ATENASTUDIO is a research and a design practice in architecture and urbanism, based in Rome, established by Marco Sardella and Rossana Atena architects.

Rossana ATENA, graduated in architecture at the University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’(1999), received the Master of Excellence in Architecture(2003) from the Berlage Institute, Postgraduate Laboratory of Architecture, in Rotterdam.

During the years 2003-2004, she was researcher and guest co-tutor at the Berlage Institute of Rotterdam, for the II Year Research Program: Domesticating Technology Transfers.

Since 2003 she is Contract Professors at LUDI, University ‘La Sapienza’ of Rome for the ‘Technology and Design’ studio.

In 2005 she established ATENASTUDIO.

During 2005-2008 she was jury member at the invited competitions awarded by the Tirana Municipality:-‘Architectural Design of the Urban Complex in Elbasani Road, Tirana’, the ‘New Regulatory Plan of Tirana’ and the ‘Urban development Competition Zone E, Tirana’.

Marco SARDELLA, graduated in architecture at the University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’ (1999), received the Ph.D. in Architecture Technologies (2004) from the ITACA/Department of Architecture at ‘La Sapienza’ University in Rome.

Since 2003 he is Contract Professors at LUDI, University ‘La Sapienza’ of Rome for the ‘Technology and Design’ studio.

In 2002 he founded Labics studio together with M.C. Clemente and F.Isidori.

In 2005 he established ATENASTUDIO.

ATENASTUDIO has been strongly involved on several designs projects and international competitions with professionalism and thorough knowledge of many aspects conceiving architecture, advanced technologies, landscape, urbanism and interior design. Our competences are constantly being developed through new projects and in the meeting with our global collaborators, experts and specialists.

ATENASTUDIO follows an environmentally sustainable design approach in all projects at both the urban and architectural scale. Within this design approach, sustainability and bioclimatic research are not seen as independent disciplines but as an integral part of the design process that leads to an environmentally responsible solution.

Marco SARDELLA, co-founder of ATENASTUDIO with Rossana ATENA, has developed a sustainable design approach during his architectural education. His degree thesis, focusing on microclimatic control, air quality and comfort in outdoor and semi-enclosed spaces has received numerous awards and acknowledgements including the prestigious Premio ENEA in 2000.

ATENASTUDIO makes use of highly competent consultants within the fields of energy consumption and/or environmental impact when the analysis and testing of an environmental model requires a scientific approach to demonstrate and communicate its results and processes.

ATENASTUDIO has achieved a broad experience within the field of architectural design, particularly in relation to residential projects within the Mediterranean focusing on shading techniques and natural ventilation. As can be seen from numerous commissions and competition proposals, ATENASTUDIO has also acquired extensive knowledge in the fields of daylighting, geothermal technologies, passive heating and cooling, etc.

For the coastal tourism projects ATENASTUDIO has focused on the preservation of the dunescape and local habitats with a design approach that occupies less ground area than that foreseen by regulatory standards. Vegetation compromised by the construction process is reintegrated and amplified within the area by planting more vegetation than that required by local regulations.

For the design of soft landscape ATENASTUDIO relies on expert consultants in the fields of phytopathology, botany and forestry.

The international presence of ATENASTUDIO is especially strong in Albania, where we have been commissioned for several design projects, some of them under construction, concerning a wide range of intellectual and programmatic aspects within programmers for urban development of housing, offices, hotels, tourism, sport, retails, schools, museums and cultural equipments. ATENASTUDIO is developing amongst others:

 Spa and Golf Tourist complex Gjiri I Lalzit(Lot area 60.000 sqm; built area: 36.000 sqm)

ATENASTUDIO received international awards, has been published on international magazines worldwide and has been invited to participate in many international restricted competitions along Asia, Europe and USA such us:

‘3rd International Architecture Competition for Sustainable Design’ award by the living Steel Institute, USA 2008.

ATENASTUDIO attended at lectures and international exhibitions in several cities such as: Roma, Potenza, Rotterdam, Berlin, Siviglia, Tirana, Amsterdam, Orleans, Cornell University, Bruxelles, Liechtenstein, Nanchino Cina, ecc.

Selected Awards:

1st Prize Permasteelisa, “National Architectural Prize for Energy and Environment”, 1999

1st Prize “27/37 International awards of young roman architects”, competition awarded by the “Roman Institute of architects”, 3 march 2009

Selected Publications:

ECOENEA, SUPPLEMENTO DELL’ARCA N.145, 2000;

AAVV, VENTISETTETRENTASETTE, ’International exhibition of young roman architects’, published by Prospettive Edizioni, 2009

> For further information: Atena Studio