At Fublis, our Design Dialogues series is dedicated to showcasing the innovative minds shaping the future of architecture and design. Through in-depth conversations, we explore the philosophies, challenges, and creative journeys of architects whose work is redefining the built environment.

In this edition, we are delighted to feature altro_studio, a practice renowned for its interdisciplinary approach, seamlessly blending architecture with art, history, and urban planning. Their designs challenge conventional notions of space, embracing optical illusions, sustainability, and adaptability to respond to contemporary social dynamics. From the striking visual effects of Lined House to the sustainability-driven House for the Artist, altro_studio’s work pushes the boundaries of perception, function, and aesthetics.

This interview delves into their perspectives on mobility, urban complexity, and the evolving concept of home in an era of digital transformation. Join us as we uncover how altro_studio is reimagining architecture to engage, inspire, and respond to the challenges of our time.

Altro_studio was founded on an interdisciplinary approach, bringing together architects, artists, historians, and urban planners. How has this collaborative dynamic influenced your design philosophy over the years, and how do you ensure each discipline’s voice is effectively integrated into your projects?

Anna Rita Emili: I believe that architecture cannot be abstract and far from the phenomena that directly or indirectly affect humanity. The different arts, which also include architecture, are expressions of reality, society and its transformations. In all my projects there are elements that come from different disciplines such as art, music, science, anthropology, philosophy and especially sociology as an expression of a society that for a series of reasons and phenomena is projected into the future.

The use of black and white stripes to create optical illusions and a sense of movement is both bold and innovative in Lined House. Could you elaborate on how this choice influences the inhabitant’s spatial experience, and were there any unexpected challenges or insights that emerged during the design process?

Anna Rita Emili: The optical illusion has existed several times in European culture. Think of the Baroque for example and specifically to the garden of Bomarso everything is made to amaze the viewer and make the viewer wonder. The same applies to Italian optical and programmed art, strongly focused on the theme of movement coming from kinetic physics . The aim is always to amaze wonder engage and above all change in time to present themselves always different. Reality is based on movement and flexibility on a fast-paced reality where images mutate at exponential speed. Finally, going back to our history, let’s not forget that the medieval and renaissance churches were very often bicrome.

The project incorporates geothermal systems, rainwater harvesting, and photovoltaic panels to achieve self-sufficiency. How did you approach integrating these systems without compromising the architectural aesthetic, and what lessons did you learn about sustainable design from this project?

Anna Rita Emili: Many of my projects, in addition to having interdisciplinarity as a reference, aim at serving humanity by offering concrete answers to phenomena such as natural disasters, pollution and health disasters. I believe that one of the many problems is related to reducing pollution. For this reason, in my opinion it is increasingly necessary to make us autumn from the energy point of view by exploiting more and more natural resources . Rainwater recovery, for example, is very important in a modern reality where there is less and less access to fresh water. This problem is easily solved by placing large underground tanks. The geothermic system is also an invisible system which does not interfere with the aesthetics of the project. The photovoltaic is also no longer a problem because there are currently several systems perfectly camouflaged and integrated with the building we are using at the moment.

Your focus on nomadic, flexible, and transformable living spaces challenges traditional housing norms. In your view, how has the concept of ‘home’ evolved in response to modern social dynamics like immigration, mobility, and urbanization?

Anna Rita Emili: I have worked for years on the nomadic houses trying to give answers to the continuous movement of the individual in the world . The more the individual crosses the world, the more the house must be conceived as a garment. Then over the years I realized that because of virtual communication there was a reverse process that led the individual to be more and more sedentary for this reason I thought that the house should turn into a world where everything happens. I called this new home the Casa Totale a place where you can study, communicate, work, live and much more. For this reason the space of the new house must be not mobile but flexible, transformable mutable.

The house for the artist features perforated metal panels as a sun-protection system and an underground rainwater harvesting tank. Could you explain how these sustainable design elements contribute to energy efficiency and climate adaptability, and what challenges did you face in integrating them seamlessly into the design?

Anna Rita Emili: Regarding the recovery of rainwater I have answered in the previous question while regarding the system of perforated panels are an excellent insulator compared to the outside . In winter they can protect the interior space of the house while in summer the filter space between inside and outside combined with the perforated panel that can rotate according to the sun make the optimal internal ventilation.

This house is designed for an artist, blending practicality with artistic expression. How did the artist’s lifestyle and creative process influence your design decisions, and how did you envision the house supporting and inspiring their daily life and work?

Anna Rita Emili: Today in the cities but not only you see old houses on which stand out magnificent murals. Street art is a very suggestive and engaging art form. Once it is projected in a natural place, it is no longer always clear and uniform but through the movement (rotation of the panels autonomously) it becomes an ambiguous entity. He cannot be content with the beauty of the natural landscape. In this panorama the artist is stimulated by colors and continuous changes of forms trying to establish a new relationship with nature.

Your work is deeply rooted in addressing global challenges like climate change, urban complexity, and social mobility. How do you envision architecture playing a proactive role in mitigating these challenges, particularly in urban environments?

Anna Rita Emili: Always imagining a Total Home, transforming the already built into a flexible system, transformable, focused on smart living, automation and virtual communication (the house equipped with huge screens).

The concept of optical illusion and disorientation is central to the Check House design. Could you elaborate on how these visual effects influence the occupant’s spatial perception and what inspired you to use this approach to stimulate reflection and awareness of space?

Anna Rita Emili: Both the check house and lined house have the same purpose to make the perception of space always changing and disoriented so as to make every movement of the resident person thought and not mechanical as it happens in our domestic reltà. It is necessary to re-measure the space by observing it, perceiving it with the aim of always being amazed.

The repetitive and rhythmic forms are reminiscent of childhood memories. How did you envision the psychological impact of this design element on the occupants, and what role does nostalgia play in shaping the user experience?

Anna Rita Emili: Let’s say our old school notebooks had the same square shapes or lines and we drew them or wrote our dreams.

As architects continuously shape spaces that influence human experiences and cultural narratives, what legacy do you hope to leave behind through your work, and how do you envision the role of architecture evolving in the next decade?

Anna Rita Emili: More and more projected towards the Total House.