BRIEF
In the rich tapestry of Italian culture, food holds a revered position, serving as a cornerstone of social interaction, tradition, and identity. The Gastronomy Centre of Italy emerges as a vital conduit, honoring this intrinsic connection by offering a sanctuary where culinary heritage converges with contemporary discourse. It embodies the imperative to celebrate Italy's gastronomic legacy while fostering innovation and dialogue on global food issues.
As a nexus of taste, education, and community, it not only preserves culinary traditions but also propels them into the future, affirming Italy's enduring commitment to gastronomic excellence on both national and international stages. The envisioned Gastronomy Centre of Italy is poised to evolve into a bustling urban enclave dedicated to the multifaceted exploration of food culture and scholarly inquiry.
Positioned as a pioneering nucleus within Florence, it is slated to offer a cohesive blend of experiential spaces, including venues for the indulgence and promotion of local gastronomic delights, alongside educational arenas fostering discourse on global culinary matters.
Architecturally, the design envisages the integration of iconic features such as an expansive auditorium, strategically conceived to host a spectrum of gatherings and symposiums.
Central to the concept is the transformation of the surrounding square into a vibrant, round-the-clock urban oasis, seamlessly merging functionality with cultural vibrancy to facilitate the continuous exchange of knowledge and heritage amongst its diverse array of patrons.
SITE
Piazza Annigoni, a vibrant urban square nestled in the heart of Florence, Italy. Named after the renowned painter Pietro Annigoni. This vibrant hub offers a quintessential Florentine experience with its charming streets, cozy cafes, and lively atmosphere, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the city's rich heritage and vibrant culture.
JURY
Each jury undergoes meticulous nomination, consisting of top-tier professionals whose expertise closely aligns with the competition's theme. This rigorous selection process ensures that every jury member embodies excellence and relevance in their respective fields.
Casey Renner is an architect licensed in California with global experience. A native of Minnesota, his studies have ranged from Scandinavia to MIT, with professional experience including VJAA, Höweler + Yoon, SOM, HOK, and Mark Cavagnero Associates. He has taught at MIT, Virginia Tech, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and has been a guest critic at the University of Minnesota, IIT, UIC, UW Milwaukee, UC Berkeley, and California College of the Arts.
His involvement with high modern architects has shaped a design approach based on honesty, rationality, material efficiency, and building performance, while a background with parametric modeling brings this sensibility to modern tools and expression.
He is a resident of Marin County, where he lives with his wife and two young sons, and also where he manages to find inner peace on a mountain bike.
Justin Linton Campolucci brings a wealth of experience to the jury for this architecture design competition. With over a decade of experience, he has established a successful career across Europe and the Middle East. Since 2022, he has been part of the architectural team at Bureau Bas Smets in Brussels. Before this, he refined his expertise at Marc Koehler Architects in Amsterdam and in Italy, working on diverse and innovative projects centered on the urban fabric and its regeneration.
Justin's architectural journey began with a solid educational foundation. Coming from a mixed Italian-Australian background, he graduated with full marks from the Università degli Studi di Firenze with a Master of Architecture. He also spent a year at Technische Universität Berlin, further broadening his academic experience. Throughout his career, Justin has been involved in projects in Florence, Doha, Portugal and more recently in the USA, UAE, and Paris. His global perspective and keen eye for design excellence make him an invaluable addition to the panel.
Kristoffer Tjerrild Lund brings a dynamic blend of international experience and academic rigor to the jury of this architecture design competition. Since February 2021, Kristoffer has been an Architect at 3XN/GXN in Copenhagen, contributing significantly to innovative architectural projects. His previous roles include a design position at aeoeaa and pivotal internships at renowned firms such as Bureau Spectacular—Jimenez Lai in Los Angeles, OMA in Rotterdam, and Snøhetta in Oslo.
Kristoffer's academic journey spans from a bachelor’s degree in architecture from KADK in Copenhagen to earning his master’s degree in architecture at SCI-Arc in Los Angeles. This educational background has equipped him with a deep understanding of architectural theory and practice. Fluent in navigating diverse cultural and professional landscapes, Kristoffer is known for his innovative approach and commitment to pushing the boundaries of architectural design. His insights and expertise will undoubtedly enrich the evaluation process of this competition.
Simon McKenzie is an architect and educator based in San Francisco. Before joining Feldman Architecture in 2024, he spent seven years working at the international office of Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill, where he worked on projects at a variety of scales from their early conception through to construction document phases. Simon also has experience at acclaimed offices such as OMA, Coop Himmelb(l)au, and the Research and Development Laboratory of 3XN.
Simon gained his Bachelor of Architecture Studies from the University of Waterloo and Master of Architecture at McGill University. At McGill, he received the AIA Henry Adams Medal and the RAIC Gold Medal for being the top architecture graduate. For the last five years, he has also taught a fourth-year design studio at the Academy of Art University, while maintaining his fulltime position at SOM. Simon’s approach to design combines functional elements of program and site together with experiential elements of phenomenology and narrative.
Ziang Ao is a California-licensed architect and a principal at Anderson Anderson Architecture in San Francisco. He holds a master's degree in architecture from UC Berkeley, preceded by studies in urban planning in China. This background has instilled in him a profound appreciation for the relationship between buildings and their contexts.
Before relocating to the United States, Ao worked at Kengo Kuma and Associates in Tokyo, where he honed his skills in detailing and developed an aesthetic influenced by Eastern design principles. At Anderson Anderson Architecture, which transitioned from a design-build firm, Ao acquired extensive experience in construction details, manufacturer interactions, cost analysis, and the realization of projects from conceptual designs to tangible structures.
In addition to his professional practice, Ao is a frequent guest critic at UC Berkeley and the California College of the Arts, contributing his expertise to the academic community.
