Human beings have always built structures to orient, signal and guide themselves. Rising above seas and oceans, lighthouses are the most emblematic example of these reference points: they indicate the route and remind travellers that, following their light, they will find a safe place.

It is therefore on the image of the lighthouse that the aqueduct tower rises into the sky of Cusano Milanino, imposing itself above the surrounding tree canopies and rooftops. Its potential is immense and allows us to imagine a project capable of radiating at the neighbourhood scale and perhaps beyond.

This is how Il Faro di Cusano Milanino is born. It will be an icon and a refuge, in every season, where everyone will find their place around sharing, art, culture, encounters and learning.

It is a project that wants to be profoundly humanist, aimed at cultivating social bonds.

AlterGround explores how traditional building knowledge can inform contemporary climate-responsive architecture. Rooted in the Senegalese context, the project combines local materials, passive environmental strategies, and modular construction to create a comfortable and resource-efficient learning environment.

Organized around a shaded central courtyard and a pedagogical farm, the school fosters a strong relationship between education, community, and landscape. Through its continuous roof, natural ventilation systems, and earth-based construction, AlterGround demonstrates how architecture can transform climatic constraints into opportunities for social and environmental resilience.

What if the city could send a message to the river — and the river could send one back?

Message in a Bottle is a floating public infrastructure anchored in the Nieuwe Maas, between Boompjes and Erasmusburg. The project assembles a grid of recycled wooden mooring poles and constrained metal containers into a modular platform that rises from the water — part community hub, part urban landmark, part living ecosystem.

The concept builds in three layers: a structural grid of X-shaped wooden mooring poles, a platform of repurposed metal containers, and a programme that serves the city — a Bike Service Hub where riders can repair and store their bicycles, a Community Kitchen and dining hall open to the neighbourhood, and a Bike Depot Tower with a mechanical crane that becomes an unmistakable beacon visible from the waterfront.

The project embraces impermanence and adaptability. Its extensive green roofs support sedum and herbs; its containers interlock, slide, and breathe. It does not pretend to be permanent infrastructure. It arrives like a message in a bottle — unexpected, hopeful, and carrying something worth reading.

The idea of the oasis transforms into a contemporary sanctuary, a place where nature and architecture converge seamlessly. The design takes inspiration from the simple, profound construction methods of Morocco, where earthen walls and terracing create spaces that remain cool and comfortable despite the heat.

The building's layout embraces the panoramic views of the Saiss region, establishing a deep connection with the surrounding landscape. Like the traditional oasis, the structure provides more than shelter — it is a poetic space, designed to invite reflection and inspire creativity.

The materials, forms, and rhythms of the design all draw from the local context, creating a harmonious blend of old and new. A perimeter wall, inspired by Moroccan fortified villages, unites the project: it offers protection while remaining transparent, framing panoramic views without ever being crossed by the buildings it encloses.

Here, the ancient wisdom of the oasis meets contemporary architecture, offering a timeless space for contemplation — a peaceful retreat where the spirit of the land is always present.