“Form is how an architectural object exists, its essence, the ideal point in which all its various structural and linguistic levels converge, the space in which the multiplicity of abstract and concrete materials that identify a building unites in a unitary and recognisable expression”
Vittorio Gregotti

 

FORM_A is an architecture studio founded in Milan in 2013 by Andrea Fradegrada and Sandra Maglio.
The Form, in relation to the theme of urban stratification, the architectural identity of existing constructions, the reuse of abandoned landscapes, the relationship between architecture and the built city, with specific attention to public buildings and urban places in need of change, represents the place of reflection on design. From the territory to the city, from the inhabited space to the elements of detail, from the open space to the internal space, they belong to a way of looking at the architectural space as an element for valuing and modifying our cities, our landscapes and the territories we inhabit. The dialectic between the theoretical component and the operating mode determines the design activity of the studio, in terms of both public and private assignments, and also the academic work, with productive involvement university activity through teaching, scientific research, participation in conferences, seminars, workshops, and the curation of publications and exhibitions. The objective of FORM_A is to combine an experimental character with the practical professional dimension, researching and providing concrete answers to the various scales of the project through the precise and accurate control of the architectural project process in constant relation with the various components and diverse consultants in the field. As E.N. Rogers argued, studio work “is an exchange, a continuous becoming, together: and it is mutual growth, a multiplication of experiences that, alone, we could not have accomplished”.
Among the most relevant realized projects are the ADRIANO 1 Residential project, the MARIE CURIE and BOCCACCIO 164 project, the single-family villa CASA SM and the single-family villa CASA AM.

 

 

FORM_A FOUNDERS 

Andrea Fradegrada was born in Milan in 1982.
After graduating in Architecture in 2007 at the Polytechnic of Milan, he began his personal research path on the themes of form in architecture. In 2007, he began his professional activity first as Morfema Architects then, in 2013, he founded the FORM_A studio, together with Sandra Maglio. Since 2008, Adjunct Professor at the Polytechnic of Milan in the architectural design workshops of the three-year degree and Master’s degree, co-supervisor of numerous three-year and Master’s degree theses. He has obtained important awards, including selection in the “Review of Lombard Architecture under 40. New Architecture Proposals”, a Special Mention at the International Competition “E12 – The Adaptable City”.

Sandra Maglio was born in Milan in 1986.
After graduating in Architecture in 2011, she obtained a Ph.D. with honours in Architectural and Urban Design at the Polytechnic of Milan. In 2012, she began her research on the themes of form as a foundational element of the architectural project and the themes of the reuse of architecture with specific attention to the possible design strategies necessary for the reuse of disused productive landscapes. In 2013, she participated in the international workshop “Advanced Architectural Design Workshop” coordinated by Arch. Gonçalo Byrne. In 2013, she founded the FORM_A studio with Andrea Fradegrada. From 2011, adjunct professor at the Polytechnic of Milan in the architectural design workshops. Since June 2017, research fellow at the DASTU department and since 2018, contract lecturer at the Polytechnic of Milan. Supervisor and co-rapporteur of numerous Bachelor’s and Master’s degree theses.

 

FORM_A FOUNDERS
Andrea Fradegrada & Sandra Maglio 

TEAM
Andrea Fradegrada
Sandra Maglio
Nicolo Mariani
Christian Spolti
Simone Salmoiraghi

They have been working with us since 2011: Ludovica Bachmann, Gino Baldi, Elena Rita Battocchio, Fabio Bonaventura, Paolo Bugatti, Elena Cavagnera, Gaia Cavaliere, Laura Cettolin, Valentina Colombo, Serena Comi, Giulia Criscuolo, Giulio Crispino, Riccardo Croci, Roberta D’Agrosa, Simona d’Apolito, Elena Dalbon, Andrea Dameno, Francesca Depani, Fabrizio Esposito, Chiara Fasani, Costanza Galli, Elisa Gao, Antonella Grado, Alessandro Antonio Greco, Andrea Giustozzi, Edoardo Imperioso, Stefano Lamorte, Marco Lampugnani, Ginevra Lanzi, Emily Lawrence, Riccardo Lazzarato, Gianfilippo Luparini, Lidjon Lushkaj, Camilla Maitan, Giuseppe Marchica, Nicolò Mariani, Veronica Minucci, Marco Montalbano, Davide Natarelli, Giulia Nobili, Chiara Novello, Elisa Omezzolli, Francesca Orlandi, Caroline Orlando, Silvia Pansera, Luca Pirovano, Paolo Pirovano, Mariavittoria Polli, Giulia Posocco, Marcello Previtali, Silvia Raineri, Afra Rebuscini, Domenico Riccio, Elisa Rigolio, Arianna Rimondi, Marianna Rossi, Tiziano Elia Salaris, Simone Salmoiraghi, Alessandro Selmi, Christian Spolti, Margherita Stella e Giulia Laura Suardi.

They have been looking, interpreting, and thinking with us: Stefano Adami, Michele Arnaboldi, Manuela Bandini, Giuliano Banfi, Carola Michela Barchi, Nicola Baserga, Giampaolo Corda , Federica Alessandra Crnjar, Daniele Didone, Elisabetta Gabrielli, Aurelio Galfetti, Silvia Invernizzi, Claudio Maglio, Alberto Mazzucchelli, Giovanni Munafò, Simone Natoli, João Ferreira Nunes, Margherita Parati, Riccardo Riva, Anna Midori Ruggieri, Elena Scattolini and Ivan Taglietti.

