approach
Based in Reggio Emilia and Milan, NAT OFFICE is a urban and architectural planning practice, founded and led by Christian Gasparini.
The design focus concerns the relationship between architecture and landscape in order to configure a unique topic and identity, while keeping their different characters.
Our approach works on the architectural scales as different layers to define a new urbanity, trying to reach the maximum density and flexibility of uses and the minimum consumption of territory.
Architecture then becomes a medium between Nature and Technology, able to give a sense to the anthropic presence inside nature. The plan is conceived as a complex and dynamic instrument that allows the physic-perceptive and materic link between places and people.
Private and public architecture realizations are intertwined with the research on urban strategies to generate flexible interfaces and on modular structures that can be assembled and disassembled in different configurations.
The practice extends its approach to different areas: masterplan/landscape, cultural/public, learning/worship, sport/leisure, working/office, temporary/exhibit and living/housing.
Participation to design competitions allows experimentation about typologies, morphologies and scales: the office won the 1st prize for La Corte Civic Center in Parma (2001, completed, Almanacco di Casabella 2006, Una Geografia dell’Architettura 2013), the restricted invitation call for Elvise Carpi Nursery School in Reggio Emilia (2004 completed, Almanacco di Casabella 2008), designs after consultation with Emilia Romagna Heritage Board, Spazio Marco Gerra, European Photography Center in Reggio Emilia (2005 completed, Convention Architecture 2012), won the 1st prize in the invitation call for Casa Gualerzi Renovation Houselevel Homeoffice (2012, completed, City Houses 2020, Best Italian Interior Design 2018) and several awards and mentions in national and international competitions such as 3rd prize Recovery Gnutti Barracks in Brescia 2014, 4th prize Luxury Residence in Barcelona, 2013, 2nd prize Alpine Resort Keil Brunico 2011, 4th prize Silk Road Map Unesco Shanghai 2010, 2nd prize ex aequo Città Alessandrina Cultural Center in Rome 2009.
In 2018 NAT Office is finalist in the international 2 step design competition for New Lorenteggio Library in Milan.
In 2019 wins restricted competition for New Mobility Hub concept organized by EGO, with a new way to conceive and live time lapse and journey on the italian transport network.
In 2020 wins the third prize in the international 2 step design competition for Art's Ateliers and Sport Facilities Park Masterplan Testaccio in Rome.
NAT Office’ s works received in the last years many awards, such us Architizer A+Awards - New York and American Architecture Prize - Los Angeles in 2017 (RABM), Archdaily Boty candidate - Los Angeles, Inarcassa and Cicop Award - Firenze, Best Italian Interior Design Platform – Milan, Build Awards - London in 2018 (HLBH), BigSee Architecture Award – Lubiana, London International Creative Competition – London and DNA Paris Design Award – Paris in 2019 (HHCR), Best Italian Exhibition Design Platform - Milan in 2019 (SEGB), The Plan Awards - Bologna, Archdaily Boty candidate - Mexico City in 2020 (HHCR).
Platform has selected Househut Corticella inside Best International Houses Design selection, an exhibit that will take place in 2021 Venice Biennal and a forthcoming book publication.
Istituto Nazionale di Architettura has awarded Househut Corticella with IN/ARCH Award 2020 special prize for new building.
NAT OFFICE is now working on architectural masterplans, international competitions and residential projects, developing new urban strategies. Such research has led to the publication of books such as Smart Cities vs Smart territories and Il progetto come connessione and international workshops and conferences.
