SCAPE Architecture

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SCAPE Architecture

SCAPE Architecture. A portrait by Jean-Philippe Hugron. March 2023

SCAPE Architecture was founded in Rome in 2004.
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In 2008, the practice was awarded with the Nouveaux Albums des Jeunes Architectes, the most prestigious institutional prize for young architects in France. This first achievement leads to the opening of the office headquarters in Paris, and, in the following years, of a branch in Milan. As a result of its open vision, SCAPE Architecture work covers a wide span of programmes. Among them: the Railwa

y Operation Centre in Pantin (2021), a complex technical building controlling 20% of national and regional train traffic; the extension of the MAXXI Museum in Rome, to be completed in 2026, adding to Zaha Hadid’s masterpiece a multifunctional building dedicated to laboratories, a learning centre and storage areas; the logistics hub built in 2022 for the Établissements Vilatte, a private company, in Massy. Through those projects, SCAPE Architecture recent research focuses on the role and place of productive buildings in the heart of the contemporary city’s fabric. This investigation is aimed to redefine those which usually are seen as backstage buildings, through a new way of living in and using them. Furthermore, SCAPE portfolio encompasses a long list of projects, expressing the desire and the experience of a broader research: a housing project in Milan, a timber office building in Paris-Batignolles, the Italian National Judaïsm Museum in Ferrara…

For Ludovica Di Falco, SCAPE founding partner, each project is an opportunity to reinforce the commitment of the office. Born in Naples in 1975, educated in the Lycée Français de Rome, she studied architecture in Rome and TU Wien. She sees herself as an entrepreneur architect: a definition consistent with her multiple and somehow contradictory interests. Brought up by an Italian and Swiss family, Ludovica’s cultural background is profoundly European and deeply Mediterranean. Her practice is focused in finding the balance between the overwhelming idea of architecture as a solution to political, social, and cultural problems, and the superficial attitude of bringing simplistic solutions to complex matters. The act of reading, in all its multiple forms, is for Ludovica a discipline leading to concentration, the key to focus and escape the lack of attention that dramatically affects us as individuals and as a society. Being an architect means being flexible, which is an antidote to avoid mechanical thinking and acting. Mathilde Mouchel contributes to this philosophy, in her capacity of Project Director at SCAPE since 2016. Mathilde graduated from Paris-Belleville School of Architecture and is passionate in every matter mixing architecture and urbanism; she nourishes SCAPE practice with her work on historical architecture and building transformation, previously developed during her 15 years at the Atelier d'Architecture Philippe Prost, Grand Prix National d’Architecture in 2022. Ludovica and Mathilde backgrounds join in their common vision of architecture as a global
comprehension of the building process. SCAPE follows every project from the very first conception phases until completion and considers itself the trait d’union between the multiple stakeholders at every stage. Architecture is not limited to its creative part: it’s a responsibility, where the first drawings lead to complex construction sites. A project is therefore conceived with having in mind what follows next and with the awareness of the long-term impact of the building practice.

Address

4 Cité Paradis
Paris
75010

Website

http://www.scape.it/

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Our Story

In a rapidly evolving world, cities are facing complex future challenges. SCAPE Architecture designs architectural projects that are perfectly adapted to their context by combining an innovative collaborative working approach and the know-how of its multicultural team.

There is no doubt that territories are changing.

First of all, for demographic reasons. The world population is in constant growth. By 2030, 60% of the world population will be concentrated in urban areas.

Secondly, for environmental reasons. This multicultural, multi-social and multi-generational concentration of urban dwellers increases the need to create new ways of living together to make living together a pleasure, in a sustainable city, which never lacks resources.

Moreover, cities are also changing through their means of transportation: in addition to the heavy motorway and railway infrastructure, environmental-friendly and individual methods are also being implemented: from bikes, to electric powered vehicles, segways, scooters, busses and trams. The city lives to the rhythm of this multimodal mobility, influenced by urban expansion, the use of new technologies.

All those factors influence major city policies, influence the urban physiognomy of neighborhoods and buildings: housing, offices, schools, museums, businesses and industrial sites.

The way forward

SCAPE Architecture assesses, understands, shares and offers solutions to these challenges by conceiving architectural projects that are perfectly adapted to their context.

Providing solutions that suit the environment, the location and the users is the driving force of SCAPE Architecture. Those are the core principles of the office since its creation by Ludovica DI FALCO in 2004. SCAPE Architecture’s achievements and projects illustrates its ability to offer relevant solutions for any given challenge. These projects share a common feature: they continue changing with their environment, theirs users and their time.

BIM, the collaborative work tool

Whatever the features of either of the projects, SCAPE Architecture follows a key method: collaborative work. It aims at initiating an organized dialogue early on between architects, engineers and construction economists.

This dialogue obviously requires meetings, but also a computer-based tool: the Building Information Modelling. SCAPE Architecture has been systematically using the BIM process since 2010. This tool allows users to share information with all the stakeholders through a 3D model. It has a triple advantage: a better understanding of the project by all, more reliable communications, and the sharing of constraints for a closer monitoring of deadlines and a better cost control.

This technical use of the BIM is the continuation of the design method provided by Ludovica Di Falco to his team. The project work is the results of discussions within the entire SCAPE Architecture team, where everyone can express their opinion, their cultural and architectural sensitivity, compare their points of view and share their knowledge. Projects and achievements stem from this workshop task based on the same principle of collaborative work.

From the point of view of the users

The multicultural strength of SCAPE Architecture also lies in building for the future by drawing lessons from the past. This is a strong belief at SCAPE Architecture: it is impossible to design a site without taking an unflinching look at what was there previously. That's what the office considers as a selective view on history with the goal of retaining what was best in the past and to adapt it to present and future contexts.

And not just from an architectural standpoint! But also from the standpoint of the residents in a building and their neighbors. They are in fact the reasons why SCAPE Architecture designs places that others might also use and look at long after.