ARCH5110/6210M
Advanced Architectural Design Studio I & II: EDGES – From Marginal Spaces to Social Places: Napoli X Hong Kong
Target Students MArch1, MArch2
Course Term 1 & 2
Course Type Studio
Venue Studio
Teacher(s) ROSSINI, Francesco
Napoli has thousands of years of history. According to legend, the city originated from the death of the siren Parthenope, who threw herself into the sea after failing to seduce Ulysses as he sailed along its coast. Rooted in Homer’s Odyssey, this myth became a symbolic narrative associated with the founding of Neapolis, a Greek colony at the heart of the Mediterranean. Located at the foot of Mount Vesuvius—whose eruption in 79 AD famously destroyed Pompeii—Napoli has always been shaped by fragile and problematic conditions. The broader Campania region is seismically active, marked by tectonic shifts and volcanic calderas such as the Campi Flegrei, making earthquakes and eruptions a recurring threat. Over time, the city has continuously evolved, adapting its urban fabric and incorporating new areas. Today, with a metropolitan population of over 3.5 million, Napoli is the third largest urban area in Italy. In the last century, it underwent profound transformations shaped by war, reconstruction, industrial expansion, and unregulated growth. During the 1950s and 1960s, speculative development produced a construction boom. The celebrated documentary Le mani sulla città (1963), awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, exposed the collusion between real estate developers and politicians, becoming a key reference in understanding how corruption and poor regulation shaped the city’s growth.
In recent decades, Napoli has experienced a series of cultural and urban renaissances. The city has gradually shed its image as “dangerous” or “chaotic,” becoming one of the most visited destinations in Italy (ISTAT, 2023). Social media has been crucial in reframing its narrative, celebrating its vibrant street life, rich heritage, and unique atmosphere. Cultural events, international initiatives, a thriving tourism industry, and the 2023 Serie A victory of SSC Napoli have further boosted visibility and civic pride. A key site of regeneration is Bagnoli, the former industrial district of the Italsider steel plant. After decades of stalled plans, the area is once again in focus as Napoli prepares to host the America’s Cup in 2027. While this global event may trigger long-awaited remediation and renewal, concerns remain about ensuring benefits for local communities and avoiding speculative displacement.
In this context, the studio invites students to reflect on the layered and complex conditions of Naples, exploring on how architecture can transform conditions of marginality into opportunities for inclusion and renewal — embodying the idea of turning marginal space into social place.