 

AWARDS

2022
Selected Project – 3rd prize
Design International Competition “Magnifica Fabbrica” 

2020
Selected Project – 3rd prize
Waterfront Lecco Competition – New Reflections

2017
Selected Project
Design Competition for the New Bolzano San Genesio Cableway in collaboration with Nicola Baserga (Baserga Mozzetti studio) Muralto, CH

2016
Selected Project
Competition for the redevelopment of a site or a single abandoned building in Milan or in the territorial area of the Rotarian district 2041, aimed at its revitalisation for ethical and social purposes, public use

2013
Selected Project
Competition between public and private new forms of living, working and residing

 

EXHIBITIONS

2024
“Vuoto Futuro-Osservatorio per un nuovo riuso industriale” Ex Lanificio Carotti , Fermignano 

2017
“Progetto di Architettura e luogo | I edizione” Politecnico di Milano, Via Ampere 2, Milano

2016
“Poeticamente abita l’uomo” Politecnico di Milano_Spazio mostre “Guido Nardi”

 

CONFERENCES

09.2024
Roundtable Discussion “Vuoto Futuro-Osservatorio per un nuovo riuso industriale” Ex Lanificio Carotti, Fermignano

06.2019
Final Critiques _ Studio FORM_A “Architectural theory and design practice. Criticism of the workshop experiments”
Polytechnic of Milan

04.2019
Studio FORM_A_selected works conference “Designing civil architecture”
Polytechnic of Milan

04.2019
“Architecture in the city, ideas, roles and strategies for today’s Bergamo starting from the figures of Roberto Spagnolo and Bruno Gabrielli”
Spazio ParolaImmagine | GAMeC Bergamo

11.2018
“From city design to architectural design. Reflections on urban morphology starting from the researches of Bruno Gabrielli and Roberto Spagnolo”
Auditorium in via Pascoli, 53 | Polytechnic of Milan – Leonardo Campus

11.2018
Studio FORM_A_selected works conference
Order of Architects of Monza and Brianza

10.2018
Conference presentation of the Residenza Lumiere Martesana project, Milan_ studio FORM_A
Auditorium BCC, Sesto San Giovanni

12.2017
Studio FORM_A_selected works conference
Polytechnic of Milan

10.2016
Presentation of the book “Roberto Spagnolo.9 lectures in architecture. Elements for the project”, curated by Manuela Bandini, Andrea Fradegrada, Sandra Maglio
Polytechnic of Milan_ Aula Gamma_Spazio “Guido Nardi” Exhibitions

 

PUBBLICATIONS

Book “Roberto Spagnolo. 9 lectures in architecture. Elements for the project”, curated by Manuela Bandini, Andrea Fradegrada, Sandra Maglio | Maggioli Publisher_collana Politecnica_2017, ISBN 978-88-916- 1814-6

Essay
“Paesaggi educativi innovativi “ a cura di Barbara Coppetti, Sandra Maglio, Raffaella Cavallaro, Andrea Fradegrada, Fabio Santonicola p.63-106
In “Una Scuola Condivisa. Per una cultura della felicità!” a cura di F.Antonacci, M.Guerra Franco Angeli Editore , Milano, 2023 ISBN 978-88- 351-3792-4

Essay
“Lo spazio educante. Luoghi pubblici integrati per una scuola aperta e diffusa“ a cura di Sandra Maglio, Barbara Coppetti, Andrea Fradegrada, p.42- 55
In“TERRITORIO 97/2021 ”, Franco Angeli Editore – Periodici, Milano, 2021 ISSN 1825-8689

Essay
“L’architetto-urbanista e l’urbanista-architetto: tra accademia e professione” in Riflessioni sulla morfologia urbana. Il disegno urbano nelle ricerche di Bruno Gabrielli e Roberto Spagnolo, a cura di M. Fior, S. Maglio e A. Fradegrada, Ancsa, 2021 p. 1-8, ISBN 978-88-94-5297-3-9.

Essay
“Dall’analisi morfo-tipologica alla qualità del progetto urbano: flessibilità normativa o gestione della città?” in Riflessioni sulla morfologia urbana. Il disegno urbano nelle ricerche di Bruno Gabrielli e Roberto Spagnolo, a cura di M. Fior, S. Maglio e A. Fradegrada, Ancsa,2021 p. 47-54, ISBN 978-88-94-5297-3-9

Book
“Riflessioni sulla morfologia urbana. Il disegno urbano nelle ricerche di Bruno Gabrielli e Roberto Spagnolo” a cura di M. Fior, S. Maglio e A. Fradegrada, Ancsa ,2021 ISBN 978-88-94-5297-3-9

Essay
“Il ruolo del modello” testo a cura di S.Maglio e A.Fradegrada, in B.Coppetti “Forme Elementari. Un’officina di modellazione, alterazione,infrazione del cubo” Maggioli editore ISBN 978-88-916-2603-5

Contribution on book
Ricerca scientifica “Milano 900” pubblicata in B.Coppetti “Orizzonti del progetto| Esperienze di architettura. L’edificio residenziale del ‘900” Maggioli editore ISBN 978-88-916-2485-7