Can you explain your work in detail?
I am an architect and I mainly deal with renovations, restorations and enhancement of architectural heritage.

How did you get there, what studies did you do and how long did you do it?
From a young age I worked in the construction site with companies specializing in construction for restoration, I finished high school and enrolled in the faculty of architecture and in 2014 I obtained the qualification to the profession.  I currently work as a freelance collaborating with architects and companies specialized in the restoration of architectural heritage.

What are the aspects you love most about your job?
Let’s say that my life is divided in half between the desk and the building site.  In particular, the life of the yard gives me the opportunity to witness the transformations of the places and to test first hand what are the various phases of the realization of a project.  One thing I particularly love is to see a deteriorated surface go back to being art.  The desk allows me to compare each time with different realities and it is always a new adventure: one day you are helping a couple to realize the dream of a bigger house, the day after the documents are prepared to be sent to the Superintendencies in charge of the project of  enhancement of an archaeological site.What was the restoration that gave you the most satisfaction?
It is difficult to compare such different works because each restoration is in itself.  In general, the type of restoration that gives me the most satisfaction is the one that passes through the descialbo, or the accurate removal of all the overlapping layers of dull that have hidden the original decorations.  People do not know sometimes that their ceilings or walls hide real treasures, so even during renovations in historic buildings I always suggest customers to do some tests before painting the surfaces, I happened to find decorations on the vaults  even on the fourth floor of a 19th century house!The greatest difficulties you can encounter?
I do not feel the weight of particular difficulties and the construction site in itself does not represent a danger for me, it is certainly necessary to use suitable clothing that is not always very comfortable and be careful where you put your feet, but they are obstacles that can be overcome.  As a professional, however, I would like to say a few words in favor of our category, we are professionals who patiently interface with a complicated bureaucracy made up of complicated procedures and regulations that can even change from a municipality to a common one and, in some cases, still require the presentation of applications in  paper format with inadmissible waiting times in 2019.If you close your eyes and think about your work, what are the scents and sensations that your mind evokes?
Up to the age of 14 I lived with my family in the countryside and every day we came to Turin where my parents worked.  Leaving school I spent the afternoons in my dad’s restoration workshop where we stayed until evening when it was time to go home.  It can certainly be said that art books, sketches, brushes, tins of dye, but also paper-glass, nails and solvents have always been part of my life since I remember it.  I have always walked down the street with a dreamy look, losing myself among the decorations and the various architectures.  I could not define exactly the exact moment in which I understood that this field was what I wanted for me, because in a certain sense I was born and grew up in contact with art and it was quite natural for me to continue along this path.

How important are creativity and imagination in your work?
This is a wonderful question, let’s say that in the restoration you have to be very faithful to the hand of the one who made the artifact originally, so I could say that in this case we use the imagination more than anything else to be able to better interpret the signs of the  past, even more so when these are less legible.
In a restructuring instead it is creativity that plays a fundamental role, because it is only thanks to this that it is possible to convey to the customer the idea of ​​something that does not yet exist.  Not everyone is able to visualize the potential of a used building or an abandoned urban area, it is the architect’s task to be able to communicate in a creative and effective way the possible future scenarios of that place.

What is your home like?
My house consists of two rooms and a kitchen, it is a mix of antique, modern and contemporary pieces.  Light and relaxing tones predominantly gray and light green, blue for accessories then, in addition to a few plants here and there, a touch of yellow.  However, this is a pretty sore point for me and I believe for anyone who deals with interior design, because it is much easier to help others in the choice of furniture, colors and materials, while we, who are customers of ourselves, find ourselves in a  swirling conflict of interests that results in very painful choices.

3 adjectives to define yourself?
Dynamic, enthusiastic and passionate

You are a woman who is not afraid to get her hands dirty.  Have you always been like this?
I say that having grown up in my dad’s laboratory I have always been accustomed to creative chaos and not to worry about getting dirty, in fact I have to say that sometimes it’s quite liberating not to worry about how you have hair or if you drop a drop of color on the shirt.
What feelings does it give you to actively participate in the entire process?  I really like craft work, they are authentic and true.  Personally I think it’s the most sincere expression of a human being, when you really see something creating yourself in front of your eyes thanks to your hands is an immense joy.  Having the possibility to follow the whole process from paper to realization is a bit like growing together with that project, changing day after day in a certain sense I also change with him.

