The Roman architectural office GAP Architetti Associati was created in 1992 by Federico Bilò and Francesco Orofino as the logical extension of a partnership developed in the halls of the Faculty of Architecture in Rome during the 1980s. Alessandro Ciarpella, a member of the office since 1997, became a partner in 1998. Finally, in 2008, partnership was extended to Claudia Del Colle, with the office
since 2004. Since its origins GAP has oriented its work towards the union of research and professional practice, approaching the design of architecture as a critical response to issues raised by individual social and territorial contexts. Throughout its activity, the office has worked primarily in four environments: residential design; renovation and restoration; urban design; the landscape. The theme of the residence was developed with a particular focus on the relationship between technological innovation and typological evolution. The most important experiences in this filed include numerous competitions (single-family residence in Barialto, 1993, 2nd Prize; public housing in Marmore, 1997, Mention, and Jesi, 1999, 3rd Prize), various apartment renovations (apartment building in Bari, 2000/03; apartments in Rome, 2001/03 and 2004/08) and the construction of temporary and permanent prototype housing units. In particular, the office has designed numerous prototypes for trade fairs that develop a reflection on the domotic aspects of the contemporary residence (SMAU, Eurosatellite and BTicino, since 2002) and energy-savings (Buderus, 2007/08). The theme of renovation and restoration is strongly defined by the lengthy work carried out, from 1992 to the present, in the Palazzo De Mari in Acquaviva delle Fonti, a project articulated in various phases. Other projects developed by the office in this field include the aforementioned apartment renovations, as well as commercial spaces (Laterza Bookstore, Bari 2000ì6; Luciana Boutique, Bari 2007) and entire buildings (San Paolo, Brazil 2003/05; LUM Central Bari, 2006; LUM Barialto, 2007), all focused on the development of a sequence of de-structuring and re-structuring. In parallel the office has participated in various urban design competitions, seen as occasions for the beginning of a reflection on hybrid buildings, suspended between urban objects and urban fabric (Valladolid, 1996; Molfetta, 1997), developed for Europan VI and VII, (Quarrata, 2001, 2nd Prize; and Pordenone, 2003, 1st Prize) and the competition AMAMontagnola a Roma (2008, 1st Prize). Investigations of the landscape include competitions (Centocelle Park, Rome 1997; Agro Nocerino-Sarnese 1998, 1st Prize) and research projects associated with the development of general variations to Municipal Master Plans (Porto San Giorgio, 1996; Massarosa, 1997). These experiences are defined by the recognition of the hybrid nature of the contemporary landscape.