World-renowned architect kicks off Architecture Nights

Last year, the Kamra tal-Periti organised a series of architectural lectures and debates, entitled "Architecture Nights 2006", in view of promoting good architecture and quality in design of the built environment.

This architectural series featured speakers from award-winning international practices Building Design Partnership, Llewelyn-Davies Yeang and Bennetts Associates Architects from London, together with internationally acclaimed Richard England.

Following the success of this event, the KTP will once again be organising Architecture Nights, inviting world-renowned architects to expose our audience to the best contemporary examples in architecture worldwide.

The KTP has felt that along the years, the art of using appropriate materials in their right context has been lost. Therefore, the theme identified for this year's event is "The stuff of architecture".

The speakers invited to Architecture Nights 2007 will discuss the sensitive and responsive approach they have adopted in their architectural designs and their decisions in choosing the most suitable materials in the process.

Debates will span between this month and November (excluding summer). The KTP has so far secured the participation of Swiss giant architect Mario Botta in April, Cesare Casati, editor of the renowned architectural magazine L'Arca, in May and world-renowned Austrian architect Peter Lorenz, who will conclude the Architectural Nights series in November.

The first debate in the series will feature world renowned architect Manfredi Nicoletti (inset). Nicoletti has been one of Italy's top architects since opening his Studio Manfredi Nicoletti in 1960.

After having obtained his Master's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US, Nicoletti spent a period of intense work with architecture giants Pier Luigi Nervi, Walter Gropius and Minorou Yamasaki.

Since establishing his office, Nicoletti has worked in Italy and all over the world. He is currently full professor at La Sapienza University of Rome, vice-president of the International Academy of Architecture, a member of the Russian Academy of Architecture, of the Moscow International Academy of Architecture and of the Academie de France d'Architecture.

He has also received the title of Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres from the French Minister of Culture. Nicoletti has also published various essays about architectural criticism, history and the urban ecosystem.

His book L'Architettura delle Caverne (Architecture carved in rocks) received the First International Prize by the CICA, Comité International des Critiques d'Architecture.

Studio Manfredi Nicoletti has professional registrations in Italy and France. His practice has expanded through all major aspects or urban and building designs in Italy, Europe, Africa, USA, and Middle and Far East, winning an impressive amount of international competitions in the process.

Among the many first prize international competitions awards, some of which will be presented during the debate, is the New Acropolis Museum in Athens and the 3,500 seat auditorium in Astana, the new capital of Kazakhstan.

In Abuja, Nigeria, the 22-hectare Millennium Park (completed in 2003), the Cultural Centre and the Tower of Nigeria (under construction), and in Italy, the Palermo Sport Palace, the new law courts of Arezzo, Reggio Calabria, Lecce, Campobasso and Rome, the university city of Udine, Agrigento's main general hospital, the Tropical Butterfly Greenhouse for Catania University, and Piazza dei Navigatori Civic Centre in Rome.

Nicoletti is also a pioneer in bio-climatic eco-compatible urban and architectural design. Since 1978, he has acted as an expert in architectural ecology for the Italian Ministry of the Environment, for the Sicily region, for the national agency CASMEZ, and for the EU.

He is also a member of the Italian Institute of Bioclimatic Architecture of ENEA, PLEA (Passive and Low Energy Association).

His 600 metre-tall Helicoidal Skyscraper integrates the suspension bridge's tension structures with aerodynamic form and ecosystematic behaviour.

The debate will be held in the Aula Magna in Valletta on Saturday at 7.30 p.m. Entrance is free. The event is being organised with the help of HSBC, Auntie Lucy, Attard & Co and Hal Mann.