I am an Architecture for Sustainability graduatewithaconstantdesiretolearnand explore new opportunities. My academic andinternationalcareerhavein昀氀uencedmy adaptabilityandbroadenedmyperspective, blendingtheoretical,creative,andtechnical expertise. Since past experiences, I am interested in design research in an open interdisciplinary way, with a focus on what can be de昀椀ned sustainability. I am seeking for new challenging and dynamic experiences to enrich my personal and culturalbackground.
hello! I am Nicole Ciaccia
Politecnico di Torino | TU Delft
- 2023
- 2021
Politecnico | Torino
Laurea Magistrale in Architettura per la Sostenibilità | 110 cum laude
Architecture Thesis Award ArchDaily
Technische Universiteit | Delft
Erasmus+ MSc Architecture Urbanism and Building Science
Politecnico | Torino
Laurea in Architettura | 110 cum laude
Languages
Italian MT
English C1
French A2
Experiences
2021 - 2024 2021 - 2024
MVRDV | Rotterdam
Assistant designer Studio8 on international architectural and urban projects and competitions
The Why Factory | Delft
Research investigation studio exploring future cities by the production of models and scenarios
BODA architetti | Torino
Internship on architectural design, reuse and interior
Suoli in rovina: ecologie oscure e fratture per la coesistenza | SIU 2024
Incomplete City | Politecnico di Torino 2021
Skills
AutocadSketchUpRevitRhino+GHEnscapeAdobe Ps+Id+Ai
extra: Qgis, Archicad, Unity AR, Lightroom
more designs one landscape
Habitat
Heliophilia
Ruined soils
Bioworld
Dark ecologies and hypothesis for coexistence | Research thesis Design
Habitat
2022 | Team project
# concept, design, reuse, analysis, bim
Habitat is a restoration project of a primary school in Turin which aims to challenge the traditional boundaries between inside and outside, de昀椀ning a different architecture model for education. Inspired by children’s intuition, free of edges or limits, the project envisions a school as an ecosystem:logical,yetdynamicandorganic. Passive strategies as an indoor patio, a playful envelope, a multifunctional roof, and some solar greenhouses enhance the building’s sustainability while supporting its educational aim. All these concepts are based on the carried out site analysis and a deep understanding of pedagogical needs. By blurring the lines between indoor and outdoorspaces,Habitattransformsthedaily experiences of commuting, gathering, and learning, returning a vibrant and adaptive environment that encourages exploration andgrowth.
social spots
dig modelling soil
01. expanding out
02. expanding in
03. levels
04. play and wrap
interior expansion the wall
the patio
education green roof
sport centre wrapping envelope
greenhouse
control of energy and pollutants
The cluster is split 昀氀exibly into a static space for ordinary lessons, and a more dynamic space for group activities or labs. Here, the inside of the classroom extends to the outside through a balcony that acts as solar greenhouse, making the existing environment more ef昀椀cient and controlled. Landscaping with a different spatial design rede昀椀nes the educational model, fostering curiosity and interaction.
The KB library in Den Haag stands as a landmark, with its modular structure and its distinctive timeless design. While its monumental presence has given identity to the building, its impermeable façade and massing have constrained public experience, natural light, and energy performance. This project reimagines the library as a dynamic space for the community. Some of the key challenges include enhancing accessibilityandinteraction,whileaddressing issues like limited natural light, ventilation, and users comfort.
The project’s concept revolves around light and porosity, essentialyet absent elements in the library. A 昀氀exible structural grid becomes the foundation of the design, allowing for modular adaptability. Panels can be added, subtracted, or reshaped over time, enabling the architecture to evolve with changing needs.
00. points
façades generation
01. proximity
昀氀oor correlation
00. shading
> porosity to shade where required
01. lighting
< porosity to enhance passive light
02. geometry
offset cell de昀椀nition
03. carving
solar+view+access based gradient
02. hosting
terraces with vegetation buffer
?
grid space for adaptive design
03.
permeability to reduce runoff volume by 24%
Waterproofed parapet with PP cover uctural skyroof glazing, ucture
The permanent crisis state we inhabit has rede昀椀ned the extent of urban soil and design, focusing more on the notion of coexistence between diverse ecologies, entities, and practices of spatial production. The thesis investigatesanextensiveandcomplextheme, framed in this research in terms of Critical Zone,aconceptthatallowstoobservethesoil as a site of complex and con昀氀ictual metabolic processes. It reveals as a living space where everything happens, where strati昀椀cations exposehowregenerationandruincoexistand intertwineofteninopaqueforms.Byexploring these soils, which can be de昀椀ned as ruined, it is possible to read residues, fragments, where processes of spatial production are linked to more existential dimensions. These fractures canhostdarkecologiesandrevealthemselves as spaces capable of absorbing change: the hypothesis is that these fractures, associated with certain infrastructures, can become potential life support for more vulnerable ecologies.
The reinterpretation of such interstices is explored through the pre昀椀guration of some speculative scenarios in which layers and fracture-infrastructures sustain different coexisting settling ecologies. The case of the Mexico City valley serves as an experimental laboratory on these issues, considering its urban criticality as well as its transformation processes which assume a complex geomorphological character. The outcome is a pre昀椀guration of strategies to manage such critical processes among fractured territories and to propose relative hypotheses of spatial coexistence on a vulnerable and incognita terra.
Thisresearchispartofathink-tankatTheWhy Factory,aninvestigationstudiowhichexplores possible urban developments by focusing on the production of models, visualisations and publications. In this case, the research seeks for a Bioworld, a reconsidered relation with surrounding space. Indeed, if Earth’s lifespan were a single day, humanity has existed for just three seconds, and with only a fourth left, a Bioworld represents a call for action. The research states the discrepancy between built world and what can be de昀椀ned natural world, hence this work looks for some actions todesignwithnaturetofaceglobalurgencies. Designactions-basedonprinciples,products and materials - act at different project scalesfrom product library to the world itself - and my main contribution to the research work consists of the action “Cool”.
This interprets cooling as a design action for a Bioworld since it is: nature-inspired for its concept, nature-based for its material and nature-restored for its impact. Environments can cool naturally through ventilation, shading, evaporation, and re昀氀ection, where the water cycle plays a crucial role at every step. Inspired by these processes, the concept introducesporosityinthedesigntoencourage natural ventilation, while a bio-inspired mesh captures water and provides shade. As water crystallizes across the mesh, architecture and cityscape can transform into cooling agents themselves, cooling down the temperature through evaporative cooling and re昀氀ection. Ideally, the described cooling cycle can again make water turns into vapour, enhancing clouds making and so albedo, 昀椀nally shifting the urban heat islands into cool islands.
there is a DISCREPANCY between us and the natural world DIVERGENCE DEVIATION MISMATCH DISCONNECT DIFFERENCE DISPARITY DISSIMILARITY INCONSISTENCY x12 actions
urgencies references case NYC 1x1km design impact principles street products city [METHOD] library room materials world
coolingprinciples
coolinginventions
porosity / ventilation
high porous composites allow the design of natural ventilated structures supported by its material
昀椀bers design based on spider threads proteins which have strength and water collection ability apply mesh / shading
water collection / evaporative cooling crystallization / re昀氀ection
self-regulating structure for surface shrink or expansion in different environments as in plant cells
proteins that can maintain growing crystal at relative low environment temperature
