Studio Zoppini
Every project is a journey to deliver a better world
VISION
Studio Zoppini devotes great attention to every detail of the design to develop technologically advanced buildings that correspond to current needs, but which can be adapted to possible future uses and functions.
Innovation and great experience: architectural quality blends perfectly with the conscious use of new materials and Client’s functional and operational needs.
Our aim is to create buildings that help to considerably improve the quality of life and that are pleasant places to live, ideal for social gathering, economically sustainable and at the same time able to create added value, with minimal impact on the surrounding environment and efficient energy.
There is no pre-established or pre-conceived model, but rather the creation of made-to-measure projects that meet the needs and expectations of users and the community, respecting the particular nature of the place and the surroundings in which they are built, becoming an integral part of the context.
The analysis of the relationship between the building and its surroundings is the starting point of our design process.
The wide network of consultants allows us to always offer specific solutions that also take into account the environmental insertion and the urban context in which we are going to build.
From the outset, the firm has collaborated with highly qualified Italian and international specialists (structural engineers and MEP engineers as well as experts in economic and operational planning) who have contributed to consolidating increasingly similar methodologies and design philosophies in order to meet the client’s needs across the board.
Philosophy
We design for people
We firmly believe in and support the need for coordination between designer, client and end user.
Project development starts from a continuous and assiduous dialogue with our clients to understand their dialogue with our customers to understand their functional and operational needs in order to provide a creative and smart/logical response that meets their requirements.
Throughout the design process we use hand sketches, physical models and advanced computer design systems, and we strongly believe that an experimental approach is the best way to study volumes, materials, space and light.
Our designs are translated into reality by drawing on a source of knowledge and experience that encompasses every aspect of building design, construction and use.
We also promote research and development as we believe it is necessary and fundamental to explore new forms of urban development, taking into account the current energy and environmental crisis, which will have an increasingly predominant impact on our daily lives in the coming decades.
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Alessandro Zoppini is part of a very limited number of architects to have designed facilities for three different Olympic Games (Turin 2006, Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018).
The specific expertise developed over the years, especially in the field of sports and recreational architecture, culminated in the award of the international competition for the design of the Oval for the Turin 2006 Winter Olympics.
Recognised as the most significant building of the Olympics, it won numerous international awards including the 2007 IOC (International Olympic Committee) gold medal.
The Studio designed the Speed Skating Oval and the Figure Skating Arena for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and the Oval for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics.
– Rome 2024 Summer Olympic bid
– Krakow 2022 Winter Olympic bid
– Rome 2020 Summer Olympic bid
– PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic winning bid
– Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic winning bid
– Turin 2006 Winter Olympic winning bid
– Design for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Speed Skating Oval (limited
Design Competition)
($150Million)
– Design for Rome 2024 Olympic bid Velodrome
(Euro 40 million)
– Design for Krakow 2022 Winter Olympic bid overall masterplan and
relevant new venues
– Design for Rome 2020 Olympic bid Velodrome
(Euro 40 million)
– Design for PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics Speed Skating Oval
(Euro 70 million)
– Design for Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Speed Skating Oval
(Euro 60 million)
– Design for Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Figure Skating Arena
(Euro 100 million)
– Design for Turin 2006 Winter Olympics Speed Skating Oval
(Euro 50 million)
– Design for London 2012 Aquatic Centre (design competition
shortlisted team)
(Euro 100 million)
Sustainability means
planning for the future
We have always believed that sustainability is an absolutely essential principle for the future of the contemporary world, and we have made it a real ‘state of mind’.
In-house procedures in our offices and external projects for buildings that are sustainable both socially and environmentally.
In fact, our office seeks to minimise the impact on the environment.
In developing projects, we strive to find solutions that meet the needs of our clients while taking ethical issues into account.
We design aesthetically pleasing and durable buildings in which innovation is an extremely important part in relation to materials, technologies and energy saving.
Our working method also includes socially responsible choices and sensitivity to issues such as the use of local labour and exploitation of developing countries.
In our projects, we also attach great importance to volume, quality, low maintenance, adaptability and value for money, so as to ensure economic sustainability without creating unnecessary ‘cathedrals in the desert’.
We always try to minimise both direct carbon dioxide emissions and those inherent in the materials we use.
First and foremost, we try to exploit the potential of the site where the building will be constructed, taking into account aspects such as topography, solar exposure, prevailing winds and the use of active and passive systems combined with innovative engineering systems.
