Thursday september 17th 2020, we are in Lugano Paradiso, on the top floor of Credit Suisse building, where BeSpace has created co-working spaces for construction professionals, innovative and well equipped, to develop synergies and interdisciplinary exchanges. From the roof terrace, we enjoy a breath-taking view and our fountain Colonna makes the panorama even more magical, while the Sirena Aegea is located at the floor below and it welcomes all the persons who enter in BeSpace.
We take advantage of a moment of calm after the end of the event to ask few questions to Diego Porzio, the project’s founder. So at the terrace, seated in a sofa overlooking Lake Lugano, we begin the interview.
What is BeSpace and how it changed after Covid-19?
BeSpace is born to connect designers – architects and engineers – with corporate excellence in the world of design and architecture. This is an operation space, not a company showroom, but a place where exhibit the companies’ products on an integrated way with spaces. In BeSpace the designers carry out their free profession in a co-working, where they have their own workstation and develop their works. In addition to this, shared projects are developed inside and others, thanks to co-working.
Covid-19, on a certain point of view, has slowed down this process a bit. It was originally conceived as a place where designers (especially single ones, who usually have their own studio or design from home) found a place to create synergies. Covid has slowed down this process, because the restrictions have led to the exact opposite, which is to work from home. I am convinced that, despite Covid-19 and with the right precautions, ours is a winning situation and that it can take off.
Why did you choose Lugano as the location for your project?
I live in Lugano, so my first thought had gone to where I live. However, the fundamental thing is my presence, especially for partners and companies, as well as to make this project grow: my role here is comparable to that of the conductor or director of this new reality. Therefore, it was of primary importance to have a location close and convenient to me, in order to be always present. Furthermore, Lugano is a square with many perspectives: just see all the cranes around to understand how strongly the city is active in the construction sector, so I think this is a perfect location for a new project like this.
Which sensations and which interactions do the fountains of Forme d’Acqua generate in BeSpace?
It is a new thing for me too, which fascinated me a lot right away, as did Gianluca and the whole Forme D’Acqua team, for their professionalism and for the quality of the fountains they create. For those unfamiliar with the world of fountains, it may seem difficult to include a piece of furniture of this type in a residential project, especially when they are large, such as condominiums. I believe, however, that it is an excellent starting point, precisely to design new common parts of large condominiums, such as the entrances, to make them more evocative and of quality.
Currently, what should an Italian craftsman be to develop his business in the foreign market?
The real difficulty for an Italian craftsman, especially in Switzerland, is to fit into the fabric. BeSpace was also born for this reason: a company to arrive in Switzerland, or in any case to enter any foreign market, needs to make huge investments, such as taking locations, marketing and hiring dedicated people, which is difficult. BeSpace exploits a sharing of costs, which translates into a containment of these investments, and favours a synergy between all companies that want to internationalize in an innovative way, offering workstations to local professionals. Therefore, BeSpace is the best open door to enter the local market.
The two photos of Aegea and Colonna fountains are made by BOZZINI ROMEIRO Architectural Photography
