the con-tents are selected during the design process and arranged around a form destroyed and resetted, shaping the lights and the rooms surfaces.

WORKSHOPS 2008/2010

INTERNATIONAL LABORATORY OF ARCHITECTURE & URBAN DESIGN / CHINA

A workshop by ILA&UD with South China University of Technology / Guangzhou 2010

For further informations http://www.ilaud.eu/

The Laboratory worked in Gangzhou, in the south of China. Commerce, new de-velopement and lost of tra-ditions are the keywords to describe the situation to deal with. The intervention concerned the upgrading and the re-organization of the old nei-ghbourhood around the 13 Hongs area trying to keep hits memory and creating an attractive place to live in with adequate modern standards. This approach could beco-me a model for reorganizing / redesigning other parts of the city.

M

SUSTAINABLE LIVING / REDEVELOPEMENT AND DENSIFICATION PROJECT

A project by Nicola Di Croce with Behnish Architekten / Copenhagen 2009

For further informations http://behnisch.com/

The residential developement of Copenhagen industrial area main aim is to be as dense as possible by mixing different functions and reskilling old buildings. “Social” sustainabili-ty should come before each technological choice: the chal-lenge is thinking about design from the city dwellers point of view.

The building core demolition let a commercial street to be created and new apartments are built on the top of the roof, which can be used as common gareden.

BUILDING NATURAL / LAND ART AND INSTANT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

A project by Nicola Di Croce with Armin Schubert, Alessandro Rocca, Marco Navarra / Sicilia 2008

For further informations http://issuu.com/letteraventidue/docs/costruirenaturale

The intervention take pla-ce inside the linear park of San Michele in Ganzaria, Sicily, under the ruins of a railway bridge.

Three different installations follow the common idea of life and death: a vegetal totem, a stone spiral inside the river and a bamboo construction which is connecting the two destroyed sides of the bridge tigether with a tense rope. The structure’s profile traces a mirrored arch, with a central gash open to the landscape.

NICOLA DI CROCE / PORTFOLIO - 2015