Taking root ready to set off again According to an old Italian adage, at the start of a new year you throw away old things to leave room for what is new. It is a way of exorcising the past and entering, in a less cluttered up way, into a new period, which, hopefully, will be better than the time that has just gone by. Breaking with this habit, we are entering 2014, as we have done for a number of years now, by bringing out a special issue of Realtà Mapei International, which will focus on building projects carried out last year, all over the world, using Mapei systems of products. We are not...

EDITORIAL Taking root ready to set off again inside front cover THE INTERVIEW 2 Mario Botta COVER STORY TEAMWORK Business and leisure in East Asia MARKET The Asian construction industry Trends in global building industry NEWS Expo 2015: an investment for the future Work in progress: Panama Canal SPECIAL FEATURE PROJECTS Commercial areas Infrastructures Manufacturing plants Public buildings and areas Residential buildings Sports and wellness facilities EVENTS Aida in Panama 38th Anniversary Awards Gala for NIAF ART AND CULTURE USA Tour by Cameristi della Scala PROJECTS Enzo Ricci Stadium in Sassuolo...

Detached House, Riva San Vitale, Switzerland (1971-1973) The house, located near to the shore of the lake, is characterised by its progressive subtraction in volume to enable the living spaces to gradually make way for internal terraces and open spaces overlooked by the rooms of the house. A red, metal footbridge connects the road above to the house. Mario Botta The Swiss architect talks about the distinctive elements of his architecture His name, which is even familiar to the public at large, is now synonymous with architecture. In a career spanning over 50 years he has designed dozens of projects...

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (1990-1995) By relying on a Botta’s design and Mapei’s sponsorship, a huge (33 m) wooden model of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane Church was built in 1999 on the shores of Lugano Lake in Switzerland. It shows a section of the Church, designed in Rome by Francesco Borromini in the 17th century. The museum won the MAA (Marble Architectural Awards) competition in 1997 for the best design using stone in its execution. The outside has a polished appearance with a façade composed of projecting bricks and stone. A truncated cylinder decorated in black and white bands...

Biography He was born on April 1st, 1943, in Mendrisio, Ticino (Switzerland). He attended an arts-oriented high school in Milan (Italy) and then continued his studies at the Venice University Institute of Architecture, where he graduated in 1969. He opened his own architectural studio in Lugano (Switzerland) in 1970 and ever since then has had a busy and prestigious teaching schedule in different countries. He was appointed a visiting professor at Lausanne (Switzerland) Polytechnic in 1976 and then Yale School of Architecture in New Haven (USA), in 1987. He was appointed to be a full professor...

Ofces and Residential Areas in the Former Campari Plant’s Site, Sesto San Giovanni Italy (2004-2010) The redevelopment of this area included the construction of an ofce complex in Viale Gramsci and Via Sacchetti and apartment blocks in Via Campari, so freeing the rest of the area to make way for a new public city park. The new Campari headquarters is divided into two main blocks connected to each other, an additional ofce building dating back to the early 20th century which has been turned into a museum and a new lobby similar to a large covered square pointing towards the park. The residential...

Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, People’s Republic of China (2011) The future cultural hub of the city, this project is part of a new urban development plan to the south of the River Hun at the crossroads of two important road networks. At the heart of the project is a large covered square providing access to the various faculties. This new complex was built on the site of the former Rizzato manufacturing plant of Padova, that the University and local city council wished to transform into a kind of city campus. The project was for an arched structure with separate buildings...

SPECIAL FEATURE ASIA TEAMWORK Business and Leisure in East Asia Major investments in infrastructure, competitiveness and enthusiasm at the base of the boom in emerging economies

by Adriana Spazzoli, Realta Mapei International editor in chief For the last few years I have taken advantage of my summer vacation time to make trips, which, as well as the pleasure of spending time with my family, also give me the chance to visit Mapei subsidiaries abroad. These trips are an incredible opportunity to get to know new countries and cultures, visit Mapei corporate structures a long way from Italy, and get to know colleagues with whom we are frequently in touch throughout the year without ever getting the chance to meet them in person. Mixing business with pleasure, the part of...

SPECIAL FEATURE ASIA TEAMWORK

Once again in 2013 Asia confirmed it is the driving force behind the world economy. Its growth mainly derives from emerging economies that have seen an average increase in their GDP of 6.3 %, taking once again advantage of a strong internal demand. There seems to be no stop to this growth based on a kind of contagious energy and enthusiasm, which I already began to feel as I set off from Milan Malpensa airport, where a terminal specially reserved for Singapore Airlines (the company I travelled with) welcomed us with services of the highest standard and great hospitality. So the trip turned out...

SPECIAL FEATURE ASIA TEAMWORK

MAPEI IN HONG KONG to increase its internal demand and stimulate economic growth, investments in infra- structure are one of the key factors for success. They support economic growth and allow inequalities among the population in terms of salary to be reduced. As I was able to observe from close up, this process shows no signs of stopping, confirming the World Bank's forecast estimating a 7.5% annual increase in GDP in Southern Asia over the next decade, which will translate into greater demand for in- vestments in infrastructures corresponding to approximately 5% of the GDP, in order to meet...