In a world that is constantly evolving, architecture and design are taking on a completely new perspective, embracing innovation and sustainability as essential for the future. We had the honor of interviewing Giancarlo Zema, the founder of Design Group, a cutting-edge architecture and design studio that is revolutionizing the industry with highly innovative, eco-sustainable, and intelligent projects. In this interview, we will explore Zema's world, from floating architectures that produce green hydrogen energy, all centered around curiosity and emotion in the architecture of the future.
Basically, we are an architecture and design studio, specializing in highly innovative, eco-sustainable, and smart architectures, as is very fashionable these days. In reality, we are involved in a whole series of international projects, I must say, very interesting and stimulating because we deal with architectures, intelligent infrastructures, floating eco-sustainable habitats that produce energy for their own needs and more.
In the last five years, we have been very involved in projects, even on new architectural typologies, such as these vertiports, these structures to enable advanced air mobility, these electric passenger drones. We even have collaborations with China to design these vertiports closely related to nature. In fact, we have designed one that is inspired by African Baobab trees, so it's quite unique, with a laminated wood structure, and this roof garden becomes a takeoff runway for drones.
It's true, you're absolutely right. We have also created floating villages for the Maldives, and even a recent project for the Levi Montalcini Foundation, an exhibition space completely immersed in a Paulownie forest, inspired by the discovery of NGF by Rita Levi Montalcini. It's interesting that Stefano Mancuso's studies speak precisely of this, of the dialogues of plants with their network and roots.
Yes, Stefano Mancuso is obviously the messiah, the one who enlightens us, absolutely. And architects are working precisely on these themes. It's also very nice what you said, rethinking typologies. Essentially, urban planning compared to these new life cells. It's true, almost new organisms that live on their own and must somehow respond to the new needs of the smart cities that lie ahead. It's interesting that energy self-sufficient smart cities, energy villages rather than tough topics.
By the way, on these intelligent infrastructures, we have recently created for ANAS the Green Islands, the first smart roads in Europe, precisely with these objects, urban furniture elements that produce energy and donate it to both electric cars and all the off-grid lighting of these facilities.
Today, I have brought you two projects that are particularly close to my heart. The Smart Road Center here in Rome, a pilot project for ANAS, and Hydrogen Forest, dedicated to green hydrogen, a highly topical issue. In the latter, we have designed charging stations like paulownia trees, hydrogen dispensers for next-generation cars, with photovoltaic canopies and green walls that provide oxygen and absorb CO2.
The interview with Giancarlo Zema of Design Group has taken us into the future of architecture and design, where innovation, sustainability, and emotion merge into extraordinary projects. His nature-inspired approach promises to change the face of cities and infrastructures, leading us towards a more sustainable and intelligent world. Design Group is demonstrating that it is possible to create not only functional but also emotional buildings that respond to the needs of the present and the future.
Interview by Giorgio Tartaro
