Aléa is an experimental design and material research studio based in Paris. Miriam Josi (CH) and Stella Lee Prowse (AU) co-created Aléa in 2021 after completing a Master of Science in Nature Inspired Design at ENSCI – Les Ateliers (École nationale supérieure de création industrielle, Paris).

Their work explores growth, decay and waste, with the goal to develop regenerative methods of fabrication while honoring beauty in the process. Situated at the intersections of design, biology, and agriculture, Aléa’s practice blurs the boundaries between disciplines.

Their ongoing research project  ‘Back to Dirt’ explores a unique bio-inclusive myco-fabrication process that utilizes mycelium, the root system of fungi, and local waste substrates to grow objects in soil. Winning the 2021 Boisbuchet Residency Award allowed them to test their process at full scale, where they grew the first underground myco-fabricated chair. Their process bypasses the need for sterilization and plastic moulds, examining the potential of mycelia’s regenerative capacities. Their research is supported by FAIRE Paris and has been exhibited at Pavillon d’Arsenal, France Design Week, FRAC Orleans, Biennale Amour Vivant, among others.

Aléa’s mission is to establish a deeper relationship between the natural and built environment by designing autonomous place-based systems for a post-fossil fuel future. Their aim is to take a critical approach to biodesign to avoid a trajectory of exploitation and control of nature and to instead imagine new ways of making that interact and share control and benefits with the other-than-human.

Park Plus is the research department of Milan based Architectural firm Park Associati, founded by Filippo Pagliani and Michele Rossi.

Matteo Arietti is one of the creators and Head of Research of Park Plus. Passionate about innovation, he oversees some of the most important projects in this field. He has worked on many projects, including major competitions, such as the Accenture Headquarters, the restoration of the Pirelli 35 complex and the MI.C project, where he helped implement the principles of Urban Mining. Matteo also contributes to the practice’s strategic development, giving lectures and holding workshops, coordinating the Park Graduate Programme and participating in the newly created unit dedicated to Computational Design.

Costanza Croce graduated from the Academy of Architecture of Mendrisio, in Switzerland, in 2022; while studying she was involved in various work experiences abroad. She joined Park in 2022 and started working on some major competitions straight away. Costanza collaborates on various types of projects – offices, residences, multifunctional spaces and schools.

Vincenzo Salierno graduated in Architecture at the Politecnico di Bari in 2012 and moved after to Berlin, where he lived for five years collaborating with some practices, including Francis Kéré’s. He then returned to Italy and, after working for a few years with Cino Zucchi Architetti, in 2022 he joined Park Associati. Vincenzo’s numerous and in-depth experiences have been valuable for recent competitions of various kinds which the practice has taken part in, from urban regeneration to the restyling of office buildings and residential buildings.

https://parkassociati.com/