Architectures of sobriety

CYCLE: Architectures of sobriety 
SPEAKER: Raul Pantaleo
DATE: Thursday, May 21, 6:00 PM

This lecture offers a systematic review of twenty years of design activity in Africa, spanning countries such as Rwanda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Senegal, the Central African Republic, and Sierra Leone, with a particular focus on the evolving relationship between technology, culture, and sustainability. The analysis extends beyond the strictly constructional realm to include the impact of architectural projects on the healthcare, educational, and cultural sectors. The perspective adopted is that of an articulated process of exchange with African contexts, viewed as spaces for critical experimentation where the very notion of excellence is put to the test. Within this framework, a new conception of "sobriety" emerges, understood as an ethical and operational principle capable of guiding design toward essential, sustainable, and conscious solutions. Architecture is thus configured as a tool for cultural mediation based on respect, the sharing of knowledge, and the enhancement of local contexts.

Raul Pantaleo is an Italian architect and graduate of IUAV University in Venice. He is a co-founder of TAMassociati, an international firm specializing in sustainable and social architecture. An Adjunct Professor at the University of Trieste, he has collaborated with the NGO Emergency on numerous healthcare projects in war-torn and impoverished areas across Africa and the Middle East. In 2016, he was part of the curatorial team for the Italian Pavilion at the 15th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale. He has received prestigious international awards and is a member of various scientific and cultural organizations.