Manuela Gatto
Biography
ABOUT
Manuela was born and studied in Italy, then gaining her Master Degree with Honors at the Design Research Laboratory of the Architectural Association (AADRL). She taught at the University of Architecture in Venice and the Architectural Association in London, is a published author and has lectured widely worldwide. In 2002 she joined Zaha Hadid Architects where she is currently Director. Over the last twenty years she has lead a number of large scale projects in China and Europe, including infrastructure and masterplans. She has collaborated to a number of large-scale projects including the BMW Central Building in Leipzig, and led seminal completed projects such as the Bridge Pavilion in Zaragoza, SKY SOHO a 300,000 m2 mixed used complex in Shanghai, Mercury Hotel and Residential Towers in Malta, Leeza SOHO, a mixed-use 207m tall tower featuring the tallest atrium in the world, the new Metro Line in Dnipro (Ukraine), the Genzon Headquarters in Wuhan (a cluster of nine skyscrapers including a supertall tower in Wuhan) and Danjiang Bridge in Taipei, the longest single-tower asymmetric cable stay bridge in the world. Currently, amongst others, she is leading the Shenzhen Headquarter of Yidan, Tencent’s Charitable Foundation, the Wadi Al Fann Pavilion for the Royal Commission of Alula (Saudi), and a Mixed use Highrise in Tbilisi, and the Nikola Tesla Museum in Belgrade.
AWARDS OF THE SPEAKER
- CTBUH Best Tall Building 200 – 299m 2019 (Leeza Soho)
- CTBUH interior Space Award 2019(Leeza Soho)
- Construction Computing Awards, Collaboration Project of 2017 (DanJiang Bridge)
SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE OFFICE
Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) redefined architecture for the 21st century with a repertoire of projects that have captured imaginations across the globe. Creating buildings uniquely tailored to the communities they serve, ZHA has been awarded the highest honours from professional and academic institutions worldwide. Founded by Zaha Hadid, ZHA is one of the world’s most innovative architectural studios—and has been for almost 50 years. These five decades of detailed research are inscribed within ZHA’s buildings which become more spatially inventive, more structurally efficient, more technologically advanced, and more environmentally considerate with each new design. ZHA’s 500 staff in five offices worldwide are currently developing projects in 34 countries across six continents—combining pioneering design solutions with ecologically sound materials and sustainable construction practices to meet the aspirations of each new generation.
AWARDS OF THE OFFICE
- Pritzker Prize
- Aga Khan
- RIBA Stirling Prize
PROJECTS TO BE PRESENTED DURING THE EVENT
Project #1: Mercury Tower House
Project #1 Category: Office. Mixed-Use, Shopping. Production and Logistic, Hotel. Leisure
Start year: 2016
End year: 2025
The renovation and redevelopment of Mercury House integrates residential apartments and boutique hotel within Malta’s most dynamic urban environment. Creating new public spaces and amenities for the island’s residents and visitors, the design responds to Paceville’s key urban challenges by investing in its civic realm and increasing its limited housing supply.