Architecture Talks is a well-established lecture series promoted by College of Design Rome Program with the aim of introducing the most interesting European and international architects to our Iowa State students during their semester in Rome.
The focus of Spring 2026 is “New into Old: projects, strategies, and tools to intervene within the existing built environment.” The aim is to present projects and research that reflect on, and critically engage with, architecture as part of a broader urban palimpsest.
The third meeting of NEW-INTO-OLD SP.26- THU. APR. 23 – will present the work of L’AUC – Laboratoire Ab Urbe Condida (Paris) from the voices of Alessandro Gess, architect, partners of the firm and professor of Architecture at Hafen City Universitat Hamburg.
L’AUC is one of the most interesting offices of France and Europe working in between architecture, urban design and research. The work of the firm is remarked by the capability to keep together architecture dimension and urban design, social transformations and ecological sustainability, with a special focus on adaptive re-use applied to the modern city.
The firm and its work are widely recognized through numerous publications and awards, among them the PATRICK ABERCROMBIE award in 2023, the GRAND PRIX DE L’URBANISME DE FRANCE in 2021. The book How to not Demolish a Building by Alessandro Gess and Freek Persyn, Ruby Press, Berlin 2022 on the work of L’AUC in Bruxelles has become a key reference for social and ecological sustainability approach in Europe. Actually L’AUC is one of the five finalists in the Visions for Rome competition, promoted by the Association of Builders and Real Estate of Rome, in collaboration with the City of Rome.
Iowa State students and faculty are invited to join the talk at 11 a.m. CT Thursday, April 23, via Zoom: https://iastate.zoom.us/j/93038786588?pwd=W6kKjKxvghrM8mND0BLpNkCYVPuTFv.1