“Complexity and contradiction” in architecture

(April 2025) | The discussion between Ippolito Pestellini Laparelli, founder of the practice 2050+, and Simona Bordone from Domus took its cue from Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture, Robert Venturi’s seminal 1966 work which is widely regarded as one of the most influential architectural texts of the 20th century.

Conservation is not merely a technical matter but a complex political and cultural framework, an intellectual stance rooted in recognising the historical and material value of the built environment.

In Europe, and particularly in Italy, the decision to conserve, restore and critically and creatively reuse existing structures is increasingly seen as a form of social responsibility, with an impact that extends across multiple scales from individual buildings to the planet as a whole.

Watch the video of the conversation.