Have you ever felt discriminated against at work as a beautiful young woman?
This is a theme that I often deal with colleagues and friends.  Yes, there is discrimination in Italy, there is no lack of tacky jokes, and not even the feeling that I have to show someone my knowledge and skills.  Fortunately they are not all like this, but we are still far from being able to say there is a parity, in this field as in others.  I personally try to support the presence of women on construction sites by working with a company in which the owners are women and hire other women.  On the other hand, I also understand that some feel threatened by the fact that they see us more and more numerous: once a worker moving a 25 kg bag sadly admitted “if you do these jobs now then what do we do?”
to some then run away from the wink since the use of the word “architetta” was admitted, I do not get angry because they call us that, because this is just a word and we will get used to it as we are used to the verb “to post” from “to  post “in English.  What saddens me is that before being able to use that word with serenity, it will still take a long time, because it is not the word that defines us but our professions, which unfortunately are not considered today as those of men.  If my mother’s generation was that of sixty-eight protests, ours is the one that, experiencing the generation gap, will unfortunately have to show that those protests were just and sacrosanct.  I’d like an A to be enough to get rid of prejudices and rude, but unfortunately it isn’t.  Only time and constancy will lead to real change.

A place that has entered your heart?
The city of Buenos Aires, where I lived for a year to write my thesis.  I think it’s an extraordinary city where I left part of my heart.  Many people say it is the most European city in South America, I have not visited other cities but I can certainly say that it deserves to be seen at least once in life, particularly in the spring period where it is tinged with violet due to the marvelous trees in bloom along the  avenues of the city

The 3 favorite songs?
80’s life – the good the bad and the queen

take a walk on the wild side – lou reed

because the night – patty smith

How important is the use of natural pigments for you?
The natural pigments are those made up of natural earth and / or oxides and, unlike synthetic pigments, have less bright and gaudy colors.  If we look at the architecture of the past we find in fact delicate shades that recall the colors of nature precisely because the colors were made with materials found in nature.  For me it is important to always use natural pigments and advise customers to always surround themselves with pastel shades.  The type of color I always recommend is based on lime, which react with natural pigments in such a way as to offer different gradations, plus lime is certainly a cheaper and more sustainable material than other types of painting products.

A building that you think is beautiful from an architectural point of view?
the choice is really difficult because there are so many and so different, but in my opinion one that remains in my heart is Florence with the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

If you could enter in a painting which would you choose and why?
I would like to live the famous Starry Night by Van Gogh and get lost in the lines left by his strong brushstrokes.  I would like to walk inside and get to know the inhabitants of those shacks surrounded by nature, making me be accompanied by a sweet melody.  It would really be a dream.

What do you think of Italy?
I sincerely believe that our country is one of the most beautiful in the world.  We lack nothing: nature, history, art, architecture, craftsmanship, food, …. but we seem not to notice.
In Italy there are thousands of wonderful buildings that are falling to pieces, abandoned archaeological sites, closed museums, some never opened and others on the verge of bankruptcy.  We could only live on this and run an entire economy based on restaurants, places of culture, excursions in nature, but in reality the governments that have followed one another for years never really deal with territorial promotion and for this activity there are only a few crumbs left.

How do you discharge stress and how do you cope with physical fatigue?
The gym is a place that I particularly love because I come in with my head full of thoughts and worries and come out that you have scaled down the problems and you are ready to face the day with determination and serenity.
Physical fatigue is something you learn to put up with in the yard, you get used to it, just like what happens when you train.  Let’s say that you especially learn the value of rest, as you get very tired physically, not just mentally.

Are you a person who asks for help if he fails in something or you prefer to hurry up by yourself?
I am not ashamed to say that I have never done anything alone.  no project succeeds without collaboration with others.  However over time I also learned to get by on my own, surrounding myself only with people I really trust.

How many hours do you work per day?
Generally I wake up early and if I can go to the gym at 7.30 am I get out of them slinging or in the yard or in the studio and I never come back home before 9pm. It doesn’t weigh me that much, what I really miss is to eat the  meals sitting at a table and not always hanging on some scaffolding or in front of a PC.

The last time you thought “I’m a lucky person”?
I spent some turbulent years in my youth, let’s say I didn’t know what it meant to love me, after that time I always had the awareness of being a super lucky person.  I do not miss anything: health, family, friends and I have the opportunity to do the work I love in Italy, which does not seem to me a little.

Where can you find me:
ARCH.  ARIANNA ROCCA
consultant c / o Studioblu Architects E.Barberini and L.Dal Pozzolo
Via Cesare Battisti, 17 – Turin
Instagram – arianna_rocca
www.ariannarocca.com
ariannarocca@me.com