Design and architecture evening in the heart of Milan The recent PIPA awards gala took place at the impressive Sforza Castle ( Castello Sforzesco) in Milan, one of the most beautiful fortified structures in Italy.
Design and architecture evening in the heart of Milan The recent PIPA awards gala took place at the impressive Sforza Castle ( Castello Sforzesco) in Milan, one of the most beautiful fortified structures in Italy.
Upon arriving at the Ducal Courtyard, more than a hundred attendees were greeted with a live music concert. Afterwards, the melody gave way to the awards ceremony, hosted by Italian journalist and presenter Valeria Ciardiello.
Within the walls, gardens, and frescoes of this historical venue, attendees enjoyed a pleasant evening of camaraderie and professional recognition.
A week immersed in design
The PIPA gala in Milan was the culmination of a week of activities focused on design and architecture, which began at the Porcelanosa headquarters in Spain. During their stay, participants gained in-depth knowledge of the transformation process of raw materials. They also had the opportunity to participate in various workshops, showcasing their artistic skills by creating unique pieces.
The journey continued in Milan. The design capital offered attendees a selection of authentic and exclusive Italian experiences. It was also the scene of the intense day at the Porcelanosa Milan showroom, where the finalist projects were presented to the jury.
Under the slogan ’Earthcrafted Designs’, the third edition of PIPA highlighted the harmonious connection between natural elements and the exceptional ability of design to bring unique spaces to life.
Throughout the week, the nominated projects in five categories were exhibited in a prominent space in Piazza Castello, inviting visitors to reflect on the richness and diversity of materials in architecture and interior design.
A jury composed of renowned international professionals was responsible for analyzing and evaluating the finalist projects, selected from more than two hundred submitted proposals.
This multidisciplinary panel included personalities such as Kazi Khaleed Ashraf, General Director of the Institute of Architecture, Landscape and Settlements of Bengal (Bangladesh), Mohammed Adib, Design Director of Dewan Architects + Engineers, Moisés Royo, General Director of Muka Arquitectura, and the directors of Le Studio REV, Sophie Thuillier and Cristiano Benzoni. Their experience and criteria were key in selecting the most outstanding projects of this edition.
With its intelligent design, the Czech studio was awarded for conceiving “a house as a set of exquisite and playful innovations”.
The jury recognized this project for “blurring the lines between the city and the highway and giving civic quality to the gas station”.
This Mexican hotel project stood out for its “comprehensive vision of architecture, social and sustainable intervention, a new dialogue between a vast landscape and the human scale”.
Multi-unit Residential
The jury highlighted this unique residential architecture project for “showing the essence of cultural heritage while reinforcing the axis of the sea and jungle”.
The extension and remodeling project of this university hospital in Brussels earned recognition from the PIPA jury for its “pleasant envelope with a special touch”.
In addition to recognizing the winning projects, the jury awarded two special mentions. In the Multi-unit Residential category, the project Tsool Tulum, by Void Studio, was highlighted “for its sensitive and intelligent response to the budget, layout, and urban and cultural context, within a small plot”. The Unipol Group Headquarters building project by Mario Cucinella Architects was recognized in the Facades category for “projecting a facade as an opportunity to control a bioclimatic environment and its evolution into a public atrium”.
The third edition of the PIPA awards has reaffirmed Porcelanosa Grupo’s commitment to innovation and excellence in design and architecture, celebrating projects that integrate natural elements and creativity into unique and avant-garde spaces.