We aim to minimise solar radiation, to exploit mass and optimise thermal insulation, and we seek to maximise ventilation and natural lighting thus reducing electricity use and running costs: sustainability as a way of life in all respects.
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owner
Alessandro Zoppini
Alessandro has 25 years experience in architectural design focusing mainly on sport and leisure facilities design, both internationally and in Italy. Alessandro is part of a very limited number of architects to have designed venues for three different Olympic Games (Torino 2006, Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018). Following work experience at Arup Associates and Renzo Piano Building Workshop he was partner at Studio Zoppini where took active role from the conception to the construction of all projects providing input both at design and managing level.
From 2015 to January 2019 he was Director at Gensler.
Alessandro has proven experience in architectural design at all levels providing concept input and managing multidisciplinary design team with particular focus on large complex venues.
Visiting Professor at the faculty of architecture at the Politecnico in Milan from 2000. Visiting Faculty at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbour in the Winter Semester 2000. From 1997 visiting critic and lecturer at The University of Michigan, The University of Washington, The Architectural Association in London and the Kingston University.
He has won several Archictectural Prizes including IOC Gold Medal
Award.
He is a frequent speaker at international Architectural conferences.
– Graduate Diploma in Architecture, Politecnico di Milano
– Chartered architect, Italy
– Member of the Italian
Institute of Architects., Italy
– Member of ARB
From 1990 to 1993 worked at Pino Zoppini Studio collaborating
on the following projects:
– Sports Facilities Plan for the District of Milan.
– Genova Arena (together with arch. Marco Zanuso).
– Olympic Swimming Stadium of Milan.
– Seregno Sports Hall.
Worked at ARUP ASSOCIATES involved in the following projects:
– 35,000 spectators Athletics Stadium in Johannesburg (built).
– Cape Town 2004 Olympic Bid 80,000 spectators Stadium and
overall master plan
– 80,000 spectators Football Stadium plus office development in
Shanghai.
– Plantation House Office development (68,000 sqm. office
development in the City of London).
– Bridewell Office Development, in the City of London.
– National Bowls Centre, Worthing, Sussex (UK).
– Portable concert roof, Hyde Park (London).
– Aomori Football Stadium (40,000 spectators stadium in Japan).
Worked for RENZO PIANO BUILDING WORKSHOP and was
involved in the following projects:
– Saitama Arena, a 40,000 spectators multi-purpose indoor arena
with a budget of 67 Billion Yen.
– Auditorium in Rome.
From June 1995 to October 2015 and from January 2019 Partner
at STUDIO ZOPPINI in charge of design.
From November 2015 to January 2019 Director|Sports at GENSLER
In charge to set up the sports practice in London with Worldwide
responsibility in Large Events.
Relevant Projects lead at Gensler:
– Rome 2024 Olympic bid velodrome
– Tokyo 2020 velodrome proposal
– Beijing 2022 Olympic skating oval (limited design competition).
– Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Bid Oval in Baselga di Pine’
– Confidential, design for 30.000 spectators stadium in London.
– Confidential, redevelopment studies for 80.000 spectators
stadium in Uk.
– Verona Entertainment district master plan, including a 7.000
spectators arena, conference centre , 20.000sqm retail and a
200 keys hotel.
– Sorrento stadium.
– Premier League Footbal Stadium Extension winning proposal
Stadium proposal.
– Bath Rugby Stadium design
– National Olimpic Training Centre in Saudi Arabia.
– Premier League Training Centre Proposal
– Premier League Stadium extantion in London.
AWARDS
07/2009 The Kantrida Aquatic Centre of Rijeka wins the IOC/IAKS bronze medal in the Best Swimming Pool 2008 category
07/2009 Wins the IPC/IAKS distinction 2008
10/2007 Honourable mention at the International limited competition for Wroclaw Euro 2012 stadium
09/2007 Turin Oval wins the ‘2007 European award for constructional steelwork’’
07/2007 Wins the Gold medal for IOC/IAKS award 200607/2007 Wins the IPC/IAKS distinction 2006
12/2006 Wins IStructE Award for Arts, Leisure, Entertainment or Sports Structures 2006
09/2006 Wins to the Oval and Arena design for Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games bid
05/2006 Wins competition for Udine Palasport for gymnastics and fence
11/2005 Invited to the competition for the Church at Tre Ronchetti
09/2005 Invited to the competition for Le Mans football Stadium
04/2005 First prize at the “Il Sole per gli Impianti Sportivi” competition
