An architectural project can be defined as the management of a process that begins with the identification of a need, goes through construction, and ends with the occupancy and use of a building.
The phases of, and participants in, this process are becoming ever more complex and diversified.
Different stakeholders and actors often express divergent and contradictory interests; it falls to the architect to turn these “conflicts” into viable architectural solutions. The architect does not specialize in any specific phase, but must govern them all with a view to bringing the project to a successful conclusion.
Over the past forty years, this philosophy has shaped our professional activity, and the architects that make up the Studio Macola remain as committed as ever to take full responsibility for every project – large or small – that they undertake..
Following stints of work in Algeria and Udine, where he was employed by G. Valle, Giorgio Macola launched his practice in Venice in 1976.
From the mid-1970s, Studio Macola Architects planned and executed, often in collaboration with G. Valle Architects, numerous projects, dealing mainly with educational institutions and residential units.
The projects accomplished during this period include 28 schools on behalf of Valdadige s.p.a. (1976-1982), a multipurpose centre in Sibari (1982-1985), a 40-unit residential building in Rovellasca (1982-1984), a 90-unit residential complex in Mestre (1985-1990), and the functional restructuring of the former Olocese cotton mill in Venice (1986-1996).
In 1985, Giorgio Macola, in association with G. Valle and F. Urquijo, began working in Paris, where he took part in several international competition projects and specialized in the planning of large office buildings. The following are the principal projects executed in Paris: Descartes Office Tower – IBM France at La Defense (1985-1988); office building in Faubourg St. Martin (1988-1990); Unifor France headquarters and showroom in St. Ouen (1990-1991); office building in Av. Victor Hugo (1994-1998); redevelopment of an urban block in Bd. des Capucines, including the relocation and reconstruction of the Olympia Theatre (1993-1999).
Urban regeneration has been one of the key recent concerns of the Studio Macola; in this context, several projects centring on the transformation of former industrial areas have been realized. These include: a residential and commercial complex in Bergamo; the new Caorle cultural centre; the urban renewal plan for the old ACTV bus depot of via Torino, in Mestre; plans for social housing in Favaro and Gazzera, Venice; and the functional restructuring of the former ‘Cantoni’ area in Legnano, Milan.
The Studio Macola is currently working on a residential development in the area of the former ‘Conterie’ of Murano, Venice, and on a project for 200 residential units in Chirignago, Venice.
At present, the staff of Studio Macola consists of Giorgio Macola, Ambra Dina, Manolo Lazzaro, Mark Sonego, Francesca Ferrari and Paola Silvestrini; it also regulalry cooperates with the following engineering and architectural firms: Adolfo Zanetti, Luca Rota, Costantino Costantini, Jean Jaques Bouché, Sinergo Spa.