A Summer of Creative Exploration in Santo Pietro
In the summer of 2026, Bosco Colto Campus transformed the landscapes of Santo Pietro, near Caltagirone in southeastern Sicily, into a vibrant hub of environmental restoration. Established by Makramè APS, this project delves into reimagining our interaction with the environment through a bold and interdisciplinary approach. The summer session, known as Thinking with Animals, invited notable figures like Yoshiharu Tsukamoto of Atelier Bow-Wow and the Food Hack Lab to engage actively with the community and the land.
Through architecture, agroecology, ceramics, sound, and spatial design, the program looked beyond human-centric perspectives to explore ecological justice and environmental justice. Co-director Marco Navarra, alongside Dario Felice, Beatrice Fontana, and Antonio Scarponi, discussed the program’s philosophical and literal plantings during the event with designboom.
This concept of regeneration is paralleled by projects worldwide. Hong Kong’s Enchanting Mosaics blends art and nature, reshaping urban environments.
Transformative Architectural Practices and Restoration
From late July to early August, the session featured Fabio Ciaravella’s workshop, Order of the Oaks of Santo Pietro, and the creation of a hybrid train kiln for experimental ceramics. Navarra highlighted the significance of this hands-on shift from traditional architectural approaches, emphasizing a design process inclusive of non-human elements, furthering sustainable architecture.
Designing for Shared Spaces
At the heart of Thinking with Animals lies the principle that design should acknowledge human limitations and open up to imaginative possibilities with other species. Navarra underscores the necessity of starting from humility to foster environments where human and non-human presences enrich the narrative through habitat renewal.
Embodying Sicilian Satoyama
A highlight was Yoshiharu Tsukamoto’s workshop on Sicilian Satoyama. Participants built the permanent Zucca Gazebo and Mulberry Canopy installations, drawing inspiration from traditional Japanese agricultural landscapes that integrate diverse land uses. Navarra noted the successful adaptation to Sicily’s landscapes, creating a parallel between local agricultural practices and Satoyama’s holistic framework, demonstrating principles of ecological design.
Explore similar ecological integration in the newly created Zucca Gazebo and Mulberry Canopy installations. Hafsa Burt’s Null House showcases petite innovations in sustainable architecture.
Cultivating Future Legacies at Casa Bosco Colto
In parallel with the Campus activities, Casa Bosco Colto is developing as a permanent network of buildings and spaces. A newly inaugurated wood-fired Ceramic kiln is part of an ongoing plan to redevelop public buildings into a comprehensive cultural infrastructure. Navarra envisions this as a center for independent research in architecture, art, and nature, with deep community involvement at its core, furthering environmental revitalization.
The Bosco Colto project continues to rejuvenate and redefine the relationship between people and place, planting seeds for a regenerating future through ecological regeneration in Sicily’s rich landscapes.
Sources & Links
Source: designboom.com
Frequently asked questions
What was the focus of Bosco Colto Campus in 2026?
In the summer of 2026, Bosco Colto Campus focused on transforming the landscapes of Santo Pietro into a hub of environmental restoration with an interdisciplinary approach, involving architecture, agroecology, ceramics, sound, and spatial design.
Who are notable figures involved in the Bosco Colto project?
Notable figures involved in the Bosco Colto project include Yoshiharu Tsukamoto of Atelier Bow-Wow and members of the Food Hack Lab who engaged with the community and the land.
What installations were created during Yoshiharu Tsukamoto’s workshop?
During Yoshiharu Tsukamoto’s workshop, participants built the permanent Zucca Gazebo and Mulberry Canopy installations, inspired by traditional Japanese agricultural landscapes integrated with diverse land uses.
More in
Architecture
All Architecture
More like this
Radical Redesigns: Innovative Student Projects from Singapore University of Technology and Design
Witoca Lab's Fusion of Ecological Practices and Earth Architecture in the Amazon
Crafting Connections: The Harvest Moon Table Built from Local Biomaterials in Canterbury
Modular Timber Home in Zushi Prepares for Transformation as Road Expansion Looms
Sardinian School Transforms with Dynamic Corrugated Aluminum Facade in Sinnai
