Cantiere Aperto: a collective urban practice
Michela Dossi
Marina Malavasi
Giulia MIgliaccio
Davide Sala
Hypereden is a collective of architects and designers, born in 2011, which investigates the physical and cultural identities of places, their enhancement and their sustainable transformation over time. It operates with the tools of art, design and architecture in the field of urban, landscape, architectural and interior design.
We have a multidisciplinary approach and complementary attitudes in design, and continuous collaboration with external consultants.
Hypereden’s design practice strengthens the potential of the existing, practices grafts that reconfigure reality in new shapes and forms, leaves a degree of indeterminacy which opens to new contributions, continuous adaptations. Our projects are a layered vision of the past, present and future. In the field of education, the collective collaborates with several schools in Milan (CFP Bauer, NABA) to train young designers.
Among others, our more recent projects:
Riscossa - Participatory design for the transformation of the Piano Zero space at Palazzo Granaio, Settimo Milanese;
La Bocciofila, Milano Design week, Set-up installation for a public space for relax, Careof, Fabbrica del Vapore, Milan;
Dammi Spazio - Design and creation of interactive installations for an urban exploration game;
Nuovo Armenia - Architectural and landscape design for a new neighbourhood cinema and educational area, participatory construction process for the community garden, coordination of volunteers, self-build workshops, Milan.
Regarding with Cantiere Aperto process, three edition were realized:
Giano Fountain, in 2022: built in the Lea Garofalo community garden in Milan, in collaboration with Giardini in Transito.
Esposkate skate park, during the Festival Concentrico 2023 in Logroño: in collaboration with Esposkate to be placed in the square during tournaments.
Bestiario, in 2024 for the City of Turin: seats for children’s reading activities, with the Marc Chagall kindergarten and Cecchi Point Casa di Quartiere.
Hypereden is a collective of architects and designers that promotes practices aimed at the redevelopment and active transformation of collective spaces using self-construction as a tool for dialogue and relationship building. Since 2011 we have been working with communities to modify physical space with the involvement of those who inhabit it, inviting the construction of a new form of coexistence, transformation, care and conservation through participation. Among a wide range of interventions in collective spaces, in 2022 we started the Cantiere Aperto process, in collaboration with Frantoio Sociale, to reuse waste materials as a resource to build urban artifacts with local communities.
Cantiere Aperto responds to different objectives:
1.Connection with the citizens:
During the construction phase, the continuous presence in the public space is a chance to connect with all the citizens that are passing by: infographics are shown to represent construction processes today in Europe and how to look at waste as a resource.
2. Make durable interventions for public use, decided by the community:
Cantiere Aperto works alongside non profit organizations and local communities to help them to transform the space they daily use for their activities. The elements will be designed and built with the community for their specific purpose. We build remarkable artifacts in terms of design, quality, durability and sustainability, using recycled matter mixed with a binder and pigments as materials for the construction. The elements built during the process are inspiring for future transformations, evoke affection and encourage environmental consciousness.
3. Exchange experiences and good practices in a public program with international partners:
For the positive impact and the sense of belonging it creates, Cantiere Aperto vocation is to be present in other urban environments and communities.
4. Enjoy the public inauguration party at the end of the construction!