22/05/2021 14:54
The challenges of modern architecture showcased by one of the most iconic architecture firm.
Located in the lively new quarter of Paceville, on Malta’s East Coast, the majestic Mercury House project by multi award-winning and world-renowned studio Zaha Hadid Architects has been the focus of the first episode of Medelhan’s webinar series Architectural Challenges, dedicated to the jewels of the world architecture.
Throughout the event, Manuela Gatto, Director of Zaha Hadid Architects, alongside with her talented team of architects composed by Xavier Aguiló, Kutbuddin Nadiadi and Elena Scripelliti, has given us an exclusive insight into the renovation and redevelopment of the iconic Mercury House, with a spotlight on the challenges that the project has presented.
As Manuela has underlined, the Mercury House addresses Paceville’s urban challenges by magnifying its urban heritage and increasing the supply of housing while providing the island’s residents and visitors with unique public spaces and amenities.
An outstanding project comprising several volumes – a 33-storey tower housing 292 residences and 5-star Melia ME Hotel facilities, a 19-storey tower and podium building accommodating the 5-star Melia ME Hotel and 173 apartments, to cite only the major sections – the Mercury House goes beyond the boundaries of design and turns them into skyline.
To discover more about the Mercury House project by Zaha Hadid Architects, you can now re-watch streaming the entire event on our platform and on Medelhan’s YouTube channel Medelhan_tgdn.
Moderator of the webinar: Patrick Abbattista, CEO & Founder of DesignWanted
ExtraOrdinary | Architectural challenges is a series of meetings featuring world renowned architects presenting the challenges they face throughout their ExtraOrdinary projects, curated by Marisa Corso - architects liaisons specialist for Medelhan.
Manuela Gatto
Manuela Gatto
Director
Arch. Dip (Hons), M.Arch AA (Hons), ARB, RIBA
Manuela joined ZHA in 2002. She has worked as project director on a number of our projects in China and Europe. As a director, Manuela is involved in all aspects of project organisation, including design and technical team management along with contract administration. Manuela is also involved in all aspects of contract management and negotiations with the clients. Alongside her role as project director, she is actively involved in the management of the office as a whole, overseeing finances and resources for one of ZHA’s main clusters. Manuela speaks five languages, namely English, Italian, Spanish, and basic French and German.
Kutbuddin Nadiadi
Kutbuddin Nadiadi
Senior Associate
BSC, RIBA, ARB
Kutbuddin joined ZHA in 2008 with 20 years’ previous architectural experience. He has since been involved in a variety of the office’s high-profile projects, including residential, mixed-use, masterplan, office, civic, and cultural schemes.
Elena Scripelliti
Elena Scripelliti
Associate
M.Arch, ARB
Elena joined Zaha Hadid Architects in 2012. She is involved on various scales projects, such as mixed- used buildings, towers, art and cultural centres, infrastructures.
Her expertise is focused on advanced phases of design and construction, including recent successfully designed buildings in Asia and Europe.
She is currently leading the façade package of Mercury Towers in Malta.
Elena obtained a joint Master’s degree in Architecture and Construction Engineering with honours at the Politecnic of Turin and Milan, in Italy.
Prior to joining Zaha Hadid Architects she worked for Gehry Technologies and UN Studio.
Xavier Aguilò
Xavier Aguilo
Partner & UK Manager @ BAC engineering consultancy group
MEng MAMD EIC
Xavier studied Industrial Engineering in Spain specializing in Architectural Structures. He qualified as a Master
Engineer in 1999, whilst working with BAC Barcelona as a structural consultant. He became an Associate in 2001. He opened the Madrid office in 2007, becoming its Director. Since 2018, he is BAC UK Manager, leading the office in London and is a board member of BAC.
In 2014 he finished MAMD Master in Business for Architecture and Design in the IE Business School. He currently teaches Structures in the School of Architecture at the European University of Madrid, also in the Architectural Association in London and is a technical tutor in Central Saint Martins and Royal College of Arts. In 2021 he started lecturing at Zigurat University.
He is especially interested in sustainable architecture and singular structures, having worked on many striking buildings over the last 20 years. He is fully engaged with integration between technology and architecture, having participated in projects with bioclimatic, sustainable and circular strategies.
Curator:
Marisa Corso
Marisa boasts a long professional career dotted with many successes in the marketing field as executive of Italian trade fairs and national and international brands. She is specialized in business development for the world of architecture and she is professor of international marketing at the business school of Sole 24 ore. She is the founder and Executive advisor of the Italian Chapter of NEWH (the hospitality network).