In 2004 Elena Manferdini founded Atelier Manferdini, a design office based in Los Angeles, California. The firm has been highly visible as an advocate of design excellence and has been recognized internationally for its ability to create imaginative architecture, art and object design. The office is based on a multi-scale work methodology and embraces the philosophy that design can participate in a wide range of multidisciplinary developments that define our culture.

Among her projects, "Twoness" is a solo show exhibition of 66 miniatures printed drawings and 12 samples of hand woven carpets designed by Atelier Manferdini for Urban Fabric Rugs. While "Building the Picture" is part one of a two-part series of special commissions generously supported by the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts, SCI-Arc and Arktura.

KOOZ What defined the multidisciplinary approach of the Atelier?

EM The multidisciplinary methodology of Manferdini Atelier is innate in most Italian professional architectural practices. The ability to work from the small scale of the object to the large scale of the building is embedded in my Italian background and education. From a functional perspective that is also how I started my career, working with furniture and product design to then grow to tackle the larger scale of architecture.

KOOZ How and to what extent is there a sense of continuity throughout your work?

EM This is a very interesting question as every project starts and is embedded with the notion of research. As a result, a drawing can soon, through a process of experimentation of materials, scale, and dimensionality, turn into a façade and inhabit an architectural fantasy. Through this process, the concept stays the same but the identity changes.

KOOZ What is the role of the exhibition within your work?

EM The exhibition plays a crucial role in turning the conceptual work of an architect into an artwork, exhibitions are an effective mean to bridge the dual identity of architectural drawings, that can be understood as scaled down architectural artifacts, or autonomous artwork. The exhibitions of Atelier Manferdini range from drawings and models to large scale insertions which challenge the space of the white cube gallery. The opportunity to ‘own’ a gallery space for this past year has also meant a challenge because it pushed my office to be in constant production, and exposure.

KOOZ How does your work at SCI-Arc influence your practice and vice versa?

EM My work at the university is complementary to my work back at the Atelier. As SCI-Arc is a school that encourages creativity and free thinking I am constantly stimulated by this environment and numerous of my students end up working at the practice because of a similar methodology and approach to architecture.

KOOZ To what extent has your cultural heritage impacted the way you work?

EM Although I have been living and working in Los Angeles since I pursued my masters at UCLA, there are certain aspects that I trust are inherently Italian, as a passion and research on symmetry, materials, and a sense of order. While the outcome is geometrically very different it is strongly related to an Italian heritage and understanding of architectural facades and space.

Bio

Elena Manferdini, principal and owner of Atelier Manferdini, has over fifteen years of professional experience in architecture, art, design, and education. She graduated from the University of Civil Engineering (Bologna, Italy) and later received her Master of Architecture and Urban Design from the University of California Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA). She frequently lectures, and her work has been exhibited internationally in both architecture and art museums. Selected examples are the Art Institute of Chicago, LACMA and MOCA in Los Angeles, MAXXI in Rome, MAK center in Vienna.

Federica Zambeletti is the founder and managing director of KoozArch. She is an architect, researcher and digital curator whose interests lie at the intersection between art, architecture and regenerative practices. In 2015 Federica founded KoozArch with the ambition of creating a space where to research, explore and discuss architecture beyond the limits of its built form. Parallel to her work at KoozArch, Federica is Architect at the architecture studio UNA and researcher at the non-profit agency for change UNLESS where she is project manager of the research "Antarctic Resolution". Federica is an Architectural Association School of Architecture in London alumni.